QuestionPolariser on wet autumn woodland, yes or no?

Planning a few autumn walks once the colour gets going, probably Westonbirt and up around the Wye Valley in October. I always have a polariser on (it's the one filter I'd never be without!) but someone in my camera club said I should take it off in woodland because it "kills" the colour on the leaves.

That seems backwards to me? I thought cutting the glare on wet leaves was the whole point. I'm on an RP with the 24-105 STM, so not loads of light to play with under the trees either. Do you leave yours on or not?

G

Your club friend's half right. On wet leaves a polariser is magic, it cuts the sheen and the colour comes through. Where it goes wrong is if you crank it to maximum with a bright sky showing through the canopy and the blue goes patchy, or if you're losing a stop and a half when the light's already poor. I rotate it while watching the EVF and stop when the leaves look best, which is rarely all the way.

Leave it on. Wet leaves without one look like plastic. Take it off for the bluebells in spring if you like, but autumn woodland after rain is exactly what the thing was made for... just saying

On, but take a tripod, because under a canopy with a polariser and f/8 you'll be into fractions of a second in no time. The Wye is beautiful in October. Tidy spot. Get there early before the car parks at Symonds Yat fill up.

Thank you all, that's reassuring. So it's more about how much I turn it than on or off. Tripod is a fair point, I usually leave it in the car because of the weight... I'll try the higher ISO first and see how the RP copes under the trees. G

gemma_beckett said:

I usually leave it in the car because of the weight...

The leaves aren't going anywhere. Higher ISO and a bit of patience weighs less than a tripod.

Back from Westonbirt! Polariser on but only turned about halfway like darkslide said, ISO 3200 on the RP under the maples and honestly it's fine, much better than I expected. The acers were only just starting to turn so I might go back in a fortnight. Thanks again everyone. G