I, "N-R", said about polarizers used indoors:

"It makes less of an obvious change in overall color

since the light source is less mono-directional

(assuming sunshine - and that loss of about 1.5 stops

is important indoors), but simple reflections off

glass and most other highly-reflective surfaces can

be modified with a polarizer used indoors..."

"Ralford" said:

"... A polarizing lens relies on discriminating against

reflected light from a distance source, that does not occur for indoor

lighting. That is the simple explanation. You do not have 'the same thing

indoors.' "

On 28 Mar 2003 23:21:48 GMT, paweber02@aol.com5z378 (Paweber02) wrote:

>Richard,

>

>You need to open a basic physics or photography textbook. A polarizing filter

>(there is no such thing as a "polarizing lens") selectively blocks light waves

>of a specific polarization. Indoors, outdoors, under water, in outer space.

>For photographic purposes, the most common polarizing filters are "circular"

>and "linear". Of these, the linear filter has the most dramatic effect

>(indoors or out). This is the kind of filter used in polarized sunglasses.

>Circular or non-polarized light is strongly polarized in specular reflections

>from conductors or polar non-conductors (water, glass, for example). Test:

>Visit a retail store selling sunglasses marked as "Polarized". Pick up a pair

>and look through them across the store. Rotate the glasses and observe the

>effect on surface glare and reflections.

1) A "lens" can have "0 power", and thus be just a filter (as can be a lens with

power...).

2) A polarizing filter does in fact selectively pass light waves of a specific

polarization.

3) But of "indoors, outdoors, under water, in outer space", only some generally

offer the condition of singularity of polarization for the filter to work

very effectively (as pointed out by "Ralford" and me), though local polarization

off *some* highly-reflective surfaces can still be affected (as pointed out

by you and me).

4) Linear and circular polarizers are the same in terms of incoming discrimination

of polarized light (they differ in the polarization of the light as it exits, having

no effect on the visual aspects of the image).

5) Polaroid sunglasses are linear polarizers, and will show the effects described

by "Ralford", you, and me. But, but in addition to obvious bright-reflection

modification, colors of moderately-reflective surfaces will also change

outdoors in sunlight, due the the general mono-directional illumination

(as pointed out by "Ralford" and me...).