There seems to be some debate about the effectiveness of a polarising filter when it comes to boosting relfections on the surface of water. While there is know doubt that the these filters are great at reducing glare and reflections to reveal the detail underneath water, or to remove reflections in glass, do they really make any difference when it comes to boosting a reflection. I’m no scientist, that’s for sure, and I’m still learning this photography lark, but the shot below was taken somewhere between 45 and 90 degree angle to the sun (which was on the left) and I did have the polariser fitted to the lens. As I turned it one way I definitely saw the reflections being reduced, so conversely as I turned it the other they became more intense – but would they have been just as intense if the polariser was never fitted at all. I don’t know the answer. There is a school of though that says that the effect of the polariser means that the reflections may actually remain the same, but the non reflected light is reduced slightly making the relative strength of the reflection appear greater. Like I said, I’m no expert but here’s the photo I took of the Serpentine Lake at Hardwick Park last weekend. I like they way this one turned out – and perhaps the discussion about the effect of polariser on this particular image is moot, because it has been boosted somewhat in lightroom as well. That doesn’t detract from the debate about polarisers in general though and I will be taking a few more picture before I reach a conclusion of my own I think.

The above picture came about after an afternoon trip to Hardwick Park looking for some early Autumn colour. Seems I might have gone at little bit to early in the season though since the colour was little and far between. So I settled instead for this view across the Serpentine Lake, struck by the reflections of the clouds on a rare moment when the wind dropped a little and surface of the lake turn cool and glassy.