Cross-Polarization (a.k.a. The Polarity Project)
By Kathleen Bjoran
25 Mar 2008
Required equipment:
Light table (I use a Gepe)
Polarizing film (The best way to get this is to order item number PF006 from www.polarization.com and be sure to let them know you found their site through me or JPG Magazine.)
Circular Polarizer to fit your favorite lens
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The next thing you want to do is find some interesting transparent plastic objects (the cheaper, the better). Some fun things to play with are plastic drink stirrers with cute little animals on them, rulers, plastic magnifiers, plates, plastic dinner ware, et al.
Place the polarizing film on the light table.
Arrange your interesting transparent plastic objects on top of the polarizing filter.
Attach your circular polarizing filter to your camera.
Turn on the light table.
When you look through your view finder, you will see that, by turning your circular polarizer, the light from the table will go from white through every percentage of gray to black. Play with the circular polarizer AND the position/direction of the objects on the table. Any time any of these items change, your colors change due to the flaws in plastic.
You can also discover whether something is glass or plastic as glass will not present the gorgeous colors like plastic does!
This is a technique that was used quite often in film camera, studio work. Keep your post-processing to a minimum as it will actually destroy many of the critical light values! Your shot and colors are set up PRIOR to the shot.
Make it easier! Get a piece of annealed (not tempered) glass and cut the film to fit the glass then tape it to the glass. Tempered glass will show a pattern due to the tempering stresses (per George at Polarization.com). Now you can take your glass and use it outside, against a window (not polarized or tempered), or any other suitable light source. Make sure to tape all around the edges to keep things clean. Place the laminate facing away from the glass.
