does anybody else hate that oily headlight effect?

It isn't a "fake effect" -- it's what happens when you shoot using a polarizer on a polarized surface. Most headlights on new, expensive cars are polarized like that, I assume it is to help keep light from projector headlights going in the same direction (it filters "overspray").

Love it or hate it, it is a side effect of shooting with a polarizer, which reduces the glare/reflection and makes the details of the car much more visible and appealing. Here's a little comparison, same photo with and without polarizer (polarized photo is on the right). Again, this isn't a "fake effect" you do in software, it is a lens attatchment which functions the same as polarized sunglasses.
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Thanks for the comparison. I'm not fond of the way the headlights look either, but I do think the picture looks better overall with a polorized lens.
IMO the first picture look fine, but the second one looks a lot better.

Yep, I also need a digital SLR with a polorized lens.

 

The Aston Martin DB9's headlights have that in every picture I've seen of it. Yuck, but what can you do?

 

Great explanation, I always thought the rainbow color to the headlight lenses was some side effect of the manufacturing process, a coating, or differing thickness in the actual clear material causing diffraction or prism effect.

 

Try on a pair of polarized sun glasses, and then look at the world through a tinted window. Almost everything you see will have that little rainbow effect.

 

Thanks a LOT for the explantation!!!! I have wondered for a loong time now, why some people can take a photo of a car and get great colors and little reflection... and I couldn't
Now I know that I just have the wrong cam

 

Im pretty sure it has something to do with the color of the car aswell...
Silver-
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7382/picture000716xu.jpg
Black-
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/4568/picture000736fn.jpg
Black without polarizer-
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/5281/picture03182sj.jpg

 

So Richard, do you always use a polorizer, or just under certain light conditions?

 

I use it for most automobile stuff unless the point of the photo is a reflection...it allows me to capture richer color, less ambient junk, and you can see through the windshield into the car as well

 

Thanks for the info.
I hope to get a new camera before the end of the year.

 

The reason the headlights get like that (and other parts like the windshield etc on some pics) is due to certain elements in the glass itself. I can't remember what it is but there is something that makes it like that.

 

Mike, you can buy a polarizer as an attatchment for the end of the lens...shouldn't much matter what camera, they're made in all sizes

 

yea, i got a polarizer filter for my camera for $10. the first 2 pics in this post (red 360) are mine using that filter.

 

Thanks...I just remembered they do make some attachments for my Kodak DX7590. I'll have to see what I can get. The most common one I have heard about is a circular polorizer. Is there a normal polorizer and what is the difference?

 

I'm not sure what quality levels are like -- decent polarizers for the lenses I use range from $100-$150 USD, perhaps if the lense is very small they are not as much? I have never bought one for anything else.

Mike, a circular polarizer allows you to rotate (swivel style) the direction of polarization and is a requirement if your camera is SLR or meters & focuses through the lens. If you buy a normal type polarizer, the metering and autofocus will not function properly.

EDIT: Mike, this is what you're looking for. B+W is a reputable company and they make good stuff.

 

Great! Thank you.

EDIT: This might sound stupid, but why is it called a B&W filter? It's not just for B&W pictures is it?

 

i wouldnt care what my headlights looked like when i have a really expensive car to drive around!!!!

 

B+W is the name of the company. Note the "plus" symbol and not an ampersand.

http://www.bwfilter.com/

 

It says Kodak B&W cicular polorizer. http://www.superwarehouse.com/Kodak_B&W_Circular_Polarizer/1072636/p/383985

I sent you a PM. Did you get it?

 

Mike,

that is merely mis-labelling on part of the retailer. It fits a Kodak camera, so they are calling it a Kodak part! If you look at the image of the filter, you can see the letters "B+W" on the side of the filter

Either way, it would not matter -- there is no difference for color vs. black and white in terms of polarization...

 

I am quite the opposite. I like the oily look very much. Here is a pic that is a prime example.
Thanks richard for the explantation of why they do that!!
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im with trixxxter. i love the oily look. especially on the enzo.

 

Thanks again for all your help Richard. I'm going to get one as soon as I can.

 

I love it to and would'nt want to change it !!!