Monday, September 7, 2020

Fun With Retarders




Finally learning about retarders – and having fun doing it.

I’d thought that there was something technically unique about retarders – that they had to be very specific filters. It wasn’t easy finding an article that explained it in everyday language.

Google searches for retarders usually return sites from Olympus and other optics companies.  These are aimed at people who have an understanding of optics. Too technical for me. A post on the Facebook group Crystal Art Photomicrography made clear the basics.

A retarder modifies light waves from the polarizer. It is as simple as using a piece of clear plastic over the polarizer. Rotating the plastic creates different modifications that change the colors of the image. Retarders can be stacked to create more variations. Simple!

 Additionally, I’m experimenting with adjusting the condenser diaphragm adjust contrast.


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