Actually, they are both taken with a polarizing filter!
The left is turned to maximum effect, and the right to minimum effect.

The shooting data is 18-70mm "kit" lens at 18mm f/4 1/800th second.

Bill

Visit me, info and galleries at: Nikon Photos and Information

I don't know what protractor you used to get your 30 degree figure. (Remember, I was there.)
Perhaps you can explain why the black footlight in the foreground doesn't seem to have a shadow.

It certainly wasn't "high noon" but at 2:05pm the sun was not particulary low in the sky.

It's certainly true that when we give out our 0, 90, 180 degree advice we disregard that it is a three dimensional problem and that the sun has elevation. Surely, for photographs directly into the sun something stronger than a polarizer is required except at sunrise/sunset when a polarizer would spoil the effect. And photographs with the sun directly behind are quite rare except for those times you are immortalizing your shadow. So 0 and 180 aren't practical cases.

Bottom line: look through the lens and trust what you see. If the polarizer has the desire effect then fine; otherwise take it off (or at least remember that you're losing light for no effect).

Playfully,
Bill

Visit me, info and galleries at: Nikon Photos and Information

Either way both your point about trusting the view through the polarizer (naked eye or through the camera) _and_ my point about the upper portions of the picture not being near the 180 degree point at true.

Depending on where you were, and assuming standard time and not daylight savings time, the sun could have been anywhere between ~25 and nearly 40 degrees from it high point at 2:00pm. From your pictures, its obvious that it was low enough to cast shadows, but high enough and your lens was wide enough that the upper portion of the picture is not near the "180 degress from the sun" position. Had you been shooting more near sunset, the horizon behind the monument would be more nearly 180 from the sun and the sky behind the monument would show less effect although it would still show some if the lens used is as wide as it seems (~24-28mm on film, or the equv on digital)

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dwig
nikonian in paradise (KW, FL)
Current: CP8400, CP950
Retired: F, ELw
Usedto's: F, F2, F3, Nikkormat FTn, 20 f/3.5, 35 f/1.4, 45GN, 55 f/3.5 Micro, 105 f/4 Micro, 300 f/4.5, 180w f/5.6 for 4x5
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I think we're all saying basically the same thing here

The old adage, about polarisers only being really effective with the sun off to the right or left, is a decent rule of thumb but in reality things are more complex. The sun's elevation, as well as the vertical angle of the camera/lens, also influence the effect obtained.

Brian
Welsh Nikonian - "exiled" to England
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