How to use a polariser and long focal lengths in landscape photography?

A calm lake no color in the sky and lots of reflection. I work through a cluttered composition, show a simple polarizer demo on water, and then switch from a mid-range zoom to a long lens to isolate small stories. It is a slow field session about choosing mirror vs detail and why telephoto can save a scene when the sky gives you nothing.

What you will see
• Show dont tell framing fixes on a messy shoreline
• Polarizer rotated from minimum to maximum to compare reflection vs detail
• Why I shot multiple CPL positions to decide in post
• Moving the tripod after setup to refine composition
• 28–75 for context then 300mm to tell the story with two trees and their reflection
• Notes for a future return in autumn and on foggy mornings
• Practical settings in the field f8 for sharpness faster shutter with ISO 400

Chapters
00:00 Intro at a still lake and first composition problems
01:39 Polarizer on water demo reflection vs detail
03:02 File workflow and focus stacking order foreground to background
04:16 Lessons from the last session try another focal length
06:31 28 to 75 test and why wider is not always better
07:41 Long lens pass at 300mm two trees become the subject
09:01 Alignment trick for vertical trees and reflections
10:14 Final settings and small tweaks at 300mm
11:55 Wrap up and next steps

Key takeaways
• Decide on reflection or detail before you rotate the CPL
• Shoot both extremes of polarization and one in the middle
• Long lenses simplify messy scenes and reveal intimate compositions
• Slow down with a tripod but do move it when the frame needs it

If you want more behind the scenes I share before and after frames and scouting notes on my socials and stream occasional live scouting sessions.