My friend Byron Jorjorian always (maybe always) has a polarizer on his lens when he is shooting photos. I admit that is not my practice. I do usually have one with me and this weekend was a prime example when to use one.

The photo above was shot without a polarizer. Notice the reflections on the water and the wet leaves. The photo below was shot from the same position, although the camera was shifted a little to the left for what I thought would be a better composition. This time a polarizer was used. Polarizers rotate on the front of the lens so that reflections can be eliminated. Notice the rocks in the stream.

I was asked a lot this weekend about my camera. Lots of people take pictures with their phone, but several were considering a "real" camera. I'm not sure you can take this kind of photo with a phone. I'll bet I'll hear from someone about this.