Playing around with Polarized Light

[macnmotion]

Here are a few scenes from my Nikon inverted TMD Diaphot. 2 pieces of linear polarizing film and a full lambda wave plate.

[PeteM]

Nicely done - thanks for posting it.

[Scoper]

Brightfield only with the polarized light?

Why the waveplate?

Thanks for posting

[macnmotion]

Brightfield only with the polarized light?

Why the waveplate?

Thanks for posting

Yes this is brightfield. The order of pieces:

Lamp
Diffuser
Polarizing film
Wave plate
Slide
Polarizing film
Objective
Camera

The wave plate adds color into the background and otherwise non-birefringent portions of the subjects/material on the slide, making for a "prettier" results. Otherwise, the background is essentially dark due to the polarized light extinction. Rotating the wave plate (mine is shaped like a circular filter) changes the colors in the resulting image. I used a relatively inexpensive full lambda wave plate that I bought on eBay (about US$15).

Note: Please excuse any mis-use of terminology, I'm just learning this method of lighting.