I have long noticed this effect however I had no clue I was seeing polarization.

I'm into photography. I had a dead-simple Pentax K-1000 SLR. Its only automation is a very basic light meter; I adjust the aperture and exposure until the needle is where I want it to be (ie. sometimes purposely over- or under-exposed).

Three lenses, but with a polarizing filter for each. Mainly I use the polarizers to deepen the blue of the sky.