 BetterPhoto Member |
Shooting Through Glass Window or Door I want to click a photo of an object standing behind a glass window or door and avoid reflection of myself or the flash
|
|
|
|
||
|
W. |
Hi Hitesh, 1) Don't use flash (so use a tripod and the self-timer if the shutter speed gets too slow). 2) Avoid perpendicular angles of the glass against the lens axis. 3) Use a circular polarizer filter. Have fun!
|
|
|
|
||
- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
If possible, remove the glass pane.
|
|
|
|
||
- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hello Hitesh, W made some great points, and I would add that if you put the lens up close to the glass, it will cut down reflections. I took some photos at an aquarium and used a shallow DOF f/2.8 and kept my shutter speed at 1/30s minimum and braced myself against the glass with my left arm and held the lens close to the glass. I still had to increase my ISO setting to 800 to 1600 sometimes but was able to get the photos. It was pretty dark in the room but there was just enough light illuminating on the subject in the tank to capture the image. I also used a monopod for some of the photos. I didn't think it would be appropriate to carry a tripod but the monopod is much faster to get in and out of position, and I could stay out of the way other viewers easily.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Mark Feldstein |
Along the lines of what Dennis offered, open the door and don't shoot through the glass. And to add to what Carlton said, I'd put my lens (with a suitable lens shade) directly up against the glass not just close to it. Be wary of vibrations though. If this is a store, ask the manager for permission to snap the shot INSIDE but from an angle that won't shoot into the back side of the glass window or door. Offer a print of what you shot to the manager. And shoot it quickly while bracketing your exposures. You can use a flash but beware of fireballs off the glass you're trying to eliminate. A monopod is always a good idea for this type of work. Fast to set-up, not much risk of someone falling over an outstretched leg, and a good weapon if someone attacks you. Using a polarizer is an iffy deal because it'll probably block up your highlights and remove detail from any shadow areas. And you can't fix what's no longer there. So don't use a polarizer and a UV filter is useless for this.
|
|
|
|
||
|
James R. Mathews |
Shooting with a polarizer will take off the glare. Another way, if that's not available, is to shoot at an angle. Call it the rubber ball method and it works with all reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass, paintings, etc.). Think of it this way, if you're standing in front of the glass and throw a rubber ball and it would come straight back to you, your flash will do the same. If you throw the ball from an angle, the ball will richochet off. So will your flash, but light will pass through the window and light your subject without glaring into your lens. Jim Mathews
|
|
|
|
||
|
Roy Blinston |
Turn on the lights inside the room and wait until dusk, then shoot it.
|
|
|
|
||
- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
I think he wants to take a picture of something in Amsterdam.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Tim Poitevin |
Use a rubber lens hood! You can buy them cheap, even from a local chain store. Press the rubber hood up to the glass to eliminate unwanted glare and shoot away! Just make sure the section of window you're pressed up against is clean!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Tim Poitevin |
Forgot to mention that rubber lens hoods are excellent when shooting at your local aquarium!
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||