How to shoot through windows without reflections
Earlier this year I made my first ever visit to New York and one of the things I put on my “to do” list was capture some great shots of the New York skyline. Wih that in mind I spent a long time researching hotels that had great views. Now there’s no shortage of hotels in New York and some of them have unbelievable views which come at a sky high price but eventually I settled on the Yotel Times Square. I paid a few dollars extra for a room towards the top of the hotel and sure enough the view from the 22nd floor was stunning.
Like all modern hotels the Yotel came with lovely big windows which gave a great view but horrible reflections. Fortunately reducing the reflections and even getting rid of them completely isn’t too difficult, especially if you follow my simple steps in the video below.
Can’t see the video? Click here http://youtu.be/b3q6aIBc_cc
The daytime view was always beautiful but just after the sunset it became amazing, especially with the huge purple neon “Yotel” sign which reflected off the surrounding buildings. The only regret I have is that the view from the rooms on the other side of the Yotel were potentially even better… and that sounds like a good reason to return to me.
Equipment used in this video (Links to Adorama)
Canon 60D http://www.adorama.com/ICA60D.html?KBID=67338
Sigma 10mm-20mm http://www.adorama.com/SG1020EOS.html?KBID=67338
Vanguard 284CB100 Tripod http://www.adorama.com/VGALTA284CB.html?KBID=67338
Very informative video on shooting through glass….learned a lot. Thanks.
G’day Gavin.
Taking pictures through windows has been a passion of mine
Probably a bit of a fad from being a wedding photographer in a former life. One thing that comes to mind, and was very useful, and your bit on the black bag jogged my memory. Somewhere in the dim dark past a company, and I think it was Hoya, made a round rubber lens hood which was ideal for excluding light, and it was good for even plane and train windows as it absorbed vibration. I have tried here in Tasmania to get one for a while, but to no avail.
I really enjoy your website and look forward to each new thing you add as the weeks go by. I am most grateful and thank you most sincerely for what you do for us.
Barry Champion.
Hi Barry. I still have one of those but it’s not wide enough to work with my 10mm lens (as used here) especially when shooting at an angle. For all other times it does the job brilliantly 🙂
Hi Gavi, Thanks a lot for those informative and educative videos. i try to shoot a lot of pictures through the airplane windows, and the next time i am going to clean them up a bit !!!. As for table top shots, i will go through the other videos to learn more. keep going sir, all the best to you and thanks a ton.
Gavin,
When I shoot jelly fish in the local aquarium the lighting is almost dark in the people half of the tank, but in the tank lighting is very low to simulate the ocean. I do not want to use the flash as your great video explained, but I get blurry shots, because I have increased the time to get more light into the camera, the aperture is as big as I dare. Do you have any suggestions? I have a Canon 7D and a 17 to 40 mm Canon Lens
Sounds like you’re only choice is to up the ISO. Underwater photographers tend to use off camera flash but that my not be possible in a aquarium!