Aerial Photography through glass

[cats2me1]

I'm new to this forum and to photography. I will be doing some right seater flying and would like to take lots of pictures, but I have to shoot through windows. Anyone got any suggestions for minimizing the haziness of the images?

 

[Stryker]

Get a collapsible rubber hood. You eliminate glare if you stick the hood flat on the glass. Use also a CPL filter

 

[Super Simple]

I'm new to this forum and to photography. I will be doing some right seater flying and would like to take lots of pictures, but I have to shoot through windows. Anyone got any suggestions for minimizing the haziness of the images?

A parachute?

(Sorry - I just couldn't resist that one. )

 

[SNBniko]

Bring a microfiber rag and wipe off the outside and inside of the window, too! (If the pilot will let you do the outside... if you don't know them it might be awkward. ha)

 

[Trever1t]

get close to the glass and try to shade from glare as was first suggested. I have shot through some dirty thick glass and you can't even tell because you're focus is going to be distant. Sounds like a fun idea, enjoy!

 

[cats2me1]

Tried that (skydiving) too -- twice -- but never again!!

 

[altitude604]

keep your lens just away from the glass as the vibration from the engines will blur things. also like they said, a hood would help but again, keep it from touching the window.

your shutter speed will have to be quick enough to stop motion as well if you're trying to do landscapes without blurring it. if you've got more altitude it'll be easier than if you're bombing along at 1000' AGL.

clean the windows inside and out. there should be a can of aviation window cleaner somewhere around the hangar... black can, red cap and lettering, brand name is "Prist".

all of these (minus a couple) were taken from the right seat on a Turbo Otter. Login | Facebook

 

[cats2me1]

Thanks for the tips, threemilesfinal. I'll try them. I'm flying in a Cherokee, low-winger. My camera is a Nikon D80.

 

[altitude604]

kind of sucks that you're in a low wing aircraft as that'll be a bit of an obstruction if you're flying level and trying to get pics of the ground. hopefully you get a good pilot that'll do some banking turns for you if you need.

definitely post up what you got after!

edit: just noticed that you're from Nanaimo... good family friend of mine used to be Flight Service @ Cassidy Airport.

 

[cats2me1]

I have some shots from off the west coast of the island near Pacific Rim National Park. I haven't figured out how to post them here.

My pilot is very good for doing banked turns and making it easier for me to get good shots. And we fly out of Cassidy. I'm fairly new to the flying club there, but he's been around for many years and would probably know the person you mentioned.

I'll work on getting some of my images posted.

edit: I've posted some photos to my gallery -- some were taken with a Blackberry!!

 

[nick_cool]

The rubber hood plus UV filter idea is the one i like the most.

 

[AustinPhotographer]

I've used a circular polarizer in the past. You can adjust it on the fly to cut out the reflection on the glass.

This is my choice:
Hoya 72mm Circular Polarizer Glass Filter B72CRPL B&H Photo

It does the job and keeps you away from the glass.

Also, it never hurts to ask them if you can open up the windows. I get about a 50/50 yes/no on that.