Is there a trick?

[Redbiscuit]

Hi all, Is there a trick to shooting through glass, and not getting a reflection? (no flash). Thanks!

 

[cgipson1]

one way is to have a rubber lens hood on your lens... and put the hood on the glass..... like these! Amazon.com: Zeikos ZE-LH58 58mm Soft Rubber Lens Hood: Camera & Photo

 

[Redbiscuit]

Oh sweet! I figured a filter, didn't think of a lens hood! Thanks so much!

 

[TCampbell]

A polarizer "reduces" reflections... sometimes QUITE substantially. You typically will see some hint of a reflection, but with a tuned polarizer it's usually fairly subtle. There are some guidelines to how a polarizing filter works. Light coming from an angle tends to be filtered with great results. Light from directly behind or in front of you tends to not get much of an effect through a polarizer. But due to the way reflections in windows work, the light usually is coming from an angle.

I usually want a hint of a reflection in my photos through glass... it shows the glass. I just don't want a distracting reflection that makes it hard to see what's on the other side of the glass.

 

[tirediron]

Rock? Hammer?

 

[rlemert]

A polarizer "reduces" reflections... sometimes QUITE substantially. You typically will see some hint of a reflection, but with a tuned polarizer it's usually fairly subtle.

This raises another question, though. Do you ever see the "stress bands" in the glass when you do this?

 

[imagemaker46]

Depends on the glass, the venue and how bright it is behind you. If you You are wearing anything white it will reflect, wear a black jacket, if there is any bringht signage behind you that also adds to the reflection. What kind of glass are you shooting through?

 

[TCampbell]

If I'm shooting a car, I find that *usually* the front window is made well enough that you don't get the pattern. But the back windows often will show the pattern.

Also a polarizer creates un-even effect if it's used on a wide angle lens.

 

[imagemaker46]

If I'm shooting a car, I find that *usually* the front window is made well enough that you don't get the pattern. But the back windows often will show the pattern.

Also a polarizer creates un-even effect if it's used on a wide angle lens.

I'm not sure the Op was asking about shooting glass on a car, but rather shooting through glass. I suppose if the Op is shooting from inside a car.

 

[BaileySnapz]

press your camera right up against the glass I was told, never tried it though.

 

[Joves]

Depends on where you are shooting as well. Some private venues do not allow you to put your lens against the glass. If that is the case a polarizer.

 

[Redbiscuit]

I was actually at my local zoo... trying to get some pics of some of the animals there I got some nice ones of the animals outdoors, but the ones I took of the critters inside behind glass, I couldn't get. I do have a polarizing filter, but didn't have it on... Would that filter have worked in a setting like a zoo? lighting is crazy there... lights in the enclosure, lights outside of the enclosure.... I wasn't finding that I was getting so much a reflection of me as the photographer, but like a reflection of the animal itself from the inside.... and the dirty glass didn't help any either....

 

[Overread17 5]

A polarizing filter helps indeed cut down on reflections from glass. That said the rubber lens hood pressed up to the glass also helps cut down reflections of light sources (especially indoors where you might have multiple light sources to cause more spots on the glass). I've even known a photographer to use a big black sheet of card with a slot in the middle for the lens so that he holds it up and the black card blocks light from reaching the glass itself (held close to the glass of course).

 

[raaskohx10]

Open the window and shoot. No glass. Simple.

 

[Morgan.Bingson]

You can also try shooting the glass at an angle instead of head on. This is more so when you are using a flash, but still works.