Taking photo of subjects through glass can
be very difiicult, but getting it right can giev fantastic result
Taking photos through glass is sometimes a
necessity, and is therefore a great, technique to master. Whether you have
tried to take shots trough glass at a zoo, attempted to get a good shot of your
goldfish at home or even tried to shoot at panoramic landscape through the top
floor of a skyscraper, no doubt you have come across the difficulties that we
have all faced. There are lots of issues that go hand in hand whith shooting
through glass, and often they can completely ruin the shot you are trying to get.
These issues can range from a slight flaring from another light source, the
faint sign of your own reflection, or even your camera’s inability to recognise
your subject. Often with this type of shot it is the camera that cause the
mistakes, rather than the person behind it. Therefore getting your best shots
through glass can be difficult, and to get the most uot of your camera it can
be necessary to take a step back from the automatic settings. This does not
mean it requires vast knowledge and an expensive camera, but in these types of
situations your camera can be easily confused and not know that you are trying
to photograph a subject behind another layer of glass.
Buy
using the right settings and a few nitty tricks, you can take great through-
the- glass photographs
However, with a few simple steps and some
consideration as to what is around you, it is possible to get some great shots
through glass in no time. Whether you are off on a jungle safari or simply taking
shots of your aquarium, follow these simple steps to get your best- ever
through- the- glass photos.
What you will need
Digital camera
Black cloth
Cleaning cloth
We used …
Olympus PEN E- PL3
Black coat
Your could try …
Any digital camera
Black card
What you will learn …
How to solve the issues of shooting trough
glass
Avoid making common mistakes
There
are lots of distracting reflections in this image which take the attention away
from the subject
People often make mistakes when not enough
time has been taken to prepare for the shot. These can range from a simple
reflection in the glass to your camera’s flash bouncing back at you and ruining
the shot.
Photograph through glass take great images at the zoo or
in an aquarium
Clean the glass
When
shooting a subject through glass you are likely to capture all of the
imperfections on the glass itself.
When shooting a subject through glass you
are likely to capture all of the imperfections on the glass itself. This will
show up in your photo as a rather obvious through- the- glass shot. A simple
wipe clean can be all you need to improve your image.
Kill the reflection
Kill
the reflection - One of the major issues with shooting through glass is the
reflections
One of the major issues with shooting
through glass is the reflections. These can come from inwanted light sources or
other objects in the room. Simply holding up a darl piece of cloth can be very
effective in minimising these as distractions in your shot.
Turn the flash off
The
flash will there for fire and reflect off the glass, giving you an unusable
shot.
You are likely be shooting very close to
the glass, and your camera might become confused with the lighting consitions.
The flash will there for fire and reflect off the glass, giving you an unusable
shot. Ensure it is switched off to get the best results.
Manually focus
If
you are able to, switch your camera to manual focus
If you are able to, switch your camera to
manual focus. Many cameras will automatically focus on the glass, but using
manual focus lets you focus on the subject behind the glass. If the subject is
moving, you minght need to switch to continous autofocus.
Exposure compensation
You
may find that the images are coming out either too dark or too bright.
You may find that the images are coming out
either too dark or too bright. Your camera can sometimes choose settings for
the light outside of the glass, and so boosting or reducing the exposure value
can help to get a better final shot.
Shoot straight on
Shoot
straight on
When you are ready to take your shots,
ensure you are shooting straight on to the glass. Any slight angles could cause
the glass to distort the subject behind it, whereas a straight- on view should
give the correcy perspective for a great image.
