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Here's how to take pictures through windows, aquarium walls, and similar clear surfaces. (If you want to take a picture OF glass, such as a wine glass, you generally want something interesting including light sources to be bent and reflected in it -- try hard side lighting and a dark, uncluttered background.)

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EditSteps

  1. Take Pictures Through a Window Step 1.jpg
    1
    Find a flat, clean, scratch-free area of the glass, preferably not itself in bright lighting.
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  2. Take Pictures Through a Window Step 2.jpg
    2
    If the glass is sunlit, use a polarizing filter to eliminate reflections off the glass.
  3. Take Pictures Through a Window Step 3.jpg
    3
    Put the camera close (to refocus any defects in the glass) and take a picture through it without a flash if possible.
  4. Take Pictures Through a Window Step 4.jpg
    4
    If there is not enough light and you must use on-camera flash, back up at least a foot or two (so the flash is not reflected back into the lens at short range from all angles) and take the picture at an angle so the direct reflection off the glass continues off away from the lens rather than right back into it. If you can control the aperture set it wide so the glass and its defects are still relatively refocused.
  5. Take Pictures Through a Window Step 5.jpg
    5
    If you have fancy equipment, try off-camera flash pointed through the glass at a point well away from the camera (which can go back up against the glass if on-camera flash is not being used), and/or "cross-polarized" flash (arrange the axes of polarization on a filter over the flash(es) and over the lens perpendicular to each other). For cross-polarized flash use a digital camera to account for much experimentation. The axes are perpendicular if looking through one (or the camera) at the other (or the flash, which need not be turned on), each tilted at the angle in which it will be used, the other filter looks black rather than light gray. The direct reflections should basically be filtered out. Set the filter on the lens first to account for sun on the glass if that is an issue. Use a cheap polarizing filter, either glass or plastic film, with black tape or other attachment around it over the flash.
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EditTips

  • Similar principles should apply with video.
  • Don't forget to set correct white balance on a digital camera -- sunlight or flash, which are basically the same, in sunlight or with flash; the appropriate artificial light source if in artificial light.

EditWarnings

  • Flash should not be used around some fish or other animals that would be upset or startled into hurting themselves by it.

Article Info

Categories: Photography | Photography Lighting

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