I have had my XTi for about 6 months. I was wondering if you guys had any tips for shooting behind glass?

Thanks alot everyone!

Edited by DizzelDel on Aug 26, 2008 at 09:14 AM GMT

Well, you kind of need it on your body to get images in focus!

Oh... in front of that

The biggest problem with shooting through/behind glass is the reflections - possibly from both sides of the glass depending on thickness and refraction.

Get as close to the glass as possible. Rubber hoods can help by folding to the angle you want to shoot at. Otherwise, cup your hand or cover the airgap between your lens and the glass - this darkness is all you need to keep reflections from behind you in your lens.
This is particularily required if you're shooting with a flash - and allows your flash more effectiveness through the glass.

Good luck...

A dark cloth to have an assistant hold up to kill reflections and in many cases a polarizer will help enormously. Use a tripod if you can

If you are using flash remember angle of incidence = angle of reflection and chimp where necessary

David

Take that UV filter off

Seriously, though, all the other advice given above is valid.

DizzelDel wrote:
I have had my XTi for about 6 months. I was wondering if you guys had any tips for shooting behind glass?

Thanks alot everyone!

Avoid it It always seems to distort and degrade the image. If you have to, get as close as you can to mitigate reflections and try to shoot through the glass parallel to the lens, don't shoot at an angle or you'll end up with fuzzy pictures, probably.

Not sure what kind of glass we are talking about here, but for older zoo-type viewing "glass" (or similar) it can be a real challenge. The advice of getting the lens as close to the glass as possible is one of the biggest things. The other about trying to not shoot at a sharp angle is good as well.

I will say that if the quality of the glass isn't the best, you may need to frequently check your lcd (and zoom way the heck in) to see if you are getting clear results. If not, move over 12 inches or whatever and try again. Sometime it is a matter of trial and error to get you to that one good spot that is optically clear (or close enough)

And like I said, take the time to zoom way in when you are chimping, because otherwise you may go home thinking you got all kinds of great shots and you will get a surprise when you see muddy, nasty looking details in all the photos once they are up on your monitor.

Black out the white lettering on the front of your lens.

It can show in a reflection.

Do you recomend a using a circular polarizer?

Thx all!

I cut a hole the size of the lens in a piece of black poster board, slip it over the lens, and, as mentioned above, shoot as close to the glass as possible. Cheap, and effective, and can do it without an assistant.

DizzelDel wrote:
Do you recomend a using a circular polarizer?

Thx all!

Depends. If you are indoors you will probably miss the 2 stops of light or so you will lose to the CPL. Outdoors, with ample light...sure, it can cut reflections, though I personally rarely find it necessary if I shoot with the methods described in this thread.

Unless you are pressed for time, try some shots with bare lens, and some with the CPL.