Shooting through windows/glass

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DaveHope

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Dave Hope
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I recently visited Marwell zoo and came across a few different situations where I found myself having no option but to shoot through the thick glass separating the animals from the visitors.

Focusing wasn't too much of a problem and I avoided reflections fairly well. On camera the images looked good, but I was a little disappointed when I got home to see they were a little soft. For example:



Just wondering if anyone has any tips for how to avoid soft images when shooting through glass that's not part of your lens :)
 
I don't think you can really do anything other than try to avoid reflections and dirty glass, I'd expect softness to be down to the glass itself which you can't do anything about.

For this specific example are you sure it's not slight motion blur/camera shake? The shot's at 1/40 of a second and judging by the original size image it looks more like motion blur than optical softness to me.
 
I've heard that a polarizing filter might be used in this situation, but I don't carry one around most of the time, besides most of the pictures I am interested in taking are in low light situations.
 
DazJW said:
For this specific example are you sure it's not slight motion blur/camera shake? The shot's at 1/40 of a second and judging by the original size image it looks more like motion blur than optical softness to me.
Click to expand...

It could be motion blur, I had the lens hood pushed against the glass to keen the heavy 80-200 still, so there shouldn't have been much movement.

Is there any easy way to tell if it's softness, or motion blur?
 
I find shooting through glass, or into water, without a polariser reduces contrast rather than sharpness. Altering levels and applying a little USM usually improves the images.
 
DaveHope said:
Is there any easy way to tell if it's softness, or motion blur?
Click to expand...

Softness is normally uniform across the centre of the image and might increase towards the edges - it should extend out from any point equally in all directions (so a soft circle in the centre of the frame would have an equally soft edge on all sides).
Motion blur happens in a certain direction and can be different in different areas if parts of the subject are moving differently.

I also tend to find that my eyes struggle to focus on a motion blurred image (almost like my brain can't quite decipher it) whereas they're fine with a soft image.

Looking at this one more closely I think it's definitely motion blur, there are a few places with noticeable vertical ghosting. The most prominent points are the horizontal white hairs like the middle two long white hairs above the eye nearest the log (the two that cross each other) and the whiskers. You can make it out anywhere with a strong contrast though.
If the log was strong enough that it should have been static then I'd say it's an upward or downward camera movement that's caused it.
 
Try and avoid shooting through glass,many of the modern types of glass have a very thin metallic coatings on them.This kills the photo.
 
Some people use rubber lens hoods that can press up against the glass and 'mould' to the glass stopping reflections.

Personally, I use a linear polariser, and attempt to not shoot through glass (although I do shoot through the kitchen window at home)
 
DADDYBLINKMAN said:
Try and avoid shooting through glass,many of the modern types of glass have a very thin metallic coatings on them.This kills the photo.
Click to expand...

That's not really answering the question though, unless you are volunteering to jump into the cage perhaps?

TBH, there's only so much that you can do if there's no other option:

Make sure that the lens is against and square to the glass where possible.

Compensate for the reduced contrast in PP

Use flash to push more light back (if the situation allows)

Clean or wipe your side of the glass (again where possible).
 
Hi Dave, I had similar issues when I tried clicking some Lions @ Knosley safari park..some one did suggest increasing saturation and contrast on PS..and this did work wonders..feel free to see this link Knowsley
 
Thanks for the feedback guys and sorry for the slow response!

There's definitely an element of motion blur in that particular shot, I can see it clear as day now DazJW points it out. I guess I'll have to get to the gym so as to toughen up for holding my heavier lenses :)

I used a polarising filter to try and reduce reflection, but I guess that cost me an f stop or so, so had to use a slower shutter speed.

Will have to think more carefully next time when shooting through glass :)
 
DazJW said:
I don't think you can really do anything other than try to avoid reflections and dirty glass, I'd expect softness to be down to the glass itself which you can't do anything about.

For this specific example are you sure it's not slight motion blur/camera shake? The shot's at 1/40 of a second and judging by the original size image it looks more like motion blur than optical softness to me.
Click to expand...

artyman said:
You will lose contrast through glass, just tweak it in PP
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Also, shooting at f3.2 is going to give you a fairly shallow depth of field. If there is a small error in your focus system then most of the picture is likely to be out of focus. I'd be tempted to stop down a couple of clicks.

A little extra contrast and sharpening -

Sharper.jpg
 
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