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07/20/2005 10:57:48 PM · #1 |
| As you might know, I'm leaving for Australia on Aug. 1. I'm prety excited about taking some pictures of Los Angeles at night when I'm taking off, and I've also been inspired by the current post on clouds...does anyone have any tip on taking pictures through an airplane window? Will they even show up clearly? I flew into Miami at night once, and took quite a few shots with a disposable camera, but none of them developed. |
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07/20/2005 11:22:02 PM · #2 |
night time shots (long exposures) from a moving airplane are not a good mix. you can try, but they will be blury.
Now day time shots are not a problem, unless the window you are at is all scratched up. Typically if the window is not too bad you get some decent pics. if the sun is on the same side of the plane as you are that will cause some exposure and glare problems.
make sure your flash does not go off while in flight. I did that once and it scared a few people.
James |
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07/20/2005 11:31:11 PM · #3 |
I've tried nighttime city pics from aircraft, they are a biatch. Try the following:
- Set camera in manual mode
- Set zoom for widest angle
- Set aperture at widest setting
- Set ISO one step up from mimimum (200?)
Take along a dark piece of paper that will cover most or all of the window, with a hole for the lens. Stick the lens thru the hole and push the lens right up to the glass.
Shoot at about 1/30s and see what you get. Adjust shutter speed as needed, don't go too much slower or you'll get blur.
the biggest problem, other than exposure, will be reflections off the inside of the window. There is quite a gap between the inner, thin plastic window and the "real" outer window. If you let light past your makeshift shade, it will bounce off the outer window and create reflections.
Edit for typos :-P
Message edited by author 2005-07-20 23:32:52.
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07/21/2005 01:19:35 PM · #4 |
| Using a rubber lens hood (pressed to the glass) will eliminate any internal reflections off the window. It̢۪s also good for aquariums. Unless you are using a real wide angle I would suggest shoot at the highest shutter speed possible. Planes & helicopters are quite vibration prone. |
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07/21/2005 01:22:45 PM · #5 |
| Increase in-camera contrast to maximum. If you look at a histogram of a photo taken from a plane, they usually show a narrow tonal range. Increasing contrast increases the information you can capture. Add more contrast in PS afterwards. |
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07/21/2005 01:32:58 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by hyperfocal:
Using a rubber lens hood (pressed to the glass) will eliminate any internal reflections off the window. It̢۪s also good for aquariums. Unless you are using a real wide angle I would suggest shoot at the highest shutter speed possible. Planes & helicopters are quite vibration prone. |
A rubber lens hood is insufficient. The distance between the inner and ourter glass is too great. For night shots, this results in very bad reflections, and ruins the result. Been there, done that. Hated it.
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:
Increase in-camera contrast to maximum. If you look at a histogram of a photo taken from a plane, they usually show a narrow tonal range. Increasing contrast increases the information you can capture. Add more contrast in PS afterwards. |
This would prolly work well for daytime, when the contrast can be quite low due to haze. For night shots, I would leave the contrast at a normal setting.
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07/21/2005 01:36:18 PM · #7 |
 
I've had a few decent recults with it. I agree with Fritz...the lens needs to be as close as can be to the glass, but even then the double panes of glass are a mess. I did some pretty serious PS work to both to get rid of scratches, haze and frost. |
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07/21/2005 01:47:25 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
A rubber lens hood is insufficient. The distance between the inner and ourter glass is too great. For night shots, this results in very bad reflections, and ruins the result. Been there, done that. Hated it. |
It has worked fine for me numberous times. It must just be that inferior Canon glass ;-). Besides who wants to carry a large sheet of dark paper when traveling.
Message edited by author 2005-07-21 13:47:56. |
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07/21/2005 02:17:37 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by hyperfocal:
Originally posted by kirbic:
A rubber lens hood is insufficient. The distance between the inner and ourter glass is too great. For night shots, this results in very bad reflections, and ruins the result. Been there, done that. Hated it. |
It has worked fine for me numberous times. It must just be that inferior Canon glass ;-). Besides who wants to carry a large sheet of dark paper when traveling. |
The rubber hood works fine with a single pane or when the panes are close together as in a house window. The panes in an airplane window however, are ~4in apart, the rubber hood is marginal under the best conditions.
Maybe you just don't notice the defects due to the window panes when you use that recycled scrap glass that Nikon calls a lens... :P
As far as carrying a large sheet of paper, let me fill you in on a neat trick. You can take paper and FOLD it up so that it is smaller when you aren't using it. I know, it's an amazing thing. You should try it, it really does work.
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07/21/2005 04:16:33 PM · #10 |
Just to add:
Avoid using polarizers unless you like a LOT of rainbows! |
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07/21/2005 04:18:54 PM · #11 |
Thank you all for your helpful comments....I'll make sure to try the things you said!
Kevin |
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