Guidance on different type of shots

[THaNaToZ]

So I'm leaving for my big vacation in a few weeks and I've made it thru half of the tutorials on here and just completed an intro DSLR photography class. I'm pretty comfortable with my camera (canon 70d) and how to change the settings but I'm writing this because I wanted some guidance on how to take the following type of shots. I know there is NO set in stone settings or anything like that. I'm more or less looking for things to be aware of or should lean towards.

1. Shooting animals through glass. I've seen someone here take amazing shots of some jellyfish but unaware how they did it. I have a circular polarizer filter and wondering if this might be the requirement.
2. Taking landscape/scenic shots while riding on a skylift.
3. Taking shots while riding on a moving bus, possibly through windows.

[benm]

1. Use a rubber lens hood which will allow you to put the camera right up against the glass and prevent stray light coming in from the sides.
2. Do you mean ski lift or a cable car cabin? If it has windows find one with clean windows. Some directions will be better than others depending on the location of the sun. Use a fairly fast shutter speed.
3. Moving bus? Don't bother.

[NorthernFocus]

Reflections and/or smudges tend to be the issues with shooting through glass. The rubber lens hood as mentioned is a good idea. Also putting a hard lens hood up against the glass and sheidling it with a hat or something on the side the light is coming from that is creating reflections. For the cable car, bus, ferry, etc, where you will have a seat by a window, get a pack of the tissue glass cleaners that come in a pack like babie wipes. When you sit down just clean your window.

I've shot the jellyfish in an aquarium before. They were easy because they were in a dark room, no flash allowed, and they are typically in a cylindrical aquarium. So no/little reflections to worry about.

[Shadowman]

So I'm leaving for my big vacation in a few weeks and I've made it thru half of the tutorials on here and just completed an intro DSLR photography class. I'm pretty comfortable with my camera (canon 70d) and how to change the settings but I'm writing this because I wanted some guidance on how to take the following type of shots. I know there is NO set in stone settings or anything like that. I'm more or less looking for things to be aware of or should lean towards.

1. Shooting animals through glass. I've seen someone here take amazing shots of some jellyfish but unaware how they did it. I have a circular polarizer filter and wondering if this might be the requirement.
2. Taking landscape/scenic shots while riding on a skylift.
3. Taking shots while riding on a moving bus, possibly through windows.

The moving bus is possible but you miss about one out of three. Try to find an open airbus if possible, if you are on a group tour bus with tinted windows your opportunities are limited but you can get one or two good shots on a sunny day, nighttime shots through a bus window and you'll have more shots of your reflection than anything outside.

[IzzieK]

Dear...?
I sincerely wish I can refer to you by your first name or some nickname perhaps ? Thanks.

[THaNaToZ]

Name Corrected

So follow up questions on my 3 scenarios:
1. Would u still use the polarizer or just the lens hood? Is using a lens hood recommended for all shots?
2. Example of lift below
A ski lift like shown below
http://carnival-news.com/wp-content/...1/img_2186.jpg
3. I have no idea what the bus will be nor will I probably until I get there. I will probably have no problem with getting window seat. I could try fast continuous shooting but didnt know if that would still have blur.

[NorthernFocus]

Name Corrected

So follow up questions on my 3 scenarios:
1. Would u still use the polarizer or just the lens hood? Is using a lens hood recommended for all shots?
2. Example of lift below
A ski lift like shown below
http://carnival-news.com/wp-content/...1/img_2186.jpg
3. I have no idea what the bus will be nor will I probably until I get there. I will probably have no problem with getting window seat. I could try fast continuous shooting but didnt know if that would still have blur.

IMO, polarizers are a pain to use properly. Unless I wanted the effects for the scene I was shooting I would just use the hood/sheilding method. If shooting at an angle to the glass you can also simply put one edge of the hood against the glass and cup your hand around the gap on the other side. That also helps stabilize the camera and prevents the hood bumping the glass if in that cable car or bus. Regarding whether to us the hood all the time, by asking the question you probably just sparked another round of that debate... For me personally, I do not use an UV filter to protect the lens therefore count on the hood to do so. UV filters are another whole debate...

For the bus ride, just keep you shutter speed high, use OS/IS/VR (whichever brand applies), shoot bursts, and hope for the best. The worst that can happen is that you delete a bunch of photos.

[rpcrowe]

Windows in moving conveyances such as ski lifts, airplanes, etc. (as well as aquarium tank walls) are often not glass but rather Plexiglas of some type. Using a polarizing filter shooting through Plexiglas will often induce a Moire pattern in your images.

Using a rubber lens hood right against the aquarium tank will help prevent reflections. Often, however, the color balance can be tricky. I press the rubber hood against the tank but, not the lens itself.



Shooting through bus windows is often a PITA because of reflections, tints, etc. I seldom will shoot through the window unless there is something special that I want to capture such as this power plant in China which I thought was nuclear but, learned that it was a fossil fuel generated plant (probably coal).



OTOH, I just love shooting from the top of an open, double decked, tour bus. I will take this type of tour whenever it is available. It serves to rest my legs from walk-around shooting and often gets me into position for good shots...







Shooting from any moving conveyance, including aircraft introduces vehicle movement as well as vibration into the shooting equation. I will never rest my camera against the window or against my knee because the vibration of the vehicle will be transmitted to the camera. Instead, I hand hold my camera and let my arms become somewhat of a shock absorber. Stabilization is a great help in many cases...

It is often best when shooting through the window of a conveyance to shoot with the sun at your back so that it doesn't flare on the vehicle windows. That is sometimes a guessing game when selecting your seats. Unless, it is like a ski lift which only travels in a straight line.

I like to shoot at a higher shutter speed to compensate for vehicle motion and/or vibration. I will increase my ISO if needed to keep the speed fast. However, I will try to shoot while the bus has stopped or, at least, slowed down. You can often get shots from the top of an open bus that you would not capture other ways. This image was captured at 1/250 second shutter speed.



Often a bit of post processing will help you end up with a better image. This image was quite muddy and flat straight out of the camera...



I would strongly recommend that you practice before your trip. There is probably nothing more disappointing than having a whole series of vacation images spoiled because of camera or operator error...

[kateveber]

Here're so many things to learn and implement. It's fact that you can't shoot photos on the same manner for all the time. You need to remember some tactics while clicking different type of shots.

[Shadowman]

Transamerica Building in the background.


24mm, 1/250sec, f/8, ISO 200

It can get windy up on the second level so dress appropriately.