Shooting through glass

[ajohnw]

I would usually use flash for this and ensure that the reflections from it bounced well out of the camera view and then used perspective correction software plus mid contrast tone mapping and sharpening to get round the looking through glass effect.

I decided to take a couple without flash out of curiosity and wondered if anyone had any further thoughts on getting round the problems. The shots were taken in an early water powered needle polishing mill that managed to process over 1 million a week. 2 polishes for ordinary and 3 for best quality. They made needles for all sorts of sewing. The best display wasn't suitably placed for a shot.. The mill later turned to fishing hooks and early on made the basic item by hand. The equipment was interesting - hand punches for the eyes. Redditch was also famous for spring manufacture.
-

-
The perspective correction is odd. I suspect that the frame isn't square - it's over 100 years old. They were pretty mechanised by then.
-
-

-
This one had to be taken straight on as it was in a stairwell. No chance of using on camera flash.

John
-

[marlunn]

nice - love a bit of history. I cant offer advice really, I would shoot without flash personally - but thats just me.
The first one instantly reminded me of a Terry Pratchett book Going Postal

[IzzieK]

When I shot my dove recently behind the glass window, I did do it on an angle to take care of any reflection. I was, I think about 4-6 feet away where the dove was sitting on my deck. When we went to the Air Museum in Ohio, they said to take care of the reflections wear a black shirt or have a black sheet to shoot through glass...and in a little comment it says "don't you just wonder why most museum photographers wear black?" Maybe these are solutions you might want to walk through...hope these helps.

[rpcrowe]

I thought I recognized the name Redditch from fly fishing. In fact I actually own some Partridge of Redditch hooks...

http://www.partridge-of-redditch.co.uk/

[ajohnw]

I thought I recognized the name Redditch from fly fishing. In fact I actually own some Partridge of Redditch hooks...

http://www.partridge-of-redditch.co.uk/

I tie my own flies rather than buy them. Years ago I bought a lot of basic material from McHardys in Carlisle. They used to advertise in Trout and Salmon but were banned due to complaints like I bought best quality Jungle Cock feather and it isn't. Stupid really due to the price asked and the fact that real jungle cock has probably been unavailable for a very very long time. His feather quality actually was very good. No idea what stocks remain but they are still about. Talking to them after their advert was banned they had so much stock they were unlikely to ever sell it all. My fly tying vice broke some years ago but I have no need to make any more yet. I don't do much fly fishing either now. The advent of put and take has made it too easy and I don't get much opportunity to fish for wild fish or at least some that have been in the water for years rather than days.

A lot of the major fishing tackle manufacturers still have their head quarters in Redditch but little if any is really made their now. The last hook maker packed up fairly recently but he made hooks in volume for the North American commercial fishing market. I used to know Powell well and often bought off him as he had all sorts of interesting things in is basement. He met a woman finally in his 60's, sold his shop and retired to the south west. The new owners threw it all away.

I also do a bit of rod building at times. Usually to obtain glass fibre rods. People would be surprised how many of the manufacturers agree that best quality glass rods are still better than carbon fibre in some areas. These people are still in Redditch. A big help for that sort of thing. There are still several rod blank makers about but sea fishing is their main stay.

http://www.hopkinsholloway.co.uk/home

John
-

[Benjy]

John,not a great photo,thought you might be interested......36 1/2lbs salmon caught on Loch Lomond 1927...