clear/sharp photos taken from airplanes windows

[woodentom]

i have wondered how to take claear photos from airplane windows. i have tried for years and as all windows are stratched, dirty etc every photo appears foggy or certainly looks like it has been taken through a window.

i had a look at http://www.airliners.net and wondered how all these photos taken from an airplane seemed so clear.

i assume it must be a technique or an extremely good filter

any suggestions are appreciated

thanks

 

[Petteri Sulonen]

First off, filters won't help. A polarizer cuts through haze, but won't do a thing to a pane of scratched Perspex.

Second, many of these must have been shot from private planes where you can change the window once it gets scratched -- i.e., through clearer-than-average windows. Or new, recently cleaned airliners. Next time you're on one, seize the chance.

Third, technique: to reduce the effect of scratches on the window, (1) put your camera right up to the window, touching it if possible, and (2) use a large enough aperture. The former will reduce reflections greatly, and the latter will blur the scratches.

Fourth, post-processing: use wide-radius unsharp mask or some other contrast-enhancing technique to "print through" the haziness caused by the dirty, scratchy window.

Petteri
--
[ http://www.prime-junta.net/ ]
[ http://p-on-p.blogspot.com/ ]

 

[Fred Klaiss]

Besides the above, choose a day and time of day when the haze level is lowest, and when the pollution level is low. When shooting out of a commercial airliner, it's luck of the draw. My view: the shots most consider excellent are "luck" or taken professionally from a charter flight.

 

[baw]

In my experience almost all shots have to postprocessed because the histogram is very narrow. Levels adjustment brings up lots of detail out of the hazy original.
For taking the shot:

• Lens as close to the window as possible, to prevent reflections. (a rubber lenshood might help)
• Aim straight through the window if possible, to have as little "window" between the lens and outside.
• Use the centre of the window, usually has less distortion than the edges.

Scratches etc. are mostly way out of focus, so not much of a problem imo.
--
Regards -x- Ben

N i k o n 5 7 0 0 -x- http://wouters-ba.ath.cx

The best proof intelligent life in space exists is that they have never tried to contact us.

 

[Peter Berressem]

Another point: shoot through a window at the 'shadow' side, i.e. where the sun doesn't hit the glass. Any direct light enhaces scratches and dirt on glass.

--
cheers, Peter

Germany

 

[Barrie Davis]

• Lens as close to the window as possible, to prevent reflections.

(a rubber lenshood might help)

Yes. A rubber lenshood is a great idea.

Hard contact with the window may conduct vibrations to the camera and increase the chances of camera shake.

Piston engined aircraft are more of a problem in this regard, of course.

Ideally you should hover the camera away from the window by a fraction of an inch, and not brace your hands on any part of the aircraft structure.
--
Regards,
Baz

 

[Rob22315]

airplane windows, like fog, seem to really clobber contrast. In situations like these, I use the 'Clarify' tool in PSP. I don't know the exact equivalent in PSCS2 but it seems to be a clever combination of contrast and gamma (mid-tone) enhancements. It won't make a perfect picture but I find it does make the best of a less-than-ideal situation.

RG

 

[jpp188636]

http://www.lonestardigital.com/photoshop_quicktips.htm
and follow their lonks, too...
--
Just passing by...

 

[jpp188636]

have a clarity plug-in for PS
--
Just passing by...

 

[jfelbab]

I took this shot of the Rockies from about 7 miles up in a Boeing 717 at around 5PM. The scratches in the window were not obvious in the photos. The air was very clear on this particular afternoon. Depending on whether light is reflecting in the scratches you can get reasonable shots from commercial aircraft. Plan to sit on the shaded side of the plane if possible. I only had my P&S so no UV filter was available but I'd recommend one. I polarizer might also be of use.



Olympus C50Z P&S.
1/320 sec.
f 5.6
ISO 80
7.80 mm
--
Jim

 

[Davy Davis]

You might want to check out Julieanne Kost's book Window Seat. It is filled with a lot of great shots she took on commercial airliners and concludes with a discussion of the post-processing she uses on a regular basis.
Davy
--
http://www.pbase.com/davydavis2247/galleries