Shooting through a window

[Jeff Berman]

For better or worse, I spend a lot of time in Manhattan office buildings, many with fantastic views that deserve to be recorded on a 4x5 negative. What's the best way to shoot through a window? Assuming that the glass is (relatively) clean and distortion-free, and I use a compendium shade jammed right up against the window to block reflections from inside, can I expect good results or is there something else I should be doing? (I already thought about shading my spot meter as well as the camera lens.)

Thanks for any advice!

Jeff

[David A. Goldfarb]

Make sure the light is coming from behind you, so that it doesn't cause any flare on the glass (which could be tough if you're shooting a nice south-facing view). You might also make note of when the windows are cleaned outside to take advantage of it, and clean the inside before shooting with Windex.

If you have any opportunity to shoot from the upper floors of the Grace Building on 42nd between 5th and 6th, the south-facing view of the Empire State Building and the Harbor is fantastic.

[Jeff Berman]

Thanks, David.

There's always the north-facing view over Central Park from the higher floors of 9 West 57th Street, late afternoon, threatening skies ... now all I have to do is find some titan of finance who'll let me drag my kit up there.

By the way, your photos of Grant's Tomb and the Cotton Club are eye-poppingly good.

Jeff

[Michael Wynd]

Sorry David, but I couldn't help it. I've never shot with windex before, tell me how. LOL
Mike

[David A. Goldfarb]

Heh. Well if you're shooting from a skyscraper, better to have a modifier dangling than something more valuable.