Taking Pictures Through Windows

Curt · Aug 15, 2009

IMO, the reflections are what make these types of pix interesting. I would use them rather than worrying about them. My only advice is to go out and shoot a lot, and to not think about the pix in literal terms, but in conceptual ones. Your pic is made by the reflection of the apartment in the top left, IMO.

Exactly, this is what I did in college for a class, it's fun to go on a Sunday morning when it's relatively quiet, and it's the unexpected that makes them special.

Sirius Glass · Aug 15, 2009

hughitb said:
I was out taking a few more of these shots yesterday and had an interesting experience. A tale of two halves ...

...

I then moved to a nearby street where there was a large clothing store with some mannequins with animal heads. I was in the middle of shooting these when next thing a lady from the shop comes out and tells me I am not "allowed" to take photographs of the window display. I kind of deliberately ignored her for a minute to finish the shot I was taking and then embarked on this ridiculous conversation with her whereby I tried to tell her that since this is a public street and the window display is the public face of their store she has no legal basis on which to tell me I am not allowed to take photographs. She didn't really take this in and just kept repeating that I am not allowed to take pictures .. blah blah blah. I told her that I was finished anyway but that she was wrong in what she was saying. She went back into the shop and just because I was irritated I took another one before moving on.

Now, my question is this. Am I correct? It strikes me that this may be something of a gray area. It's obviously the case that you are free to take pictures on a public street. It would not however be okay to take pictures inside the store (or at least the store are perfectly within their rights to make no photos a condition of entry). As I understand it, it is generally not okay to take pictures into a private premises from a public street (i.e. I can't sit in a tree across the road from your house and take pictures of you sunbathing in your garden). This could reasonably be extended to taking pictures into (e.g. through the door of) a store from the street. But what about a window display? Technically it is inside the store but on the other hand it's the public face of the store intended for public view ...

I'm aware that obviously this sort of thing varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction so its pretty hard to have a definitive answer. Also, whatever the exact legal status I am not going to let this inhibit me doing this. I am just curious and want to have my arguments prepared better next time ..

Hugh

While I pesonally am respectful of people not wanting the privacy invaded by photography, this is one instance that I am can state that I would take the photograph anyway.

Why?

Because you legally have the right to take the photograph and she is legally wrong to harrass you. You could have called the police if she had continued and had her cited. And in this case, I would do both!

Steve

fotch · Aug 15, 2009

Just tell her you are only photographing the glass, not the display. Then if she continues, ignore her like your deaf, and if she still continues, take her picture and tell her you freelance for the local papers and will make a report of her silly claims in an article, since its "news".

Davec101 · Aug 16, 2009

I shot this through a window and it kinda worked out well, now I am always looking for these types of shots as you can get unexpected results!

fotch · Aug 16, 2009

Great shot!

BetterSense · Aug 16, 2009

Most of this thread seems to be about reflections on the glass. But suppose you are meterless and inside. It's a sunny day outside and your subject is in the sun. Sunny 16 would work considering your subject is in the sun, but there is a pane of glass between you. How much light does window glass block?

I think that it is not very much and probably insignificant, but it has caused me to wonder before. Especially when in a car and shooting at something outside the car, because care glass seems to be green-tinted. How many stops ND are cosmetically tinted windows like limo windows?

Sirius Glass · Aug 16, 2009

When I take photographs of a window, I usually take two photographs, one with a polarizer and one without a polarizer. Later, I decide which one I like the best.

Steve

Joe VanCleave · Aug 18, 2009

Depends if the glass is tinted, for one. Since this thought experiment assumes you're meterless, and I'm assuming you have some experience in judging exposures, then I'd recommend viewing the scene outside directly, then coming inside and viewing it through the window, and judging your exposure accordingly. Since there are no standards for window transparency, especially with the possibility of some special coating or treatment on the glass, what else could you do?

Oh, and bracket your exposures.

~Joe

Sirius Glass · Aug 18, 2009

Joe VanCleave said:
Depends if the glass is tinted, for one. Since this thought experiment assumes you're meterless, and

Bad assumption - I use a meter.

Steve

Q.G. · Aug 18, 2009

Sirius Glass said:
Bad assumption - I use a meter.

The thought experiment started saying "suppose you are meterless and [...]" though.

Q.G. · Aug 18, 2009

After trying to remember where i put the thing, some rummaging, trying to think again, some more opening of bags, cabinets, and boxes, and finally finding my spot meter, i just gave it a try.

I can report that, pointing the thing at the same something, both direct and through a regular window pane, it makes no difference at all as long as there is no battery in the meter.
Must go shop for some...

EASmithV · Aug 19, 2009

Q.G. said:
After trying to remember where i put the thing, some rummaging, trying to think again, some more opening of bags, cabinets, and boxes, and finally finding my spot meter, i just gave it a try.

I can report that, pointing the thing at the same something, both direct and through a regular window pane, it makes no difference at all as long as there is no battery in the meter.
Must go shop for some...

That's why I love my L-508. Incident and spot, and it uses a single AA battery.

Taking Pictures Through Windows

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency