How to reduce/eliminate reflections in windows

[GMB]

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During the confinement I walked my my neighbourhood regularly and noted that many houses have funny and interesting decorations in their windows. So I am thinking of making a little series of window shots. The problem, however, is the reflection in the window which, depending on the light can be quite strong. Shots the turn into self portraits, which is not the intention. Sure, I can get myself out of the picture by putting the camera on a tripod.  But then you see the camera.

Any idea on how reduce/eliminate the window reflections? I tried a polariser but the effect was marginal at best. 

[FrozenInTime]

You want to keep the polarizer at 90 degree to the light for it to work best.

If you want to keep the image perspective all squared up, and not be in the shot, stand offset from the window and crop the frame from a wide lens.

[wda]

In my experience, you need to shoot at an angle of 45 degrees to the window and avoid using a wide angle setting. (You get varying degrees of polarisation with a wide  angle lens. Try it with a landscape scene and you will see what I mean). Rotate the pol filter to achieve optimum results.

[holgerf]

Tilt and Shift lens may help.

[Stealth3kpl]

4 hours ago, holgerf said:

Tilt and Shift lens may help.

Or a periscope 😁

A polariser won't work unless you're at an angle, as someone stated. They won't work for head-on photos through the glass. You need to stand where you're not in light or hide behind something. Does she know you're doing this? 😂

Pete

[Jeff S]

17 minutes ago, Stealth3kpl said:

Does she know you're doing this? 😂

 

Have them open the windows.  Problem solved.
 

Jeff

[250swb]

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A brick?

[wparsonsgisnet]

Polarizer with perspective control in the post processing?

[jaapv]

Shoot in muted light under a cloudy sky - and wear grey velvet clothes.

Seriously: don't try and get rid of the reflections. Find an angle that will make them part of your composition. It will add a layer of interest. If you stick to the reproduction of the decoration; that is  just documenting. If you integrate the view from the window you add a layer of interest and turn your image into a photograph. Even better if you can get a glimpse of the interior or inhabitants in as well: another layer of interest. That is a compositional challenge to set yourself.

[Guest BlackBarn]

57 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Even better if you can get a glimpse of the interior or inhabitants in as well: another layer of interest

Only suggesting interior public spaces I hope.

Edited July 22, 2020 by BlackBarn
Missed a word

[jaapv]

You can do that ethically.

The rule in most countries is:
One can photograph private spaces from a public space, such as a home or homeowner from the footpath across the street, taking care not to violate expectation of privacy.
How many photographs are there of people peeking out of their window? Millions.

Street photography could not exist without - one is often picking up views through windows, interiors of shops, people inside private spaces, if only as part of an image of something else.

[GMB]

Thanks for the various suggestions. It seems that there is no obvious solution. So making the reflection part of the composition may be the way to go. Probably just putting the camera on a tripod and using the self timer. 

[foto_fanatiker]

I totally agree with @jaapv.  The beauty of the photography lies in the perfect imperfection. If this is however not your style and you want to make the "perfect photo" without any flaw, then you can start experimenting with controlling and playing with the orientation of the light, your position and the position of the window. In the photography it is all about angles, perspectives and reflections. My tip is to use a black backdrop behind the camera. Make sure that the camera is staying stable on the ground and it is not moving. And most of all, Experiment, experiment, experiment! There are a lot of books and written comments about avoiding reflections and making the picture perfect (for example the book ""The Science of Lighting and Magic"). Do your own thing. The photography is all about expressing yourself through your own lens. 

[EddieJ]

On 6/13/2020 at 8:04 PM, GMB said:

During the confinement I walked my my neighbourhood regularly and noted that many houses have funny and interesting decorations in their windows. So I am thinking of making a little series of window shots. The problem, however, is the reflection in the window which, depending on the light can be quite strong. Shots the turn into self portraits, which is not the intention. Sure, I can get myself out of the picture by putting the camera on a tripod.  But then you see the camera.

Any idea on how reduce/eliminate the window reflections? I tried a polariser but the effect was marginal at best. 

2 years late, but nevertheless.

All sound advice.

One of the units we deliver is Style merchandise for photo images [aka Photo Styling]. There is a requirement to document shop façades of various retail store/shops etc.

The preferred method to eliminate most reflections was to shoot at night - using the window lighting and angle of view to reduce the offending reflections. Naturally a tripod must be used.

Additional tips -

When shooting front on ensure that you are not lit up. In other words - where dark clothes.

Use a standard focal length - 35 or 50.

Polarisers are only effective when the offending reflection is perpendicular to the window. In other words - the polariser [on the lens] will only reduce/eliminate the reflections on that one axis. You need 2 seperate polarisers *one of the camera and one for the reflection, and rotate on that axis.

[cboy]

Lens snoot?

https://www.diyphotography.net/a-funny-lens-hood-to-kill-all-window-reflections/

[Siriusone59]

13 minutes ago, cboy said:

Lens snoot?

https://www.diyphotography.net/a-funny-lens-hood-to-kill-all-window-reflections/

While that is a very interesting contraption for shooting from the inside to reduce reflections, I believe the original post was about reflections from the outside while photographing windows.  If used as described from the outside of the window I'm afraid that the photographer might get a shot completely different than intended.😉

[stuny]

For my shop window photos, I shoot in the dark.