Tour Bus Photography in GB and Europe Issues
May 28, 2018 10:40:00 #
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
Two days ago, I returned from a 12 day 8 port cruise around the British Isles with a stop in Le Harve and Paris. For those of you planning to travel and do photography on a bus tour this summer, you should be aware of what I discovered.
During the trip, I took tours at all eight ports of call plus three at Dublin where we had an over night stay. I took over 2000 exposures, many of which are not acceptable because of reflections from the glass windows on the buses. Up till now, most buses have had single pane glass windows and a polarizing filter can easily attenuate the reflections when used properly. However, I found that several of the tour buses in Europe now have dual pane (Thermo-pane) windows. Polarizing filters do not work. Turning the filter around a full 360 degrees shows no effect whatsoever. It reacts instead as if it is an ND filter. If any of you have a solution to the problem, please post it.
During the trip, I took tours at all eight ports of call plus three at Dublin where we had an over night stay. I took over 2000 exposures, many of which are not acceptable because of reflections from the glass windows on the buses. Up till now, most buses have had single pane glass windows and a polarizing filter can easily attenuate the reflections when used properly. However, I found that several of the tour buses in Europe now have dual pane (Thermo-pane) windows. Polarizing filters do not work. Turning the filter around a full 360 degrees shows no effect whatsoever. It reacts instead as if it is an ND filter. If any of you have a solution to the problem, please post it.
May 28, 2018 10:46:44 #
We've had the same issues. The only solution has been to accept a higher reject rate or get out of the bus when it stops.
May 28, 2018 10:54:13 #
I heard, but have not had the opportunity to confirm, that if you use a rubber lens shade on the lens, and place the shade flush against the window when taking the picture, that the internal glare/reflections are minimized or non-existent.
Hope this helps.
Gary
Hope this helps.
Gary
May 28, 2018 10:58:55 #
I don't have one, but there is a gadget for shooting through glass.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1051335-REG/lenskirt_lskirt1_lenskirt.html?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3OhRXVYoJ0wOeXStTS7M0CHNlYEjCHA7gm29aHZhBpTm8yqs-dcT2kaAv5tEALw_wcB
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1051335-REG/lenskirt_lskirt1_lenskirt.html?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3OhRXVYoJ0wOeXStTS7M0CHNlYEjCHA7gm29aHZhBpTm8yqs-dcT2kaAv5tEALw_wcB
May 28, 2018 18:36:25 #
bsprague wrote:
I don't have one, but there is a gadget for shooting through glass.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1051335-REG/lenskirt_lskirt1_lenskirt.html?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3OhRXVYoJ0wOeXStTS7M0CHNlYEjCHA7gm29aHZhBpTm8yqs-dcT2kaAv5tEALw_wcB
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1051335-REG/lenskirt_lskirt1_lenskirt.html?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3OhRXVYoJ0wOeXStTS7M0CHNlYEjCHA7gm29aHZhBpTm8yqs-dcT2kaAv5tEALw_wcB
Interesting, but I can't imagine your fellow passengers would be too pleased with you.
May 29, 2018 06:35:36 #
These gadgets only work on single panes. You can push the camera right up against the glass but you can't stop the image on the outer pane. Double glazing is becoming more common on vehicles here (even personal) but mainly high end and commercial. I don't think there is a way around this, unless perhaps some of the shake recovery software in Elements and the like can pull the image back together.
May 29, 2018 07:01:40 #
bpulv wrote:
Two days ago, I returned from a 12 day 8 port crui... (show quote)
That's too bad. Sadly if there is a solution it will not solve your problem. Other than that, what did you think of the trip??
May 29, 2018 08:56:37 #
I was on that same cruise and had same problem on some of the coaches. I used a CP filter and tried to shoot from low position so camera angles up. A lot of the reflection comes from a reflection of front windshield in the side windows.
Fortunately most of the excursions I was on had single pane windows. Would like to know more tips for taking pics through bus windows
Fortunately most of the excursions I was on had single pane windows. Would like to know more tips for taking pics through bus windows
May 29, 2018 09:56:34 #
LA
Loc: Little Rock, AR
My solution is not to take cruise ship excursions. It is usually easy to find local guides with a car or small van, either just you or with a few others. The cost will be less and the experience far superior. It is easy easy easy for 6 or 8 people to agree to "stop here" to take photos and generally get a better look. You can also agree on an itinerary YOU want rather than one made up by the cruise line. And when you do stop, there are not 60 other people there. More people do not do this because they worry about being left by the ship but it's similar to worrying about being struck by lightning. After you've done it a time one two, you quit worrying. I have quit taking cruise excursions unless it's the absolute only way to get there. Even then, I usually find doing a walking tour on my own in the port town to be preferable.
May 29, 2018 10:35:25 #
Lagoonguy
Loc: New Smyrna Beach, FL
On a land tour to Albania/Macedonia/Serbia/Northern Greece last year I had about a 5% success rate with shots through our windows on a small MB bus. I have decided to relax and enjoy the view from now on unless a clear shot falls in my lap. I concur with bypassing cruise ship tours and going with a small private tour group or just another couple in a hired auto with a driver because you will have better & less crowded opportunities for photos. Leaving the herd behind helps as well.
May 29, 2018 12:18:24 #
repleo wrote:
Interesting, but I can't imagine your fellow passengers would be too pleased with you.
Why? They are all busy blocking the windows with their iPhones and iPads anyway. Not to mention flashes going off.
May 29, 2018 12:26:49 #
I just got back from a Viking River Cruise of the Rhone Valley. It was impossible to get good shot through the nice Mercedes motor coaches because of the double pane glass, but even when I got a good shot the dirty glass became a problem. So, I just waited until we got to the destination to take some shots of the vineyards.
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