JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

How do you guys shoot photos of stained glass windows found in churches
I have always found them intriguing but each time I shoot a pics of them the colors seem washed out or there are bright spots because of the light coming in.
I am getting discouraged in my technique and would appreciate your help. I use a Nikon 7100
Thanks for the help

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Shoot from the outside at night and the light will be even - Dave

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

Great idea Wilson but churches aren't always lit up 24/7
Thanks

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

Depends on the church. Some will be lit for special occasions, or a season.

In fact, I just shot Grace Cathedral at night recently b/c the rose window WAS lit from the inside for the first time in quite awhile (though not at dusk, as I had hoped - better sky color then than later):

http://allenh.zenfolio.com/p226890089

BillH Loc: Lancaster County PA

I have not shot a lot of stain glass but when I have I shoot from inside with no interior lights. This way it is not faded. I also shoot when it is bright outside but not with sun directly on the other side of the glass to eliminate bright spots. If it is a tall window that comes close to a ceiling that is a little reflective you can shoot from a low vantage point to take advantage of reflected light.

Miamisburg Jim Loc: Miamisburg, Ohio, USA

Shooting multiple images and combining in an HDR tool will give good results. I agree with BillH about no direct light on a window or part of a window.

IowaDave Loc: North Iowa

Here is one from my church. I took in in the afternoon when the sun was settting. I had the indoor lights off and no flash, I did use a tripod. The window is on a west wall. The photos from the other walls were not as good.

facing west, late afternoon

(Download)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

post a sample.

I'm taking a wild guess that your exposure is too high - so the windows are too bright. Try longer exposures, shooting raw so that you can take advantage of extra dynamic range, and shoot at the camera's base ISO.

You could shoot at night, using a bank of remotely triggered speedlights, if that is appropriate.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

post a sample.

Are you shooting from the inside or the outside?

I'm taking a wild guess that your exposure is too high - so the windows are too bright. Try longer exposures, shooting raw so that you can take advantage of extra dynamic range, and shoot at the camera's base ISO.

You could shoot at night, using a bank of remotely triggered speedlights placed outside, if that is appropriate.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Yep, evenly dark!

Seriously, even if the church is lighted from within and there is a decent external vantage point it could give some great photos, but the light would have a different quality, still might not be even and might not capture the desired idea. Especially if the internal atmosphere of the church is a desired aesthetic.

I think this is quite a complex project. The light will be different for each different window at different times of day, times of year, and of course depending on the weather at the time the picture is taken.

If your goal is to capture a set of the windows in your church you could spend a lot of time just deciding the ideal conditions for a given window. Then you have the balance between internal lighting and what is coming through the window. Can you alter that balance yourself if you wish to in any way?

To do all of this, you probably need extensive access to the church from multiple vantage points and plenty of time when other people are not around if you can get it, and have the time to allocate to the project.

Notre Dame in Paris for example has some fabulous stained glass, but getting access is tricky, it is normally really crowded and the use of flash or tripods is forbidden, so a snapshot is about the best that can be done by the normal visitor.

Can you tell us a little more about your goals and access situation?

rdfarr Loc: Floridian living in AL

With good light coming through stained glass windows, I like to shoot the light patterns on objects within the church. I've better luck with that than shooting the church windows themselves. See attached.

olddog Loc: louisville ky

Taxauditr, I can tell you that in the past, I used to shoot a lot of church interiors. I had the most success balancing my light with the sunlight outside. I used daylight 4x5 sheet film with 4 blue flash bulbs. It's been so long ago that I don't remember the bulb number. Maybe some of the other old guys will. The bulbs were the size of a large light bulb and with the sun either on the other side of the church or directly overhead. The key was to have enough light on the inside to balance the transmitted light from the windows. Hope this helps.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

Wait for the light to be right... no different from photographing any subject, no different from when photography was invented.

Probably golden hour when light is even outside, or perhaps overcast. Shoot HDR style on a tripod fashion and combine window and wall exposures.

JimBart Loc: Western Michigan

Thanks for all yor input as it is much appreciated
The main purpose I want to shoot these windows is that there are so many churches closing and being razed without regard for the beauty of the windows. Some of them made by the old masters and being over 100 years old. In addition I usually try and shoot from the inside rather than from outside since the design was originally made to be viewed from within. I am unable to post any pics at the moment as I am on the road but will do so ASAP
Thanks again.

Takyo485 Loc: Planet Earth

Thone were nice picture Allen!
Thanks for sharing.