melphoto60

same here I have a fear of hights but it doesnt bother me in an airplane (large), just glass outside or inside elevators going up at least 4 or more floors and standing at an overlook and look down eeek. Went to a tower lookout and had to move slowly to the edge and look down, then moved back to the wall. Never been in a small plane so good luck to you.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

a smudge on the aircraft window will not be rendered invisible in the same way a part of a fence will, because a smudge is a far larger area and WILL affect your image. Clean a window the best you can and don't touch it during flight with your head or hands or you will leave greae marks to smudge.

The fence had a thin line and if the window too had a thin line it could become invisible. But a smudge on the window is just like a tiny smudge on your lens from an inadvertant finger slipping over it, it will be a blur on your image.

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

there are many pilots who also have a fear of heights. The fear of heights is really the fear of falling from those heights. When you are on land you have an association with the land and the distance all the way down to the ground below. Such as in a window of a tall building, on the edge of a cliff looking down, on a high ladder looking down, in a tall tree looking down.

You will note that I always said looking down because that is the thing that you can associate yourself with from where you are standing or sitting. You see a link to the ground through the object (tree) or building. In a plane it is different because you have no link to the ground.

Show me someone who has a fear of heights and I guarantee you that we can put them on a flat mountain top and have them look across the valley and they will be fine. Because they are not looking down, nor do they have something to associate themselves with from where they are that goes all the way down to the ground.

In a plane it is like looking off into the distance from a flat mountain top (not the edge), they feel fine. Now looking staight down is another thing, but that rarely happens or is even possible for a passenger in a plane.

You should not have a real problem to speak of, so enjoy the flight and all those golden sparkly little lights below. It will be an amazing experience. I used to take people flying at sunset and let them watch 2 or 3 sunsets and sun rises during the same flight. We'd level out, let the sun set then I'd climb and they could watch the sun rise "OUT OF THE WEST, NO LESS" and then we'd level off and let it set again and then I'd climb again and let it rise up a little from the horizon and then level out and it would set once more.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Not all planes have scratched, scarred windows. If they do, the better equipment can deal with it. I would liike to show you a smaple, but recently my computer was stolen, and I have not yet been able to restore on the new computer what I lost.

Finally, bad factors multiply. Poor field conditions and compromise equipment can show in the images. On the other hand, better equipment is one way to balance field conditions that are not the best.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

You do what you have to do. I was a Navy photographer and I've shot aerials in everything from balloons to jets. The BEST results are from large format cameras equipped with proper sized gyros or full sensor digital cameras with IS or mounted on a gyro all with high quality glass shot with nothing between the lens and the target more than a UV filter. If you think you get acceptable images shooting through plastic that's great...I have also done that but only when there was no other choice. I also shoot sports and while some may shoot through the chain link fence I almost always find a way to avoid it...All I'm after is the absolute best quality...that's why people pay me to make photographs for them...I never take the easy route unless it is the best quality route.

Mark Loc: SC

I do it. Here is one of Myrtle Beach, SC

Mark Loc: SC

I do it. Here is one of Myrtle Beach, SC

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

If you find a way to shoot around a chain link fence at a zoo you have violated their rules.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

I don't shoot zoos...

Pixalated Loc: hiding ; >

Not worried about shot then, but falling out!!!

Pixalated Loc: hiding ; >

Very interesting information. All of it helpfull. Thank you one and all. If I tried to respond to each, I would be up way past my bedtime! Really, guys, thanks so much. Will post any good ones. Flight date not set yet, probably a few weeks.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Nice shot but a bit misty. I guess you can clean them up.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Don't think they'd take too kindly to removing a window from an A380 or some such bird. Air liners also have double 'glazing', the inner, one can wipe but the outer is out of bounds to clean.There is also the double reflection problem.

Pixalated Loc: hiding ; >

lol! I never would have thought of that!!

Frank Wilson Loc: Saugatuck Mi

What lens are you talking about?