Photographing Stained Glass Windows
Jun 2, 2018 09:07:55 #
I disagree about shooting in reflected light. The whole point of stained glass is to see it against a bright light source, the sun or a lightbulb. Only then will you get the saturated colors. Do a Google Image search for examples.
Shooting in raw allows great latitude for adjusting white balance/color temperature. Exposure - someone touched on earlier re white areas + lamiaceae asked if you're going to include some of the church's interior - needs to be more precise, but even then, as long as you understand the limits of your camera (over-exposing to the point of having no recoverable detail in some areas) and your own editing skill, you'll do fine. Take a look at UHH pro Gene51's raw out of camera and edited landscape in this posting (it's below Ansel's)
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-529010-3.html#8987207
Also, if this is your church, this isn't a one-time opportunity, right? You can always come back to us and post your first results, asking for feedback and more advice
Shooting in raw allows great latitude for adjusting white balance/color temperature. Exposure - someone touched on earlier re white areas + lamiaceae asked if you're going to include some of the church's interior - needs to be more precise, but even then, as long as you understand the limits of your camera (over-exposing to the point of having no recoverable detail in some areas) and your own editing skill, you'll do fine. Take a look at UHH pro Gene51's raw out of camera and edited landscape in this posting (it's below Ansel's)
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-529010-3.html#8987207
Also, if this is your church, this isn't a one-time opportunity, right? You can always come back to us and post your first results, asking for feedback and more advice
Jun 2, 2018 09:11:22 #
Jun 2, 2018 09:14:38 #
gvarner
Loc: Central Oregon Coast
Rick Bailey wrote:
What is your you light source? If is daylight, use that setting. If is some light on a pole at night, use your gray card to adjust for that. Be aware that if you are using light from some outside flood like mercury or low pressure sodium, you will not get a full spectrum. Have you thought about using strobes?
My thought exactly. Color balance is dependent on the color of the light source, period. Whether shining through clouds or haze or colored glass, sunlight is sunlight. Your brain is the interpreter. If it looks correct in the photo, it's correct. Those are my thoughts.
Jun 2, 2018 09:16:19 #
jeryh wrote:
likewise; you are making too much hassle out of a simple job !
Jun 2, 2018 09:58:15 #
Jun 2, 2018 10:04:19 #
Yeah. Complicating things. Shoot raw (or raw + jpeg) and adjust color,temp to your liking. If possible DON’T shoot on the shady side. Photograph them from the inside with back-lighting, i.e. light coming through the panels.
Jun 2, 2018 10:17:44 #
Yes, white balance for the light hitting the subject; in this case it's the windows. Do it just like you described.
Jun 2, 2018 10:22:55 #
petercbrandt wrote:
....
After the first eye you get a chance to see the world with 2 different lenses, so which one was right, Old lens or New lens?
....
After the first eye you get a chance to see the world with 2 different lenses, so which one was right, Old lens or New lens?
Maybe reality is a concept in the mind.
Jun 2, 2018 10:27:46 #
tn_engineer wrote:
Welcome to the forum. No theory. Camera on tripod. Level Windows. Shoot around noon time when the sun is overhead and not directly shining in the windows. Shoot in raw and adjust what you need in Post Processing.I would like to photograph the stained glass windo... (show quote)
Jun 2, 2018 19:53:45 #
Some good advice already given here. Shoot RAW. If the windows are tall you may get keystone distortion. Leave space in frame to correct for keystone in processing or, if your camera body can do it, dial it in. Standing on a ladder around the middle of the window might help. I'm going to do that later this summer in a narrow chapel with very large stained glass windows.
Most churches are a combination of multiple types of light and, sometimes, colors on the walls. Thus shooting RAW with either auto WB or setting the WB to approximate the light, is the easiest way to go. Easy to adjust in processing later on. Sunlight streaming directly through the windows may or may not be a problem depending on the window, the colors, how heavily tinted the window is, and the effect you want. Also consider shooting outdoors if the inside is illuminated at night. Good luck. Post some results.
Most churches are a combination of multiple types of light and, sometimes, colors on the walls. Thus shooting RAW with either auto WB or setting the WB to approximate the light, is the easiest way to go. Easy to adjust in processing later on. Sunlight streaming directly through the windows may or may not be a problem depending on the window, the colors, how heavily tinted the window is, and the effect you want. Also consider shooting outdoors if the inside is illuminated at night. Good luck. Post some results.
Jun 2, 2018 21:09:23 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
If you are going to keep this going you might over come frjack by using a 17mm TS lens (about $2,500.00) we need all the tools to enjoy photography.
I think no what we do we will have a un happy person to tell us what we could do to make it better.
Take your pictures and be proud you did the best you could with what you got.
The people who don't like my pictures don't buy them and get even with me.
I think no what we do we will have a un happy person to tell us what we could do to make it better.
Take your pictures and be proud you did the best you could with what you got.
The people who don't like my pictures don't buy them and get even with me.
Jun 3, 2018 06:21:03 #
From experience doing the same: The brightness contrast can vary significantly. Not all light falls directly on the windows. Which way does the building face and what time of day do you want to photograph the windows. Expose for the glass and not the building interior.
Have fun.
Have fun.
Jun 3, 2018 06:22:24 #
tn_engineer wrote:
I would like to photograph the stained glass windo... (show quote)
You might be over thinking this. During the day, shoot the windows from inside the church. At nighttime, shoot from outside with the church lit up inside.
Jun 3, 2018 07:05:01 #
More importantly choose the sweet spot aperature for your lens. Use a tripod or rest it on a pew and underexpose .03 stop with cable release. I did this in many of the largest gothic cathedrals in Europe and they came out fantastic.
Jun 3, 2018 07:28:25 #
bpulv
Loc: Buena Park, CA
tn_engineer wrote:
I would like to photograph the stained glass windo... (show quote)
I just got back from Europe where I shot several cathedral interiors. I found that with my D800, I could be very successful by using HDR techniques with available light. Include a white card in a properly exposed interior shot and adjust your white balance for that target in LR or PS. The outside white balance for windows is not material since your camera will only see the filtered light. The windows will fall into place when you render the HDR.
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