Technique – Digital Photography in Shop Window

Digital photography in a Bega shop window.

Some digital photography tips on photographing in a shop window.

Firstly, note the strong colour and clearly defined lines of the subject under the shop window lighting. See the shadows cast by four distinct light sources.

This photo was taken in the early hours of the morning. No body around to ask “what on earth are you doing,” with a turned up lip. No daylight competing with the shop window lighting.

So, have a look at the light sources. Fluro, incandescant? Green, yellow? Other colours competing from illuminated signs or reflected from colourful surfaces?

You can adjust the white ballance according to your preference or set the white ballance to auto and let the camera do what it thinks best.

Put the camera lens against the shop window glass. This will prevent reflections on the glass from spoiling your image and will steady the camera, in place of a tripod, for the long exposure needed under the low light of the shop window.

Precautions:

• Move the camera lens away from the shop window to zoom, so as not to overload the mechanism
• Check that there isn’t a dirty mark on the glass, right where you want to put the camera. You can either move a little or huff on the glass and pollish it clean with your sleeve
• Have an answer ready for the night watchman. Maybe your business card.
• Consider copyright issues. Recording and reporting what you see is a lot different to copying someone else’s artwork, as in a gallery.

Credit: This is part of the shop window display in NU SHOOZ, Bega.

Technique – Digital Photography in Shop Window on Wilderness Travel