Tips shooting through Airline front windshields!

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I'm Airline Pilot and sometímes I have fantastic opportunities to shoot from the cockpit, any tips to improve the quality through the thick windshield panel.
 
Circular polarising filter sounds good to me.
Bit of a dilemma for me I can`t make out whether I want to be your best friend or never fly your airline lol
 
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Make sure the engineer has cleaned the windows, nothing worse than having the perfect photo with 10 dead bugs and half a bird in the frame :)
 
I'm Airline Pilot and sometímes I have fantastic opportunities to shoot from the cockpit, any tips to improve the quality through the thick windshield panel.

Ask an economy passenger, if they would like an upgrade with more room, then strap them on the leading edge of the rudder.

Remind them to compensate the exposure for the bright fuselage.
 
big soft rubber lens hood pessed up to the sceen, if you can get close enough, will cut out most of the refelextions.
 
get a rubber lens hood and put ther front of the lens hood right up against the glass.

you can also get great views whilst inverted in a dive :lol:

:edit: paul types faster than what i do
 
Ask the stowaway in the undercarrige bay to take a few snaps for you.. Will give him something to to do and warm him up.
 
What aircraft and are you P1 or 2? Polarising filter wont work on some shields as they are made with filters between plexi.

I can give you more info if I know the type of a/c & left/right seat.

:)
 
I got some amazing shots from the very back seat of a KLM flight from japan flying over the arctic circle. I would have loved to be up front with a panoramic view of the world beneath my feet. You're a very lucky guy to have such a privileged job.
 
I'm Airline Pilot .....

I'd forget about shooting through the cockpit window for now and find a different airline to work for....one that pays the going rate so that you CAN afford the difference between a 70-200/4 and the IS version.

Help!!!! I'm very tempted to buy this lens for my T1i...is it worth it? My Baby graduates from school, I can not afford the IS....

Bob
 
Shouldn't you be concentrating in flying the plane :)

Im glad i wasnt the only one thinking that

Plus would the airline be happy about it, becuse a terrorist might be able to blow up the plane from that photo, well thats what the daily mail said :D

Jack

You should be happy that he's got something to interest and occupy him rather than falling asleep during the mind-numbing boredom of flying on auto-pilot.
 
Tokkelossi said:
What aircraft and are you P1 or 2? Polarising filter wont work on some shields as they are made with filters between plexi.

I can give you more info if I know the type of a/c & left/right seat.

:)

Thanks, I think CPL will not help, is Airbus 320 left seat, at leas I can not wear PL sunglasses.
 
Airlines this days don't pay as they used to, In China now is were may be soon can afford the IS ...I wish I could make a living shooting photos, may be one day.
 
djinn said:
Circular polarising filter sounds good to me.
Bit of a dilemma for me I can`t make out whether I want to be your best friend or never fly your airline lol

You surely can be my best friend, and thrust me handling a DSLR is more complicated than flying a plane during cruise in normal conditions....
 
Jamtea said:
I got some amazing shots from the very back seat of a KLM flight from japan flying over the arctic circle. I would have loved to be up front with a panoramic view of the world beneath my feet. You're a very lucky guy to have such a privileged job.

Thank you, I wish I could have the experience of most of you guys to take advantage of my job.
I have got some beautiful weather from above, but during lightning can not get a descent shot, and reflections are a big issue.
 
Thanks, I think CPL will not help, is Airbus 320 left seat, at leas I can not wear PL sunglasses.

Polarised lenses wont work in Boeing or Airbus aircraft as the windshields are polarised. However UV will work.

Both aircraft makers warn of pilots using polarised sunglasses for shield distortion and efis/glass cockpit displays.

Looks more like you will become the expert on this matter :D

Then you can let us know. Whatever happens, stop taking photos when you hear "Sink Rate" :lol:

Good luck
 
Can you post some, please? (as long as they won't get you into trouble) Would love to see some examples. I've take shots from a small aircraft flying along the Jurassic Coast and got some good stuff, and from a microlight which was tricky as I had to wear a helmet which made seeing through the viewfinder - before live view, this was - awkward, but those were better (when they worked) as there was no window in the way.

Some slow flying, high wing jobs do have windows that open, it seems. Sounds as if some good shots would be possible if you could hitch a lift in one of these.
 
Be good to get the pics in context, so maybe a wider shot getting some of the interior of the plane in would be good..
 
Tokkelossi said:
Polarised lenses wont work in Boeing or Airbus aircraft as the windshields are polarised. However UV will work.

Both aircraft makers warn of pilots using polarised sunglasses for shield distortion and efis/glass cockpit displays.

Looks more like you will become the expert on this matter :D

Then you can let us know. Whatever happens, stop taking photos when you hear "Sink Rate" :lol:

Good luck

JAJAJAJA, it seems you have a big knowledge about airplanes...for sure I will keep it safe, and only when Autopilot working hard I will shoot. Thanks for the post.
 
. I've take shots from a small aircraft flying along the Jurassic Coast and got some good stuff, .

not to hijack but which bits ?

I manage a large chunk of the devon jurrasic coast (branscombe to Sidmouth and the orcombe point end) and if it was down our end i'd be very interested in seeing them and talking about payment for usage etc.
 
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