How to reduce glare from glasses?

[DAG123]

Does anyone have any tips on how to reduce glare from glasses?

I am going to shoot my family's group portait at an upcoming reunion and there are many who will be wearing glasses.

I was also wondering about close ups...any tricks or tips?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[SkipD]

The best tip I could think of is to avoid using flash anywhere near the camera. It's probably easier to do for the closeups, using a Canon Off-Camera Shoe Cord 2 to get the flash as far from the camera as you can. You could even hold the flash in your left hand (or employ a helper) and the camera in your right hand.

[coreypolis]

polarizing filter will help too

[SkipD]

polarizing filter will help tooI'm not saying that a polarizing filter couldn't be helpful, but it depends on the light source and its position. When outdoors, a polarizer works best if the sun is to your side (90° from a line drawn between you and the subject). I would expect roughly the same rule to apply with indoor lighting. That is, a reflection from a light source at the camera would probably not be reduced by the polarizing filter. It would be worth spending a little time experimenting, though.

Indoors, especially if using available light sources, you may have potentially serious problems with the 1-1/2 to 2 stops of light reduction that a polarizer would induce.

[coreypolis]

I'm not saying that a polarizing filter couldn't be helpful, but it depends on the light source and its position. When outdoors, a polarizer works best if the sun is to your side (90° from a line drawn between you and the subject). I would expect roughly the same rule to apply with indoor lighting. That is, a reflection from a light source at the camera would probably not be reduced by the polarizing filter. It would be worth spending a little time experimenting, though.

Indoors, especially if using available light sources, you may have potentially serious problems with the 1-1/2 to 2 stops of light reduction that a polarizer would induce.

angling the light is the best, but sometimes theres nothing you can do about it. And just like photographing artwork, polarizers also help

[Tee Why]

have them remove the glasses.

[Curtis N]

You didn't mention how large the group will be, or where the shot will be taken.
For relatively small groups indoors, sometimes the easiest way to get the light source away from the camera is to bounce it off the ceiling.

[Mark_Cohran]

One trick I've used is to remove the lenses from the frames. If there are a lot of people wearing glasses in the group, it isn't as practical, but if it's only one or two, then you might consider it.

Mark

[DAG123]

Thanks for the input, will try your suggestions.

It will be indoors with 4 or 5 people that all wear glasses! So I was thinking that there is no way I am going to get the same angle off all the lens and will inevitably get some harsh glare off at least one person...taking them off seems to be the best bet.

[codex0]

Pretty easy - have them take the glasses frames (legs?) and tilt them so they are above the ears by 1/2 inch or so. This generally angles the glasses enough that it doesn't look weird in the photo, but it cuts out the glare of a direct reflection. I have used this both in studio work and doing portraits on the street - it usually works quite well.

[DocFrankenstein]

OR if they wear anti-glare sunglasses you don't have to worry about a thing.

[kram]

have them remove the glasses.

I have seen many photogs do this but sometimes I dont find it natural. Especially of people who have thick glasses - the magnified eyes is part of their look :)

Angling the light should work best imho....

[DavidW]

I would not let any photographer take my glasses apart - if they're put back together even slightly off-centre, it will cause havoc because you'd have de-centred my varifocal lenses (progressives as some may call them). My glasses cost about as much as an EF 70-200mm f/4L; I can't abide poor quality optics that I have to look through all the time, and when you work it out over the typical lifetime of a pair (three years - though sometimes I manage longer), that's half the price of contact lenses.

My lenses are multicoated, which helps, especially as I keep them clean. The problems come more with cheaper uncoated lenses.


I'd think a lot of people who habitually wear glasses would regard them as part of their look, and would resent a photographer pretty much insisting that they take their glasses off. You can ask, and some may be happy to oblige, but I wouldn't want to insist.

I'd go for the more technological fixes - get your flash off-camera and possibly bounce it, and if necessary angle people's glasses down a little.



David

[SkipD]

I would let any photographer take my glasses apart...... I'm fairly sure you should edit the post to would not.

I would not ever suggest that anybody attempt to remove lenses from someone's glasses (even their own) unless the person doing it is truly qualified to do so. It would be far too easy to ruin the glasses.

[DavidW]

Thanks for pointing that out, Skip - I meant one thing and wrote the opposite. I've just edited the post.



David

[Atomic79]

The best way I've found is to, if possible, turn the subject way from the light then look back at the camera in a 3/4 side view. Works good in groups because that is one of the best way to pose them is by having sides turn in towards center of group then look back at the camera. Remember "Angle of Incident = Angle of Reflection"

[MHP]

lift the back of the glasses up by half an inch, has been said before and is by far the best and easiest way and looks natural in the image. if there is still a little glare then slightly tilt the head down, not much though. Been doing it for years becuase after all the trial and error it is still the best way.