Shooting inside an airplane hanger?

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/03/2007 04:52:50 PM · #1

I'm curious if anyone has done any photoshoots inside an airplane hanger. I have been contacted by an organization to do a photoshoot on friday morning for fundraising ads. They are wanting me to shoot inside an airplane hanger with a jet, some stewardess' and some children. I'm wondering if anyone has done anything like this and might be able to tell me what to expect as far as lighting. I have no dreams of trying to light the whole place up(not sure if that is possible with enough strobes) but I am going to rent another 580EX and I'll take my gammet of lens, bodies, and flashes that I have now with me. I'm not sure hot lights would even do me any good. I'm going to try and get as much natural light as possible. I know this is an odd request but I'm hoping maybe someone has done this before. The files are going to be used in a range from 5X7 all the way up to poster sizes. Thanks

MattO

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

07/03/2007 05:00:26 PM · #2

this is what i do when thrown into the great unknown...

i ask them for samples of what they've done in the past or of what they have in mind. then i try to figure out what's involved. and if i'm stumped, i take those samples to someone who might be able to scope it out for me. (can you get us something to go on, other than being in a hanger?)

another thing i do when i'm selling my services is stress that i am an "available light shooter", that i don't carry around tons of lighting equipment. i specialize in shooting under existing conditions, and only resort to strobes when necessary. that way, we both (the client and i) have an out if they're looking for something that requires a substantial amount of lighting...

sounds fun, hope it is!

07/03/2007 05:08:32 PM · #3

Matt, it depends on the size of the hangar, if you are shooting in a huge hanger like the ones we have here at Lambert, the whole side of the building opens up as doors and there is decent lightâ�¦not dramatic or scenic, but at least not dark. If you are talking about smaller hangars like at Spirit of St. Louis, the whole sides open up too, but the space is smaller so the light might be harsh and/or flat. If it is a smaller hangar, the chances are that it wonâ��t have many windows, although the bigger ones could. I guess every hanger has a side that will be able to fully openâ�¦it will just depend on which direction that door is facing. I know these arenâ��t perfect answers, but I hope they helpâ�¦All the hangar promo shots I have seen have the plane/people fairly well lit, and the background darkened (it looks like post processing via

idnicâ��s Move the Light). This seems to make things seem more dramatic than they probably are at the hangar. And depending how big the plane is, it might start to get dark on the top b/c lack of light. If it is a maintenance hangar there are probably hot lights everywhere!

Good luck,
-drew

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

07/03/2007 05:14:50 PM · #4

Thanks SKip and Drew.

The shoot is at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport and I ahve never seen the airport and the photos on the site dont give me much of an idea of what I'll have to work with. I can get a set of 2 500WS with 9 foot stands and umbrellas for rental for $50 for the day. But I'd prefer to work with smaller flashes and just use them as fill. This organization is near and dear to my heart as they help families just like mine(including mine) their photog cancelled today and they called and asked if I could fill in as everything else is already set to be there. I know I can do it, its just a matter of getting myself in the mindset of what I'm going to be dealing with when I get there, I've honestly never been inside an airplane hanger in my life so I have no idea if its a dungeon like some of the gyms I shoot in, or if they are better lit.

MattO

wavelength

Nikon D300

07/03/2007 05:26:47 PM · #5

Do they have an art director or creative consultant for the shot? What did they say was their direction for the advertising?

I'm sitting here wondering because you gave us a list of people/places/objects, but all of those can be use in many, many different configurations.

If they want in-cabin pictures, and the plane is inside the hangar at all times, you will difinitely not have enough ambient coming trough the windows for the shoot.

Either way, I think controlled light look more slick, while ambient is more homey and warm, a little more inviting. I'd get with their people and get their ideas defined a lot more so that you can get what they want.

07/03/2007 05:36:34 PM · #6

My guess (if they are wanting a shoot with a decent size jet) is that you will be in one of their good sized hangars...not one of the little private "plane lockers." From what I remember and looking on the map, most of them will have the wall/door open to the South or West, but I think one will open to the East. A South facer might be your best bet, but I guess this will all depend on who's plane it is and where they will have it for you to shoot. The medium sized hangars there should have decent lighting with the doors open. Some might have a row of windows up along the roofline. What time is the shoot? Early morning or like 10? I would think inside the hangar 10 would be ok, if it was going to be like 7 then maybe you could get them to place the plane just outside the hangar.

The problem with strobes is the closest outlet will be on the wall or (if the hangar is big enough) on a center pilar. You will need to have or arrange for extension cords.

I'll give you a better deal on strobes than renting. You can borrow my 2 AB 400's with softbox, umbrella, 13 foot stands if you think you will need strobes and if these will be powerful enough. Plan us up another great GTG and we'll call it even. I could arrange to drop them off at the shoot that morning if you want, I need to look into the airports skunk problem for work and could arrange things to overlap your schedule.

Let me know,
-drew

Message edited by author 2007-07-03 17:40:27.

07/03/2007 05:36:45 PM · #7

Originally posted by wavelength:

They have told me what they are going to be used for. Its going to be fundraising pamplets and posters for a lockup. If any shots will be done inside the cabin that wont be a problem as my 580's with diffusers will handle that nicely.(although I doubt that any shots will be done inside, the kids being used including my own are all in wheelchairs and getting them into a private plane not designed to be accessible wont be an easy task) I know what they want and how they are going to be used. I'm just not sure of what the lighting I will be faced with will be. Having never shot with strobes more then a couple of times, I would just rather not have to if I can avoid it.

MattO

07/03/2007 05:44:48 PM · #8

Originally posted by MattO:

Having never shot with strobes more then a couple of times, I would just rather not have to if I can avoid it.

Should be easy enough, just set them up, crank 'em up, use a flash on your camera to trip the slave cells and turn 'em down a little if they are too bright. They might help to just light areas of the picture that may be too dark.

-drew

Message edited by author 2007-07-03 17:45:14.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

07/03/2007 05:46:43 PM · #9

Gotta run home now, I'll check in this evening.

Rebecca

Nikon D80

07/03/2007 05:47:29 PM · #10

Originally posted by MattO:

Depends on the hangar. Some are extremely well-lit (usually commercial), others, like my Dad's are little more than Tuff Sheds with a single lightbulb hanging out at the top.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/03/2007 06:07:33 PM · #11

I remember an old article on Strobist where he used a couple of off camera strobes to light a climbing/rock wall setup with some help from natural and it worked well. Maybe hit the archive and read but from memory it was all hard light(direct flash) stuff hidden out of camera view.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/03/2007 08:20:38 PM · #12

Okay, I'm not claiming these to be excellent by any means, but here are a few inside a hangar:

And a few outside the hangar:

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/03/2007 08:21:48 PM · #13

By the way, with the hangar door open, you've got perfect lighting conditions just inside the hangar! You could use fill flash if you like, but you may not need it.

07/03/2007 08:39:43 PM · #14

HI David,

Those are fantastic, however your shooting at F3.5 I'm thinking I'm going to have to stop down to probably 5.6-8 to get everything I need in focus, which makes me wonder about the need for big light. 10am to 12pm is the scheduled shoot time so light should be decent, just not sure how far in it will go with the doors open.

MattO

Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C

07/03/2007 11:30:35 PM · #15

Drew I sent you a PM thanks dude, DPC rocks.

MattO

BHuseman

Nikon D750

07/03/2007 11:44:25 PM · #16

I took this in a not so well lit hangar. I of course did an HDR to capture everything.

The next day I went back while they were practicing weapons loading and took this

I used ISO 800 and a 2.8 Aperature. All natural lighting with no flashes.

07/04/2007 12:07:53 AM · #17

Matt, sent a PM back. Anything you need, let me know. I looked again on the maps and most of the good sized hangars face South, a few West, and one East. Most of the smaller hangars face West. I think you will probably end up in a South facing one. I think 10-12 will work great for plenty of light just inside the hangar, with strobes or flash guns to fill in the dark spots or fill flash the subjects. It is better to have and not need than need and not have.
-drew

07/05/2007 01:20:14 PM · #18

Gonna bump one more time, shooting in the morning at 10am. Thanks for the help drew and I'll see you in the morning. I'll give you a call this evening sometime.

MattO