| Author | Thread |
|
|
08/03/2007 04:45:28 PM · #1 |
LOL I was going to call it shooting but...
Anyway I'm hoping to go to an air show on the weekend and was wondering if anyone had any tips on shooting moving jets and various planes, all I have for glass to bring is my 17-40L which will only really be good for stationary planes on display and my 70-300IS which I hope to use for the flying aircraft. I was just wondering what settings I mite expect to use as in aperture and shutter speeds to get half descent shots?
Thanks in advance,
-dave |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 04:59:55 PM · #2 |
I can't speak for the 17-40L but I do have the 70-300 IS USM and it was great at this years air show. Here are a few examples.
 |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:06:45 PM · #3 |
| Great shots, Scott! Why no camera? Did I miss something? |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:07:44 PM · #4 |
| A long story... but for a good cause. |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:08:36 PM · #5 |
I recently shot an airshow here in Wisconsin. My secret was to use my 70-200 and 400 prime, panning and shooting like crazy. I shot over 1200 pics that day (not all of flying craft), and got about 10 keepers.
The moral: shoot, shoot and shoot some more. You're bound to get some good ones.
Settings: whatever you need to get your shutter speed to 1/250 to about 1/500th. Any faster and you freeze the props which looks odd. We had a bright sunny day and blue sky. I was at ISO 100 and apertures between f/5 and f/10 most of the airshow.
Message edited by author 2007-08-03 17:10:25. |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:15:54 PM · #6 |
wow thanks alot, I usually like to bracket when trying to shoot new things but dont think that will be usefull for the flying aircraft. Some awesome photos Scott, mind if I ask what mode(s) you were shooting in?
-dave |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:16:49 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by strangeghost:
I recently shot an airshow here in Wisconsin. My secret was to use my 70-200 and 400 prime, panning and shooting like crazy. I shot over 1200 pics that day (not all of flying craft), and got about 10 keepers.
The moral: shoot, shoot and shoot some more. You're bound to get some good ones.
Settings: whatever you need to get your shutter speed to 1/250 to about 1/500th. Any faster and you freeze the props which looks odd. We had a bright sunny day and blue sky. I was at ISO 100 and apertures between f/5 and f/10 most of the airshow. |
Sweet thanks for the info, very helpfull :) |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:40:53 PM · #8 |
Try capturing a few images that are different from the typical 'plane against a clear blue sky' photos that most people bring home from air shows. Planes taking off or landing with other objects or people in the background or foreground are sometimes interesting. Try panning to capture motion blur and give the image a sense of speed. Use your telephoto to get in real close to a spinning propeller, or perhaps the heat and flame coming from a jet on afterburner. Don't ignore the crowd either. An air show can be a great place to capture candid shots of people doing all sorts of stuff.
$0.02 plus applicable sales tax
|
|
|
|
08/03/2007 05:46:51 PM · #9 |
My two highest scoring entries were both shot at the same air show.
All of these pictures have the camera settings in the notes.
|
|
|
|
08/03/2007 08:40:02 PM · #10 |
Here are two from my recent airshow experience. Details are on the shots:
 
|
|
|
|
08/03/2007 08:43:55 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by dknourek:
wow thanks alot, I usually like to bracket when trying to shoot new things but dont think that will be usefull for the flying aircraft. Some awesome photos Scott, mind if I ask what mode(s) you were shooting in?
-dave |
Mostly TV mode but some were in manual mode. I believe the shots I posted are TV mode. |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 10:19:38 PM · #12 |
Awesome, thank you all for the tips they will definitely come in handy and as mentioned above I hope to get some taking off and landing...
-dave |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 10:31:48 PM · #13 |
 1/500
 1/750
It was tough because it was overcast. I should've add +1 EV while shooting.
I can't wait to try out the TAv mode for the Fleet Week events this year, and the larger memory buffer.
Message edited by author 2007-08-04 22:17:36. |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 11:44:05 PM · #14 |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 11:48:48 PM · #15 |
|
|
|
08/03/2007 11:56:18 PM · #16 |
|
|
|
08/04/2007 12:27:19 AM · #17 |
My 70-300 lens is my standard lens for shooting aircraft in-flight. My default setting are: Aperature Priority, F/8, ISO 800, EV Comp +1.0, which will yield shutter speeds of about 1/2000 of a second in full sun. The shutter speed freezes all motion (camera, plane, propeller blades) and is sometimes too fast. If that's the case, I back down on the ISO to get the shutter speed I want with improved noise performance. I use EV comp of +1.0 to better expose the planes. It shows more detail of the planes at the expense of over exposing the background sky slightly ... but I'm shooting planes, not sky, so it works better for me.
Here are a few photos from the last Farnborough Airshow:
   
And two from (Seattle's) SeaFair today.
 
Message edited by author 2007-08-04 01:03:47.
|
|
|
|
08/04/2007 12:39:03 AM · #18 |
These were shot in Pensacola at a recent air show, My settings were Aperture Priority, F8, EV +1/2, Shutter speeds ranged between 1/1000 - 1/4000, ISO 200...
   
And here are a few of the crowd before hand...
  
|
|
|
|
08/04/2007 06:40:22 AM · #19 |
For planes with propellers you want to shoot at 1/250th or 1/320th no more. If you freeze the propeller blades they look crap.
 
For jets shoot at 1/1000th+, although i got away with 1/800th for these at 300mm.
 
|
|
|
|
08/04/2007 10:09:10 AM · #20 |
I usually shoot at 400 ISO (poor light in the UK this Summer) and AI servo and set at AV or manual.
Here are a couple of examples
//www.pbase.com/caeclyd/image/82807001/original.jpg
//www.pbase.com/caeclyd/image/83261809/original.jpg
A link to the rest of the low flying shots
MACH LOOP
Message edited by author 2007-08-04 10:12:55. |
|
|
|
08/04/2007 10:32:33 AM · #21 |
       
Shot with my 70-200mm F4L set on sport mode. |
|
|
|
08/04/2007 11:39:02 AM · #22 |
It helps if you can watch the practice they do the day before. If you know what patterns they are going to run around the show area you can be prepared for some of the jets fast streaks across the main area. And be prepared. I wasn't expecting this shot as two Blue Angles were coming down the runway. I thought they were going to do a normal run and takeoff, although I figured something might be up because the Navy team brought their video crew out and set up. So I was ready and had my camera on them as they taxied towards me.
I wasn't very prepared for this one when it happened, so it's not as sharp as I would like it to be.
You are going to do a lot of panning and twisting and turning. Turn your IS off during all of this because it will get confused and could cause you to get fuzzy pictures. This is also where AI focus comes in handy. And get there early so you can stake out a good spot. Usually near the paid seating is going to be where the center of most acts will be. So if you can get up close to the fence there, the better. And make sure you are covered on both sides of you. Once the main act starts, people have no qualms about moving right in and squeezing right in front of you if you leave them an inch of room to get in. There have been a few times I've had to protect my spot with my 100-400. I was a little wilder about panning it from right to left than I usually am. But it kept people from crowding in to close or in front of me (and I was leaning against the fence). Some people even brought step stools so they could get up a few feet higher. I carry enough camera equipment with me, so I've never done that, but it doesn't seem like a bad idea to be able to shoot over heads of other people.
Mike
|
|
|
|
08/04/2007 02:20:16 PM · #23 |
Sorry, I couldn't resist :-)
 |
|
|
|
08/04/2007 07:44:40 PM · #24 |
wow thanks again for all the awesome input and by the looks of it and on some recommendations I will turn off the IS and wing it from there so to speak :P I'm actually getting a little nervous/excited about it. Although it kinda sucks that I cant bring a camera bag as their not allowing any bags in due to "security reasons" so Ill just be bringing my little belt pouch to carry my 17-40L and a spare battery. I also ended up buying a Lexar 300x 8gb card (my meds made me do it) to go with the two 133x 4gb lexars that I have :) should be able to get around 1400 raw shots before I run out of digital film which I hope will be enough LOL...
Thanks again,
-dave |
|
|
|
08/04/2007 09:10:32 PM · #25 |
I heard someone mention in another thread, but not here....a spotter helps. He/she can yell out where the planes are coming from.
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/03/2025 04:47:07 PM EDT.
