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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
airshow tips?
John Germ, Photographer
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Wadsworth | Oh | USA | Posted: 3:47 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> I may be going to the Cleveland National Airshow this weekend and was looking for some tips. My sportswork is all pretty much on the ground stuff. I'll be using a mkIII and 100-400 for flight shots.
Outside of slower shutter speeds for prop (1/250 or slower say) - what are specific recommendations for:
Metering ?
Focus point(s)?
Other specifics with regards to formations vs. single jet vs prop.
Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 3:57 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> Don't walk into spinning propellers.
**********
Metering is the biggest problem, since focus is at or near infinity most of the time while the aircraft are up.
If the aircraft isn't shiny silver, spot metering is useful.
Remember, the meter is simply telling you what is the correct exposer to make the scene 18% gray. You might want to bring an 18% gray card, or use a incident meter. Skies with dark or very light aircraft will fool your interpretation of what the meter is telling you.
Have fun, and bring ear plugs. Oh, and a scanner that can pick up the ground to aircraft communications is excellent to have as well. |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Garland | TX | USA | Posted: 4:32 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> I was at the air show in Oshkosh at the end of July and also used the 100-400. It does an adequate job, but does not track focus as well as a 2.8 lens. Some prop planes you can get by with 1/250, but try and not go faster then 1/200 and use the IS.
For metering I was manual and meter off of something that I can determine how far off of 18% gray it is and adjust for that and go with that even if the meter changes when I point it to the sky.
Also think about using a circular polarizer to help make the sky pop. |
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Guy Rhodes, Photographer
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East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 8:15 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> "but try and not go faster then 1/200 and use the IS"
Remember to flip the IS to "2" if you're panning with moving aircraft. |
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Steve Ueckert, Photographer
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Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 11:02 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> Look for planes just as they become airborne so as to have a frame of reference and hopefully some foreground to add layers to the image.
Or go off premises and try to get on line with the active runway. Lots of old warbirds take off low and slow. A head on shot, maybe with an extender, while a plane is just off the ground, or as it passes directly overhead, often provides an alternate look to add to the variety.
Turn around and shoot the crowd watching the show, obviously kids may be the best bet.
--Steve |
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John Germ, Photographer
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Wadsworth | Oh | USA | Posted: 9:23 AM on 08.27.08 |
| ->> Thanks for the tips everyone. |
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Mariano Rosales, Photographer
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Montgomery | IL | USA | Posted: 9:47 AM on 08.27.08 |
->> Ditto on Steve's points of getting crowd shots and trying to get shots of the aircraft with something in the foreground/background. Otherwise its just another shot of an airplane flying by.
Also, try to shoot toward one end of the show line away from show center, preferably the end which will have the sun more at your back.
If you're shooting on an overcast day you may have to meter using spot or center weighted metering to properly expose the aircraft. In really bright overcast you may even have to stop up 1 or 2 stops to get the proper exposure.
Have fun! |
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