RAF Cosford 2007 Exposure problems

[currymonster]

Hi,
This was my first proper outing at an airshow, I usually take pictures of Civil aircraft at the airports.
As you can see from the Eurofighter, it looks a muddy mess, the lighting on the day was less than helpful but I can't entirely blame that as I have seen some better examples on other Cosford 2007 post's on other forums.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/currymonster_album/IMG_4654.jpg
EXIF:
Camera Model Canon EOS 30D
Shooting Date/Time 10/06/2007 14:18:21
Shooting Mode Shutter-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/640
Av( Aperture Value ) 6.3
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation +1/3
ISO Speed 100
Lens 50.0 - 500.0 mm
Focal Length 500.0 mm
Image Size 3504x2336
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Picture Style Standard
Sharpness 4
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Also another example just as disgusting!!!
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/currymonster_album/IMG_4615.jpg
EXIF:
File Name IMG_4615.JPG
Camera Model Canon EOS 30D
Shooting Date/Time 10/06/2007 14:01:25
Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/400
Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
Metering Mode Partial Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 100
Lens 50.0 - 500.0 mm
Focal Length 500.0 mm
Image Size 3504x2336
Image Quality Fine
Flash Off
White Balance Mode Auto
AF Mode AI Servo AF
Picture Style Standard
Sharpness 4
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Color tone 0
Color Space sRGB
Noise Reduction Off
I had on that day tried every option, be it shutter priority,aperture priority, higher ISO settings,exposure compensation.
I had a Bigma 50-500 so was trying a shutter speed of arounf 1/500 on average to avoid the shakes. and had also experimented with different metering modes but not evaluative, I always make sure the centre sensor is pointed at the aircraft so as to meter off the aircraft and not the sky.
Please can anyone guide me in the right direction here, as I am determined to crack this, and want a better outing at RIAT next month armed with more knowledge. please be as critical as you like I really want to learn more about this
Thanks in advance
Steve

[muscleflex]

maybe you just need to change your levels to bring out more blue? and more pop with contrast i guess?!

[Zilly]

ive had a 30 second play hope you dont mind

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1322/544219450_398818375e_o.jpg

just pulled the curves in to the edge of the first peak the slide the highlight and shadow controllers around. the compression makes it look a bit pants

[GyRob]

there's more in your shot's - i increased sat and brightness and contrast then sharpen.
you should be able to pull more out of the full size image .
Rob.

[paul_g]

Hi Steve,

I was at Cosford and had exactly the same results even with manually setting the metering from planes on the ground. That haze/fog! was a killer early on.

However as others have said the images can be improved. If you check your levels histogram you'll find its nowhere near the left hand end. Pulling this in should hugely improve things and then tweaking contrast and saturation will give a reasonable result.

Must admit I've started processing the easy shots from later in the day when the weather was better and left the early images to last!

Paul

[currymonster]

Thanks GYROB and Zilly it just shows what can be done with these bad pics.....I just need to sort out the sharpness now :lol:

Thanks also Paul, it makes me feel a bit better that I wasnt the only one struggling......Blimey wasn't it hard work with those lighting conditions!!!


I think my best shots were of Denny in the Extra and the Blades, of course by then the lighting had sorted itself out a bit better.

Cheers for your help and support guys.:)

Steve

[PhotosGuy]

Blimey wasn't it hard work with those lighting conditions!!! Not every angle is a good one? If you can anticipate the angle that you'll be shooting at, try this & shoot on "M": Need an exposure crutch? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=89123)

[symbolphoto]

http://www.brendanstewart.net/random/photoshopfixplane.jpg

My stab at it..

Unsharp Mask, 160, 4, 10
PhotoFilter Deep Blue
Selective dodging and burning and shadow/highlight.
reduce noise

[symbolphoto]

http://www.brendanstewart.net/random/photoshopfixplane2.jpg

[pputkowski]

http://gallery.upshizzle.com/albums/06.07/IMG_4654.jpg

[Suicidenote]

The PP done by the board members looks much better. #2 obviously is not framed properly. Plane should be entering the picture, leaving space for it to move across the picture, not leaving the picture with the blank space behind it already.

[Mates]

@Mumbles: wow! Stunning improvement on your versions!

[currymonster]

Hi Guys, more great work in PP, yes I realise that the framing was poor in the 2nd one......got so excited by the close up that the bugger slipped out of shot.....kind of makes me glad that it wasn't a superb shot, what a bummer it would have been if it was perfect in sharpness but out of shot. I realise I need to practice more with this beast of a Sigma 50-500.

Thanks for you repeated input on this thread.

Steve

[Box Brownie]

I thought I would offer my go at the PPing of the first image :)

I have added the second one because of the apparent jet flare which I have given some emphasis to ;)