Taking airplane pics

[Penguin_101_1]

This weekend I will have a chance to take pictures of the following planes:
AeroShell Aerobatic Team
Flight For Diabetes
US Army Golden Knights
US Navy Blue Angels
B-1B Lancer Bomber (requested)
C-17 Globemaster III (requested)
F-14 Tomcat (requested)
F-15 Eagle East Coast Demo Team
F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet
F-117 Stealth (requested)
P-3 Orion (requested)
P-51 Heritage Flight
T6A Texan II Air Force Demo Team

Does anyone have tips? 8)

[scottbergerphoto]

Use:
1. AI Servo
2. Separate shutter release from focus with focus on *(45 point) and X (center AF point)buttons
3. ISO 400
4. Shutter speed 1/1000 or better
5. Manual Mode
Regards,
Scott

[eric1]

hi Penguin, i'm thinking about going too. what days are you going?

[Penguin_101_1]

I don't know yet, I am 10 mins away so I don't have a set time. I will most likely go tomorrow. They have been flying over my house all day. 8)

Thanks for the tips! :)

Oh, Are you going to go into the fair or go back to the golf course where you have a full view of the runway?

[Mark Kemp]

The easiest place to get some dynamic photos is take off and landing. The planes are moving, but not too fast, so a slowish shutter speed pan shot is on (Try 1/60 to 1/180 and experiment). If you pick a good spot you can get a fairly uncluttered background (with a bit of luck) and the blurred background can add some interest and sense of movement.

I do have one concern though - will the autofocus be able to lock on to the Stealth Fighter? :D

[Penguin_101_1]

Thanks for the tips! I have been really busy so I don't have the SLR pics up yet. Here is a link to the digital pics: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=41799&highlight= Sadly the f-117 wasn't there. :cry:

[Mark Kemp]

Are you SURE it wasn't there, it is supposed to be invisible you know!

You could always publish a pic of empty sky and say it was a 117 :D

Can't see your pics, sorry, it seems very slow or dead.

[Penguin_101_1]

I have a lot of sky pics :lol: Here are the pics: http://michaelg.fotopic.net/c277771.html