My first attempt at shooting commercial airplanes

[ghibli99]

Earlier today, I was outside doing some work on my car. Since I was right in the flight path of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, I decided to dust off the 100-400L and shoot some planes passing by. The first thing that struck me was, wow, tracking a moving subject takes practice. I'd say my first 50 shots were pretty much a mess of experimentation, horrible framing, and well, just the wrong settings.

After a while, I started to get the hang of it, but the moment I started hitting, I wanted to get different angles (as evidenced by the lack of variety here!). So, I'm going to scout the area for a nice location to get some more profile-style shots instead of right from underneath. I was also bummed because I wasn't using a UV/atmospheric, so that last shot really got washed out.

Anyway, hope you like these.

-Mike

1.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l131/mmotoda/20080209azplanes/20080209azplanes01.jpg

2.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l131/mmotoda/20080209azplanes/20080209azplanes03.jpg

3.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l131/mmotoda/20080209azplanes/20080209azplanes04.jpg

4.
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l131/mmotoda/20080209azplanes/20080209azplanes02.jpg

[mike ca]

Nice Shots! Good lighting under the wings also wheels up which is really nice! I would like to see a little more reach to bring out some more detail. There's a lots of detail under that big Belly... Great Work...!

[PhotosGuy]

Good ones! I was also bummed because I wasn't using a UV/atmospheric, so that last shot really got washed out. Isn't there one built in the sensors? Seems I read that somewhere.

[ghibli99]

Nice Shots! Good lighting under the wings also wheels up which is really nice! I would like to see a little more reach to bring out some more detail. There's a lots of detail under that big Belly... Great Work...!
Thanks! I think I was so focused on making sure I got the entirety of the planes in frame that it didn't even occur to me to get detail shots. I'm heading out this afternoon for round two! The afternoon light should make for some nice shots... just hope I don't get chased away by airport security! :D

Isn't there one built in the sensors? Seems I read that somewhere.
The built-in elements do a pretty good job, but today was pretty hazy in the valley, so I think my UV/haze filter could have helped that last shot a bit. :)

-Mike

[lecherro]

Great jet wash on #4