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View Full Version : Need tips for aerial photography at dusk into evening ....


cecilc
18th of October 2004 (Mon), 09:34
Hello, all ....

I've been asked to take some aerial shots of a local high school football stadium at about game time (7:30 or so). Getting the plane is not a problem - getting the good, quality shot(s) is what I'm after.

I did do a search in the forums for this - found threads about aerial photography, but nothing as far as suggestions/tips for getting good aerial shots at about sundown and into the early evening when the lights will be on in the stadium.

Here's the plan I have. And if anyone sees anything technically wrong in this, please pipe up and let me know. If anyone has done this and has some good tips and suggestions, again, please chime in and post some advice ......

I'll be in a high-wing, slow-moving (relatively speaking, I guess) aircraft and the pilot is a commercially licensed pilot who knows exactly what he's doing and what we're doing ..... and that's probably a good first step, right?

My plan is to get over the stadium shortly before sundown. Hopefully, it'll be dark enought that the lights will be on, but still light enough to see the stands, fans, and areas around the stadium. Also, I'm hoping the light won't totally go away so that I can make a few passes and get as many shots as I can. The teams will be on the field (which is what they want, too). Without acquiring any additional lenses, I have an 80-200 L 2.8 and a Canon 100 2.0 that I'm planning on taking and getting some shots with each lens if I have the time. I'm trying to keep my shutter speed at least at 1/250 (higher if I can manage it) and having the aperture at 4 or 5.6 with an ISO of not higher than 800 (and lower if I can manage that). Does that sound realistic? I should also add that I'm planning on bracketing the hell out of every shot .....

Any and all (legitimate) advice and suggestions are welcomed .....

awagner
18th of October 2004 (Mon), 16:57
I wonder... why keep the apareture to 4 or 5.6 why not go all the way to 2 with your 100mm. You will need all the light you can.

cecilc
18th of October 2004 (Mon), 17:16
I wonder... why keep the apareture to 4 or 5.6 why not go all the way to 2 with your 100mm. You will need all the light you can.

Can't argue with that logic ....

But I was looking for a little more DOF than 2.0 would give me .... am I incorrect in assuming that I need more DOF than a 2.0 would give me?

mdmedicgod
24th of October 2004 (Sun), 17:28
Here are some aerial pics I took. They were taken at late afternoon to early evening. I used ISO 800 film. Canon rebel, tamron 70-300mm F4.0-5.6 sorry. I can't remember the settings, but I think it was at least 1/500th. Also the altitude I used was about 1000ft agl +/- 100ft .In my opinion I think the 800 made the images to grainy. I haven't had chance to take my 300D airborne yet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Skydogs/aerialpics002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Skydogs/aerialpics008.jpg

planesh00ter
26th of October 2004 (Tue), 19:17
Shouldn't need much DOF as they are all in the same plane ( not aeroplane :lol: )

basically a 2 dimension shot.