Airshow help please...

[Sittingshooter]

I have read other threads, and maybe i'm just a little slow in my old age, but I just dont get it. Could someone help me please ( please no links )

I have an Xti and a 70-200f/4 non IS. I know the lens is a little short, but it's all I have and can afford right now.

- should I use AI servo?
- which metering mode would you recommend
- I plan on using ISO 400
and any other advice you can spare...

Heeeellllpppp....

[JC4]

Yes, AI-servo.

I'd recommend Manual mode. Meter off the blue sky, opposite the sun. Shoot a plane and look at the histogram and image. Adjust accordingly, and check as conditions change. The auto modes get fooled too often from different colored planes, or clouds... If you're not comfortable using M, shoot Tv, and adjust the EC based on what you seen in the Histogram. You may blow out the sky a bit to get plane detail, especially if its cloudy(the white clouds are a LOT brighter than the dark grey planes), don't worry about blowing the clouds a bit.

Shoot at 1/1000 or faster for jets. 1/200 or slower for prop-planes.
Shooting wide open is fine(f/4), but f/5.6 or higher would be a bit sharper.
Adjust ISO to hold the settings above.

Make sure you pan with the plane/jets, don't count on the shutter speed to stop the action.

Don't forget to sit back and watch the show once in a while. Don't over-occupy your self taking photos :)

[Sittingshooter]

thanks John, much appreciated.

[LBaldwin]

Hi Brad,

I use AI Servo, and Tv for most everything in the air. Anything with a big fan gets a shutterspeed as low as I can hand hold and the carpet suckers get as much shutterspeed as I can squeeze out.

so for props ss= 125 / 250
and jets ss= 1000/ 2500,

The process that John is using works well for most stuff but I often shoot sequences of 13-20 frame bursts so manual will not work for me.

[andrewhuxman]

I shoot:
TV Mode for props 1/320 and slower
AV Mode for jets
ISO is almost always at 100 and never over 160
On a clear day I will use Evaluative metering .
Cloudy or hazy days I use Center weighted.
There are a lot of variables that make things a challenge at times such as lighting, weather,distance,heat . Good luck and enjoy.

[equetefue]

should we increase EV ?? and how much to compensate for the gray jets ?

[andrewhuxman]

should we increase EV ?? and how much to compensate for the gray jets ?

On my 40D I have it set to one click to the right but thats just me.

[PhotosGuy]

should we increase EV ?? and how much to compensate for the gray jets ? Since you didn't say, "No links": This shows how the subject can affect the exposure & why manual keeps me worry free:
Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)
Click the "Thread: Need an exposure crutch?" link at the top-right if you'd like more info on exposure.

[Sittingshooter]

thanks everyone for the info. I hope to put it to good use Saturday. Frank, even though I said "no links" ( dumb of me) I checked yours out and really appreciate the info....Brad

[equetefue]

so what's the advantage of manual... I never tried it because in fast action like birding is very very hard to do

[Beers]

I attended my first airshow in a few years at the end of September with my XSi and a 70-200 f4L lens for the aerial demonstrations. My typical settings were:

A-DEP mode for jets, Tv for props
ISO 100 - for bright sunny days there is no need to go faster.
Evaluative metering
Continuous shooting mode - for those sudden high speed passes you have better odds of getting a keeper.
One Shot focus - I just found it works better for me. The XSi and f4L can focus fast enough for one shot to work. I didn't care for the results I got from AI Servo but that could be personal preference.

For jets I was able to get shutter speeds of 1/500 or faster with A-DEP mode.
On the props I shot at speeds of 1/320 or 1/400 depending on how previous images turned out. 1/200 was too slow for sharp images and the props kept disappearing. At 1/320 to 1/400 the image was much sharper and the prop had a nice blur to it.

Always pan with the aircraft.

Here are some shots I took:

A-DEP mode produced f/7.1 at 1/1000.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3270/2897299614_daed4cedce.jpg

Shutter Priority (Tv): f/10 at 1/400:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2897393590_7bd49570b3.jpg

A-DEP gave me f/4.5 at 1/1250
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2896458517_4200989bc9.jpg


I hope this helps. Good luck at the airshow!

[FlyingPhotog]

It's a shameless plug on my part but you can see what settings I generally use at:
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aviation_imagery

A-DEP isn't really necessary because you just don't need that much depth of field for something that's well over 1000' away from you.

I simply set a Tv speed around 1/125 to 1/250 for Props and it's easy enough to spin that to 1/500 or faster for Jets.

If you've got planes popping in and out of light shafts due to clouds, you can use exposure compensation on the fly to compensate.

[FlyingPhotog]

I attended my first airshow in a few years at the end of September with my XSi and a 70-200 f4L lens for the aerial demonstrations.

Very nice set of shots.

Welcome to POTN ! ;)

[Beers]

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm still learning the camera and trying out the various settings to see what I like. Too bad I'll have to wait until next year to make it to another large airshow.

[Sittingshooter]

Beers, nice shots, I hope mine are even close to that nice. FlyingPhotog you have some sweet photos. I appreciate everyones input/expertise and I guess it's all up to me now....

[FlyingPhotog]

Beers, nice shots, I hope mine are even close to that nice. FlyingPhotog you have some sweet photos. I appreciate everyones input/expertise and I guess it's all up to me now....

Thanks...

While just about everyone who goes to an airshow likes to take pictures, high quality Airshow / Aviation photography is kind of a niche thing and like anything else, it takes practice.

I don't get to shoot with the frequency I'd really like (working on that for 2009) but I get great joy from it. Satisfaction is often half the battle.

Good Luck and please post your efforts for us to see! ;)

[andrewhuxman]

I like that Blues shot with the background looks very cool somewhere in the southwest perhaps?

[tkoutdoor]

I attended my first airshow in a few years at the end of September with my XSi and a 70-200 f4L lens for the aerial demonstrations. My typical settings were:

A-DEP mode for jets, Tv for props
ISO 100 - for bright sunny days there is no need to go faster.
Evaluative metering
Continuous shooting mode - for those sudden high speed passes you have better odds of getting a keeper.
One Shot focus - I just found it works better for me. The XSi and f4L can focus fast enough for one shot to work. I didn't care for the results I got from AI Servo but that could be personal preference.

For jets I was able to get shutter speeds of 1/500 or faster with A-DEP mode.
On the props I shot at speeds of 1/320 or 1/400 depending on how previous images turned out. 1/200 was too slow for sharp images and the props kept disappearing. At 1/320 to 1/400 the image was much sharper and the prop had a nice blur to it.

Always pan with the aircraft.

Here are some shots I took:

A-DEP mode produced f/7.1 at 1/1000.

I hope this helps. Good luck at the airshow!

This is off the top of my head, but when reading about A-DEP mode I seem to remember that you had to pick a spot in the foreground and another spot in the background for the A-DEP to do it's business. If that's true you were getting a random effect from A-DEP that was probably something more like P mode. I've never used A-DEP and FWIW neither A-DEP nor any of the beginner modes (except the green) mode exist on the 5D, only the creative modes. I wasn't that interested in it anymore once I saw that.

Otherwise I keep Tv mode set to 1/320th or so for prop, I use Av where I want it for random people shots, and I set M mode for things that are flying without props. Things like jets, paratroopers etc. Once I have M mode dialed in I don't use it for other stuff, I reserve it for things in flight. I switch to Tv mode for props and Av mode for people so I don't disturb a properly set M mode. That just leaves a potential ISO adjustment when I shoot in Av for static scenes that I switch back when shooting M mode again.

[Beers]

I like that Blues shot with the background looks very cool somewhere in the southwest perhaps?

Close. Those shots were taken at the airshow at Grand Junction, Colorado.

Here is another Blues shot where the landscape helped to add interest to the shot:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2896458409_e8ee1ef252.jpg

[Beers]

This is off the top of my head, but when reading about A-DEP mode I seem to remember that you had to pick a spot in the foreground and another spot in the background for the A-DEP to do it's business. If that's true you were getting a random effect from A-DEP that was probably something more like P mode. I've never used A-DEP and FWIW neither A-DEP nor any of the beginner modes (except the green) mode exist on the 5D, only the creative modes. I wasn't that interested in it anymore once I saw that.

You are right about A-DEP being similar to P mode. I had the camera set to that mode since we were show center and close enough to the action that I wanted to make sure all of the plane was in focus as it went past. My main concern was with the wingspan of larger planes. Probably not necessary however I figured it was a good default setting while I work on my depth of field knowledge, particularly with respect to landscape photography.

Otherwise I keep Tv mode set to 1/320th or so for prop, I use Av where I want it for random people shots, and I set M mode for things that are flying without props. Things like jets, paratroopers etc. Once I have M mode dialed in I don't use it for other stuff, I reserve it for things in flight. I switch to Tv mode for props and Av mode for people so I don't disturb a properly set M mode. That just leaves a potential ISO adjustment when I shoot in Av for static scenes that I switch back when shooting M mode again.

Those are some good suggestions and I may try them next time I am out. I had bumped up the shutter speed to 1/400 with one particular performer because it allowed a little definition to the prop. At 1/320th or slower the prop disappeared completely. This was due to the plane having a brown prop against a red and yellow fuselage. I wanted the appearance of prop motion, not make it totally disappear. Other performers like the Mustang used 1/320th.

[tkoutdoor]

I have read other threads, and maybe i'm just a little slow in my old age, but I just dont get it. Could someone help me please ( please no links )

I have an Xti and a 70-200f/4 non IS. I know the lens is a little short, but it's all I have and can afford right now.

- should I use AI servo?
- which metering mode would you recommend
- I plan on using ISO 400
and any other advice you can spare...

Heeeellllpppp....

Say, that lens setup can still be pretty effective just by adding the 1.4x II Canon teleconvertor. I used that before I had longer glass.

[JTVal]

If any of you wanna shoot someone you can talk to, I'll be skydiving into the show this weekend.

During the 2nd show I will be the center jumper on the "bomb burst" formation.
Thats where four jumpers jump with smoke from the ceiling I will be the 5th (with smoke) they break apart and track away from each other I will stay in the center (ish)

I'd love to see photos if you capture any. I'll be posting photos that I took form the sky during the jump

[equetefue]

JTVal what airshow will you be in ? I'll be at Kennedy Space Center's on Saturday.

[JTVal]

I would love to be in that air show! I miss jumpig in florida.

I will be at the las vegas show Today (in a few hours) saturday and sunday

[PhotosGuy]

More:
Airshow guys - prop freeze? (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=229542)

A few by Marauder61: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4303755&postcount=17

[tkoutdoor]

Those are some good suggestions and I may try them next time I am out. I had bumped up the shutter speed to 1/400 with one particular performer because it allowed a little definition to the prop. At 1/320th or slower the prop disappeared completely. This was due to the plane having a brown prop against a red and yellow fuselage. I wanted the appearance of prop motion, not make it totally disappear. Other performers like the Mustang used 1/320th.Yeah, other times when the props are slower are taxiing on the runway and in the hardest part of a vertical climb. In those times 1/320th can almost freeze the prop, especially when throttling back when coming down the runway after landing. Big helicopters I haven't figured out perfectly yet, but they tend to be slower speeds too.