Night Shuttle Launch

[underthegun]

Got tkts for VIP area ( 3 mls from pad ) for this Nov14th night launch. Earlier posts on this subject are very "light" on detailes.

I have a Rebel XTI with 300MM F/4 L on tripod.

Want to get pics of "on pad full throttle" only. Not intending to follow shuttle off pad.

So.... still am not sure what settings to use. I assume no auto focus manual mode / raw. Plan to bracket +/- 1. Have seen only one suggestion of f/8, iso400, 1/250. But dont know if that would pertain to my equiptment / proximity.

[breathless]

Lucky you! I hope you get some cool pictures.

3 miles away and a 300mm? I'd also look into extenders.

Enjoy!

[underthegun]

Well, I would definetly need to stay at f/8 with an extender, am already at iso400, and dont think I should go any slower than 1/250 ( assuming the settings I listed are correct ). The shuttle is pretty darn LARGE, so 300mm could be enough?

[ssim]

Your opportunity to get it right is a pretty short time window. One thing to keep in mind is that the extremes in contrast that you will experience will be alot like shooting into the sun during the day. You will have a (presumably) black background with a fireball coming out of the shuttle which is difficult, though not impossible, to find a balanced exposure. I tried doing some amateur rocketing at dusk and found it difficult even with the amount of glow that these put out, I can only imagine what the space shuttle would be like. I would think that given the amount of light being put out here that there is a good chance of blowing the highlights in the shuttle and compounded by the fact that it nearly white to begin with.

[dustyporch]

I have no idea what to use for capturing the fireball...

But I have one suggestion. I would be thinking of blending a few exposures together to get the final image... Before launch, I would setup my tripod and finalize my composition, then get the best image of the shuttle on the pad I could. I would then blend that image with the fireball one to give you the best chance of hitting all the important elements at their best.

[underthegun]

Great idea dusty THANKS I'll try that !

[golfecho]

Call NASA public affairs and ask for tips. You won't be the first person to shoot a night launch from there, and won't be the only one that night either.

At the very least ask around to others who may have done it before prior to the launch.

[tomd]

worth reading
http://www.phototrek.org/Travel/STS-93/exposure.html

[underthegun]

OK, I photographed the launch and the results where EXCELLENT. If you are going to be shooting the Shuttle at night and are reletively close ( within 6 miles) the trick is to set your exposer the same as you would for a daytime launch ! Yes. it's that bright ! As the shuttle rises, it get a lot brighter. The brightness factor increases dramatically for every 100 yards or so of vertical climb untill it clears the scaffolding completely. So bracket your shots and you should be all right.
Of cource I used a tripod and RF remote shutter release. From the VIP area, which is right next to the "Blockhouse" or control center and about 3 miles from the pad, my 300mm F/4 L and 1.4X tele where plenty good enough. With this setup, I was at 1/500, f8, iso 100. As I said, the pics turned out fantastic. I bracketed the shots + & - 1 stop, and shot as fast as my buffer would allow. Had the camera turned sideways, with the shuttle pad at the bottom of the frame. This way you get the bird lifting off and clearing the scaffold. Still pleny of room on the sides for the smoke etc... Thats all I can think off, except if you ever get a chance to go DO IT! I've never seen anything so powerfully thrilling in my life !!

[FlyingPhotog]

OK, I photographed the launch and the results where EXCELLENT. If you are going to be shooting the Shuttle at night and are reletively close ( within 6 miles) the trick is to set your exposer the same as you would for a daytime launch ! Yes. it's that bright ! As the shuttle rises, it get a lot brighter. The brightness factor increases dramatically for every 100 yards or so of vertical climb untill it clears the scaffolding completely. So bracket your shots and you should be all right.
Of cource I used a tripod and RF remote shutter release. From the VIP area, which is right next to the "Blockhouse" or control center and about 3 miles from the pad, my 300mm F/4 L and 1.4X tele where plenty good enough. With this setup, I was at 1/500, f8, iso 100. As I said, the pics turned out fantastic. I bracketed the shots + & - 1 stop, and shot as fast as my buffer would allow. Had the camera turned sideways, with the shuttle pad at the bottom of the frame. This way you get the bird lifting off and clearing the scaffold. Still pleny of room on the sides for the smoke etc... Thats all I can think off, except if you ever get a chance to go DO IT! I've never seen anything so powerfully thrilling in my life !!

Pics or it never happened... ;)

[jgrussell]

OK, I photographed the launch and the results where EXCELLENT.Let's see 'em!!!!