AIRSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY

spitfire IX · 7th of July 2012 (Sat)

Hi , am new to the world of aviation photography and would welcome any tips or advice that you could share with me . Focus seems to be an issue for flying shots at airshows . Is it best to use Auto Focus or Manual . Also trying to master getting correct exposure of aircraft against bright skies and cloudy ,dark skies . Any advice would be very gratefully received . Thanks .

PhotosGuy · 7th of July 2012 (Sat)

A few threads below yours is one titled, "Airshow Tips Needed"

Valencia Photography · 10th of July 2012 (Tue)

I think the hardest part is getting a good spot! If you can get there early and get a seat near the center of all the action, that can be better than all the other things you try.

jwol · 10th of July 2012 (Tue)

Getting to the show early and staking a claim to your chosen spot is not a bad idea. That said, the center may not be where you want to be. Consider your light source first before picking a spot. Think about the sun's path through out the day. Which part of the flight line will keep the sun at your back, as you shoot, for most of the show? I often find myself photographing from the far end of the flight line. There are apps, if you have a smart phone, that will show you the sun's path over a given location, on a given date. Other things to consider might be, being close to the hot ramp to catch action on the ground, or being near a taxi-way where you may catch planes taxing head-on towards you.

The other option is to move through out the day. The down side is that you'll more than likely be behind the crowd. Your choice of location will ultimately depend on the sun and what your photo goals are.

watt100 · 10th of July 2012 (Tue)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valencia Photography

I think the hardest part is getting a good spot! If you can get there early and get a seat near the center of all the action, that can be better than all the other things you try.

for the air shows I've attended getting the spot doesn't matter, the planes are high in the sky and almost any position on the ground will work

FlyingPhotog · 11th of July 2012 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by watt100

for the air shows I've attended getting the spot doesn't matter, the planes are high in the sky and almost any position on the ground will work

Um...

PhotosGuy · 12th of July 2012 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

Um...

watt100 · 12th of July 2012 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

Um...

ummmm ...

jwol · 12th of July 2012 (Thu)

Yep, depends on what your photo goals are. Its nice to be able to go to an airshow on multiple days so you can shoot different subjects. Getting to the show early also means fewer people wondering around the static displays. Typically, when gates open most of the folks around the statics are fellow photogs. . .

but not always.

7th of July 2012 (Sat)	#1
spitfire IX Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: BERKSHIRE , UK Posts: 8	AIRSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Hi , am new to the world of aviation photography and would welcome any tips or advice that you could share with me . Focus seems to be an issue for flying shots at airshows . Is it best to use Auto Focus or Manual . Also trying to master getting correct exposure of aircraft against bright skies and cloudy ,dark skies . Any advice would be very gratefully received . Thanks .

7th of July 2012 (Sat)	#2
PhotosGuy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: S. E. Michigan Posts: 64,303	Re: AIRSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY A few threads below yours is one titled, "Airshow Tips Needed" __________________ FrankC - 20D, RAW, Manual everything... Classic Carz, Racing, Air Show, Flowers. www.FrankCizek.com Find the light... A few Car Lighting Tips, and MOVE YOUR FEET! Have you thought about making your own book? // Need an exposure crutch?

10th of July 2012 (Tue)	#3
Valencia Photography Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,688 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: AIRSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY I think the hardest part is getting a good spot! If you can get there early and get a seat near the center of all the action, that can be better than all the other things you try. __________________ - 5d MkII - 28mm f/1.8 - 50mm f/1.8 II - 85mm f/1.8 - Tele-Lentar 135mm f/3.5 - Canon S95 -

10th of July 2012 (Tue)	#4
jwol Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centreville,VA Posts: 419 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: AIRSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Getting to the show early and staking a claim to your chosen spot is not a bad idea. That said, the center may not be where you want to be. Consider your light source first before picking a spot. Think about the sun's path through out the day. Which part of the flight line will keep the sun at your back, as you shoot, for most of the show? I often find myself photographing from the far end of the flight line. There are apps, if you have a smart phone, that will show you the sun's path over a given location, on a given date. Other things to consider might be, being close to the hot ramp to catch action on the ground, or being near a taxi-way where you may catch planes taxing head-on towards you. The other option is to move through out the day. The down side is that you'll more than likely be behind the crowd. Your choice of location will ultimately depend on the sun and what your photo goals are. __________________ John Lackey Fly By Photography Blog Radial engines don't actually leak oil, by the way. They just mark their territory!

12th of July 2012 (Thu)	#9
jwol Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centreville,VA Posts: 419 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: AIRSHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Yep, depends on what your photo goals are. Its nice to be able to go to an airshow on multiple days so you can shoot different subjects. Getting to the show early also means fewer people wondering around the static displays. Typically, when gates open most of the folks around the statics are fellow photogs. . . but not always. __________________ John Lackey Fly By Photography Blog Radial engines don't actually leak oil, by the way. They just mark their territory!

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