(Air) Critique/suggestions on Night Operations photos

I'm trying to get some shots of the Wisconsin ANG F-16s at the 115th Fighter Wing here in Madison during their night operations.

I was out last night and the results are at best "so so"...
http://moving-target-photos.com/2012-11-07_115FW_Night/

In my defense, it was very dark (1/20s and slower at ISO 1600 and f/2.8 and f/4) - a lot of times I couldn't even see the plane in the viewfinder and I was framing on the bright items I could see...

Any tips and/or suggestions on handling these conditions?
I was using a mono-pod. Next time I will bring my mega-tripod and see how that works.
I am thinking that I may need to wait until the days are a bit longer so there is more ambient light (?).

IMAGE LINK: http://moving-target-photos.com …ides/IMG_8830_s​creen.html

IMAGE LINK: http://moving-target-photos.com …ides/IMG_4361_s​creen.html

So you want to capture light where there is none? What you got isn't too bad. News organizations and military use a night vision image intensifier or your other option is to photograph after sunset but before total darkness. You could also use the tripod and photograph end of runway checks or some other operation where the plane isn't moving but the people working around it are moving.

^ ^ I agree with Dave.

Good idea, but won't they change the time to later as it gets dark later?
The 2nd shot (nice one) works because there's light behind the F-16, & you have some nice ones in the gallery, too. Get used to looking for some fill light from the facility to help you out, or maybe the landing lights from another aircraft. But mostly keep doing what you're doing & remember that "night" should look like night. ; )

Thanks for all the suggestions!

ChunkyDA wrote in post #15224700
So you want to capture light where there is none?...

That pretty much sums it up...

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15224856
... remember that "night" should look like night.

Yes; excellent point!

I think next time I will expose for the afterburner and let the rest of the frame come out how it will. That's a constant intensity, so I'll probably also use manual exposure, too.
The commercial terminal building is almost directly across from me. I'll see if I can use it's lights to help define the planes, if only in silhouette.

Cheers,

Geoff S.

Constant intensity, yes, but extremely bright in relation to the rest of the image, so you might be a bit too optimistic with that idea. Definitely use manual, & try some test shots to see what works the best.
Night Air Show - Alma, MI

Considering your subject matter, and the conditions, i'd say you NAILED number 2...

PhotosGuy wrote in post #15228569
Constant intensity, yes, but extremely bright in relation to the rest of the image, so you might be a bit too optimistic with that idea. Definitely use manual, & try some test shots to see what works the best.
Night Air Show - Alma, MI

I get about 6 take-offs per outing, but I can (hopefully) get back a few times to try some more things.

I've shot a lot of night airshows, and this was harder than any of them. I think it was just darker than normal (completely overcast so no moon, stars, etc.) and it was the first time I was shooting from this location so I was trying different equipment for each shot.

STIC wrote in post #15229230
Considering your subject matter, and the conditions, i'd say you NAILED number 2...

Thanks! That one had the most going for it: relatively slow speed and close (~80 feet -> 70mm focal-length).