Question about equipment

What is the one piece of equipment, besides your camera, that you always take with you to photograph cars, trains, or planes? In other words, what single item do you feel is essential to getting good car, train, or plane photo's?

As a new shooter, I often wonder how other photographers plan and pull off a shoot of an automobile, train or an airplane. And if there is one piece of equipment they feel is essential to make the shot. I personally am growing quite fond of my Phottix speed light and new Sigma 10-20 lens. But I think it's because they are still new, and I'm still learning to use them. What is everyone else's thoughts on must have equipment for this type of photography? Please give an example, and/or a photo of why that piece of equipment is so important to you.

Try HERE. You're in the Photo Sharing section.

...The camera?

I think that the question, "a shoot of an automobile, train or an airplane." is way too broad. Generally, I'd have to say the right lens for the situation.

Too broad a question, but assuming it's for a stationary/glamour shot then I would have to pick the tripod. It allows careful composition/control, as well as longer exposures for sharper images.

liquorboxracing wrote in post #16861494
What is the one piece of equipment, besides your camera, that you always take with you to photograph cars, trains, or planes? In other words, what single item do you feel is essential to getting good car, train, or plane photo's?

As a new shooter, I often wonder how other photographers plan and pull off a shoot of an automobile, train or an airplane. And if there is one piece of equipment they feel is essential to make the shot. I personally am growing quite fond of my Phottix speed light and new Sigma 10-20 lens. But I think it's because they are still new, and I'm still learning to use them. What is everyone else's thoughts on must have equipment for this type of photography? Please give an example, and/or a photo of why that piece of equipment is so important to you.

The only "important" equipment at a car show is the camera and lens.

I got in the habit of using a Live View-equipped 60D and framed images with Live View and the 60D's fold-out screen. The camera handled exposure nicely with available light and Program AE auto exposure. Examples.

Does the live view make a huge difference between framing up a shot on screen as apposed to through the view finder? I love the shot of the 71 Charger. What were you using when you took that?

liquorboxracing wrote in post #16864732
Does the live view make a huge difference between framing up a shot on screen as apposed to through the view finder? I love the shot of the 71 Charger. What were you using when you took that?

As mentioned, the images came from a Canon 60D using Live View. The advantage of Live View, especially with camera equipped with an articulating screen such as the 60D's, is that it liberates a photographer from the constraints of holding the camera at the face and allows easy framing from unusually low or high angles.

As example, if wanted, you can easily use a camera as if it was a medium format unit with a waist-level viewfinder.

Interesting! Great tip for those with rightly equipped cameras. I am going to use this method at the next show or cruise in.