Tips for Airshows

Davyb

Davyb

Davyb

Associate
Joined
10 Jan 2003
Posts
665
Location
Belfast NI
Guys,

Has anyone got any tips for shooting aircraft at airshows more so in tricky lighting.

I was at portrush airshow over the weekend and it was a very gloomy day.

I tried a combination of AV / TV and M modes on the camera and the TV mode seemed to work better.

Mostly shot at iso 200 and a shutter speed of around 1/250 for prop craft and 1/1000 for jets.

I got some good shots but some are very dark.

I am new to DSLR and didnt think i done to bad for my first time.

A sample below on my Flickr.

would a higher iso help and process it in lightroom if it is over exposed or is iso 200 and under exposed ok and process in lightroom ?

Any tips would be great.

6124307345_0c90dc6685_b.jpg

6124303735_238a8cce68_b.jpg
 
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I don't understand this odd Tv/Av/M Canon terminology :p but when its flat white skies, I'm yet to see anyone make a picture look good I'm afraid.

Personally I use aperture priority, stick the aperture to the widest aperture which I'm happy with for jets for the lens, add between +1/3 and +4/3 exposure bios depending on how white the sky is and shoot away.

For slower shots of prop planes and helicopters, I decrease the aperture to get a slower shutter speed, which will depend greatly on the aircraft to get a decent blur. For example, a fast prop like on the king air, 1/400 might be slow enough. At the other end of the spectrum, a Chinook requires as slow as you dare, 1/60 or below is great if you can keep the aircraft in focus.
 
cheers.

it seems very hard with flat white skys.

tv/av/m im used to my 400D but was using my sisters Nikon D80 as my canon is about to die :(

Maybee its time to upgrade.
 
And this year seems to have been particularly full of dull flat backgrounds. Of course it can help when the display pilot brings their own lighting...

DSC_3085.jpg
 
Now thats a great shot.

This pilot did bring his own lighting but my zoom lense couldnt zoom out as far as the plane was.

Maybee its time to upgrade my lens to.

6124846936_b99b84c663.jpg
 
as others have said, flat white sky is nasty for shooting aircraft. But then again, this year thats all it seems to have been!!

I normally use av mode for jets around f/8. Depending on the lighting position and aircraft color i also add +2/3 ish exposure compensation.

For props, tv is the only way to go. 1/250th for most but helicopters as low as comfortable!
 
Davy,
Try looking over on UK Airshow Reviews website, lots of a/c pics and plenty of technical & Kit discussions on photographing a/c under various lighting conditions.


HTH .. Regards Simon
 
Metering can be a problem with dark planes and white skies.
Recently at a show I found what suited most was spot metering with +ve exposure compensation of up 1 stop or even slightly more.
Also, practice your panning technique.
 
I was at the Portrush Airshow on the Sunday, agreed the lighting was very tricky although your shots of the Tornado did turn out a lot better than mines!
tornadosmall.jpg
 
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