Photos from an airplane
Sep 1, 2017 18:43:14 #
While on a fishing vacation in Canada for the last week or so I have been asked to take some photos from a small airplane looking down on the fishing resort camp grounds for them to use on their resort pamphlet. I have never done anything like this before. I would love to get some input to help me do this. Settings, aperture etc. I'm not very good at manual settings yet. I'll take any help I can get. Thanks. I have a Nikon d7100 camera. The two lens I have are the 55mm-140mm. And a 55mm-300mm.
Sep 1, 2017 19:08:27 #
Dgusty3 wrote:
While on a fishing vacation in Canada for the last... (show quote)
I use my 24-105 mostly. Program setting works very well.
The lenses both start at 55mm so I would take the longer zoom range mounted on the camera.
Then shutter priority for some to make sure motion is eliminated and I would guess like all canon you can set the camera so once the aperture is open and more light is needed the camera then starts slowing the shutter but only after the aperture has maxed out actually in either direction.
Sharp is most important and in a small plane shutter priority is best.
Sep 1, 2017 19:15:48 #
Architect1776 wrote:
I use my 24-105 mostly. Program setting works very... (show quote)
Ok so what shutter speed do you think I should start at? I believe it's going to be in the later part of the day around 5:00pm
Sep 1, 2017 20:07:11 #
Put a polarizer on the lens to knock down reflections from the aircraft window.
Sep 1, 2017 20:18:48 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Put a polarizer on the lens to knock down reflections from the aircraft window.
Darn it I don't have one with me!
Sep 1, 2017 20:20:05 #
Try to always shoot while going forward, never sideways if possible. Shooting directly facing forward you can pretty much use infinity for focus. But sideways you will end up with motion blur. Like shooting out of a car window at highway speeds...
Bob
Bob
Sep 1, 2017 20:31:55 #
blue-ultra wrote:
Try to always shoot while going forward, never sideways if possible. Shooting directly facing forward you can pretty much use infinity for focus. But sideways you will end up with motion blur. Like shooting out of a car window at highway speeds... ohbyes that makes sense. How to you use infinity to focus?
Bob
Bob
Sep 1, 2017 20:39:56 #
Sep 2, 2017 05:24:39 #
Dgusty3 wrote:
Ok so what shutter speed do you think I should start at? I believe it's going to be in the later part of the day around 5:00pm
1/500 is a good starting point.
1/250 is about minimum.
Adjust ISO within the relative noise free range for your camera. I do not know for your camera what that range is.
I have had success with this in my own plane.
Sep 2, 2017 06:21:51 #
Dgusty3 wrote:
While on a fishing vacation in Canada for the last... (show quote)
Auto should be fine - and simple. The longer the zoom, the more vibration will be a concern.
Sep 2, 2017 06:29:57 #
Clean the window, inside and out (before you take off is a good idea!). Keep the lens as close to the window as possible to reduce reflection. Minimum shutter speed 1/400th, as long as you're over 1000 feet AGL; faster if lower. If it's a bright day, low ISO, otherwise, auto ISO. Ask the pilot to circle the camp so shadows vary. Zoom between 40-100 depending on field of view and altitude.
You did not say if the flight is specific for photography, or just a pass-by. One circle of the camp slow-flight should do it even if it's not just for photography. Small plane pilots are nice people, happy to help.
You did not say if the flight is specific for photography, or just a pass-by. One circle of the camp slow-flight should do it even if it's not just for photography. Small plane pilots are nice people, happy to help.
Sep 2, 2017 09:59:31 #
If you are in a small plane, usually a window will open, or you can leave one window off when you start. Then, hold the camera so it does not touch the plane frame, and shoot at a fast shutter. Somewhere in the range of 1/500, F 6 or up, and auto ISO. That should get it.
Sep 2, 2017 10:11:01 #
RonMe
Loc: San Antonio
I took lots of photos from a helicopter over a 4-year time period back in the days of shooting with 35mm slide film and I would always shoot through an open window. If the aircraft you will be flying in is small enough, it may be possible to open a window, so I'd check with the pilot to see if that might be an option. One of the issues that can arise while taking photos from an aircraft is a tendency for images to be a bit underexposed. This problem is not really much of an issue in the digital age and post processing, but it was a major consideration with slide film. One final note of caution...if the pilot allows you to open and shoot through a window while in flight, hold on to everything that is dear to you. I thought I'd lost a contact lens at one point only to discover the it had been blown around the side of my eye. Oh yeah, great memories!
Sep 2, 2017 12:33:36 #
Use the 55mm setting on your lens. Set the ISO to 200, the shutter speed to 1/250 and the aperture to f8 for a sunny afternoon, adjust as necessary for variations in light. Sorry if that's vague but your Nikon will tell you the settings that get your meter centered. Play around with it on the ground to get an idea of the settings for the light you'll be flying in. Shoot in bursts of 3 or 5 to get the shot and set it to +/- 1/2 stop and you get a little spread to help nail down the exposure. Good luck and have fun.
Rick
Rick
Sep 2, 2017 12:44:50 #
I disagree about using a polarizer when shooting through the windows of an airplane. Since aircraft windows are mostly made using some form of plexiglass, a polarizer will show the stress marks within the window that have been introduced during the manufacturing process. You will have very pretty rainbows running through your images. Leave the polarizer off.
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Put a polarizer on the lens to knock down reflections from the aircraft window.
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