Aviation photography (Page 2): A long time ago, I took some photos during my approach on base & final to landing in a C172. It got crazy busy! Lesson learned... Two people, one flies...

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

A long time ago, I took some photos during my approach on base & final to landing in a C172. It got crazy busy! Lesson learned... Two people, one flies the airplane, the other takes photos. Even the aerial survey folks do this, and their cameras are mounted viewing straight down. Bottom line: be careful. Low and slow is not the place to have any sudden issues.

machia Loc: NJ

Gitchigumi wrote:

A long time ago, I took some photos during my approach on base & final to landing in a C172. It got crazy busy! Lesson learned... Two people, one flies the airplane, the other takes photos. Even the aerial survey folks do this, and their cameras are mounted viewing straight down. Bottom line: be careful. Low and slow is not the place to have any sudden issues.

👍

nospambob Loc: Edmond, Oklahoma

I always shoot out the open side-window. Too much glare and distraction out the windscreen, unless you want the effect in your picture (in that case, use speeds below 250 to get prop blur). I fly mostly solo, but a partner can help keep an eye on altitude and airspeed. Rudders keep the plane just where I need it. Alternating quick views from viewfinder to window to altimeter (don't bust the 500' / 1000' minimum). You won't have any problem. You also don't need super high speed, as I found that anything over 250 in my D7100 works just fine. 10 degrees of flaps and speed around 80 knots is quite stable. C150, C152, C172, C177, C180 and C182. I don't like Pipers, other than J3s and Super Cubs, because of the small window opening. Cool beans.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

I shot out the open window of my C-182 for many years. It's not at all like driving and texting because once you "clear the area" to make sure there is no other traffic, and you've got the plane trimmed properly shooting is easy. I used to gaffer tape the focus at infinity and slow the plane down to avoid too much wind though the open window. You will never get a sharp shot through the curved plexiglass! An added plus is a passenger/observer to keep watch for traffic if you are in busy airspace.

Do not rest the camera or your arms on any part of the aircraft as the vibration will give you unsharp pictures!

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Thanks to all for your advice. Much appreciated and very valuable.

Yes, I'm up here in northern NJ and am all too aware of how crazy our airspace is especially on weekends when they park AF1 at MMU. I asked some friends if they would be OK taking photos of the great fall foliage we have up through the Hudson Valley and they all jumped at the idea. I did consider the vibrations that are ever-present in the 172, so high shutter speeds are a must.

machia Loc: NJ

NJphotodoc wrote:

Thanks to all for your advice. Much appreciated and very valuable.

Yes, I'm up here in northern NJ and am all too aware of how crazy our airspace is especially on weekends when they park AF1 at MMU. I asked some friends if they would be OK taking photos of the great fall foliage we have up through the Hudson Valley and they all jumped at the idea. I did consider the vibrations that are ever-present in the 172, so high shutter speeds are a must.

Where do you fly out of ? I learned at Manville . Fly out of Somerset now .

machia Loc: NJ

I had a Ryan Navion , rent now . A 172 is a nice airplane . Upkeep got to be too expensive . After 2008 and being in the construction business I had to tighten my wallet !
Hope you get some great shots , please post !

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

machia wrote:

I had a Ryan Navion , rent now . A 172 is a nice airplane . Upkeep got to be too expensive . After 2008 and being in the construction business I had to tighten my wallet !
Hope you get some great shots , please post !

Yes, I second that! I left the area 15 years ago and would love to see some aerials of the Hudson valley where I spent so much time flying.

jeffstone123

i owned a 172 for 10 years. i had 2 padded plates lined with rubber that clamped around the strut with a 1/4"thread shaft through the center of 1. got some great pics and no trouble at all. if you are worried about clamping struts that's the way cessna clamps ant. for wildlife and fisheries and those ant. are a lot heavier than our cameras

Dan5000 Loc: New Hampshire

boberic wrote:

AVIATE-- NAVIGATE--COMMUNICATE. I didn't notice photograph. FLY the plane. Let the passenger fly the camera.

Best advice. Some one else (qualified) should fly the plane.

Dan

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

I did most of my flight training at CDW but first started my lessons up in Ellenville, NY (N89) in a 150 that probably leaked more oil than it used up in flight. If you ever do fly up there, it's a beautiful flight but be careful not to fly over the state prison which is at the end of Runway 22 or they'll think you are trying to break out some of their "guests".
I'm still at CDW but volunteer at the Greenwood Lake annual airshow (4N1) and fly there when I can if only to land next to the Connie they have on the field.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I've done quite a bit of plane-to-plane and plane-to-ground photography. In the first case, I use a pilot while I handle the camera. Plane-to-ground is much easier, and I do both parts.
If shooting from Cessna single engine planes, I remove the door before the flight, though in cold weather window removal has to suffice. Shooting from Super Cubs, Huskies, and the like is easier - just open the doors and clip the upper door up, only while shooting. Low wing planes like most Pipers and most twins are difficult or impossible for air-to-ground shots.
Shooting through plexiglass is a non-starter; there is always distortion, and often reflections. We go to great lengths and often expense to get great lenses - 'nuff said!

machia Loc: NJ

NJphotodoc wrote:

I did most of my flight training at CDW but first... (show quote)

I have to take a hop up there sometime , the Lockheed is the most beautiful commercial plane ever in my eyes ..Yeah we flew some real old stuff when I was learning . We had a Cessna 140 which we kept the door closed with a rope ! lol
Still want to get my hands on a Beech Bonanza 35 someday . I have some time in a Comanchee and a Mooney 21 . The J-3 is a lot of fun , the PT-17 too . Flew an AT-6 with a freind with the bigger Pratt & Whitney , that was a lot of airplane .
Last year they were giving lessons in a P-51 , she was at Morristown Airport . Cost prohibitive of course , was in the thousands for one lesson , nice to have money !
Fly safe and please post pics !

IOTA

I use GARMIN VIRB® X / XE AVIATION BUNDLE - AMERICAS.
Has a filter for shooting thru the prop and you can use your cell phone as a video monitor.
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Buy extra batteries and 64 gig chips
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Thruxton Loc: Indiana / California

Years ago after I got my pilot's license I got a special offer in the mail which described how I could fly for free by taking pictures from the airplane and selling them to realtors and proud homeowners. I don't remember much about the advice the pamphlet provided but it was poorly printed on cheap green paper and was about 5X7 inches so you could conveniently carry it in your flight bag. I never tried to sell any of the photos I got from my Miranda SLR out the window of the C150 I was flying for $25.00/hr as they were all pretty bad and eventually realized the guy selling the pamphlet was the one who was flying for free!