Air Show: I'm shooting at an Air Show this weekend and want some inspiration. Anyone have cool air show pics they can post? Also... those of you who have shot air shows, what's your...

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Air Show

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Nov 3, 2011 13:44:18 #

johnrennie Loc: North Florida

I'm shooting at an Air Show this weekend and want some inspiration. Anyone have cool air show pics they can post?

Also... those of you who have shot air shows, what's your 'go-to' shutter speed, and any favorite filters??? Looks like we're gonna have a clear sunny day.

Nov 3, 2011 16:12:09 #

jonsund Loc: Currently: Florida, USA

Think you would do better at getting a reply to this question if you posted the topic at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-1-1.html

That is the Main Photography Discussion section.

Nov 3, 2011 16:18:27 #

johnrennie Loc: North Florida

I was wondering about that, lol. I bet the moderator will move it for me, thanks.

Nov 3, 2011 16:22:33 #

littlebiddle Loc: Yakima Wa USA

Here are some I took in Chicago this summer....http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-9146-1.html
I shot anything from 1/800 at F9 to 1/2500 at F5.6 so I would be ready when I heard them coming in. I used a Sony A55 with a sony F2.8 70-200mm lens with a polarizer.

johnrennie wrote:

I'm shooting at an Air Show weekend and want some inspiration. Anyone have cool air show pics they can post?

Also... those of you who have shot air shows, what's your 'go-to' shutter speed, and any favorite filters??? Looks like we're gonna have a clear sunny day.

Nov 3, 2011 16:47:14 #

user1437

I have some pictures I used shutter speeds of 1600 to 2000 and adjusted the iso my first time If pictures don't work I do have a facebook with more picts

Nov 3, 2011 16:47:25 #

user1437

I have some pictures I used shutter speeds of 1600 to 2000 and adjusted the iso my first time If pictures don't work I do have a facebook with more picts

Nov 4, 2011 08:10:21 #

Bill1967 Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado now Wilmington NC

Air shows are a lot of fun. The attached are from a show this summer in Wyoming. I was using a Pentax K-7 with a Sigma 170-500mm lens. Some were hand held and some with a mono pod. CPL filter is a must. When I went back and looked at my pictures I found that I never needed 500mm and may have had better results with a 300mm lens.

270mm, 1/320, ISO 400, F9

270mm, 1/320, ISO 200, F11

170mm, 1/200, ISO 200, F11

Nov 4, 2011 08:12:06 #

Crew Dog Loc: Southeast, US

While faster shutter speeds are good for jets, I've found that using shutter sppeds of 1/200 - 1/320 works well for getting propeller blur. The more propeller disk you want the slower the shutter speed. Since I shoot with a P&S (Nikon CoolPix P100) I only adjust my shutter speed and let the camera take care of the appeture.

More photos can be found at www.flickr.com/awarbirdfan74

North American T-6G Texan @ Union City, TN

Douglas A-1H Skyraider @ TN Museum of Aviation

Blue Angels @ Lynchburg, VA Airshow

Nov 4, 2011 10:49:50 #

johnrennie Loc: North Florida

Thanks for contributing guys, this is all great info and great images! I only have a 70-300, but it looks as though that may be enough. I also have a really nice Hoya CPL and just ordered a few ND filters at the advice of a photog on here. Ordered them for shooting weddings in bright conditions and tomorrows weather conditions are going to be bright and sunny. I'm not real familiar with ND's. For bright conditions should I stick with my CPL or should I go with one of the ND's?

Also, what metering modes work best? Spot, so that I expose on the planes and not the bright background or are they moving too fast for that?

And finally, are you using AI Servo as your focusing mechanism?

Thanks for all the info!

Also, what metering modes work best? Spot, so that I expose on the planes and not the bright background or are they moving too fast for that?

And finally, are you using AI Servo as your focusing mechanism?

Thanks for all the info!

Nov 4, 2011 11:44:39 #

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

A shutter speed of 1/500 will freeze helicopter blades. Planes that fly at the speed of a typical commercial jetliner can be shot at even slower speeds. The way you phrased your question leaves no doubt that you know you may have to bump up the exposure compensation and/or the ISO as you increase your shutter speed.

Nov 4, 2011 12:49:10 #

ruffy50 Loc: Maine

We had an Air Show here in Maine in Late August. Unfortunate that we did not get a decenet day. There was low ceiling and the fog hung on for a good part of the day.
Did manage to get some shots off, but with no contrast I had to increase f stop by 1 and did the best I could.
Hopefully you will get a nice clear day.

Nov 4, 2011 15:42:56 #

user1437

yes here see if this works

Nov 4, 2011 16:01:04 #

johnrennie Loc: North Florida

That worked! Sweet! Thanks!

What lens were you using?

Nov 4, 2011 16:25:58 #

user1437

I used my 120-400 Sigma I have a canon 7d It was not a good sunny day but hazy and following with the camera with the jets going so fast was a challenge for me and I would get so excited that I would forget the light changes and where the sun was lol In a blink they are there and gone.

Nov 4, 2011 17:30:48 #

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

johnrennie wrote:

There is nothing more exhilarating than a good air show. Shutter speed all depends on what you are shooting. Balancing, lowest ISO, with the right shutter speed to show the propeller spin but keep the plane in focus (200-350th?), and capture a Fighter screaming past you 500-800!
Have fun!

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