Air Show Photography

[victor]

On Saturday I went to an air show at The Shuttleworth Collection in the UK. I was hoping to capture some images of vintage aircraft in flight from their collection. However the weather let me down. The wind was too high so the display was cut short. The following are first my first attempts at this style of photography.

I also found that my Sigma 80-400mm auto focus was not up to the task. It refused to lock on and when it did focus was way out ...

These are two of the best shots... Any CIC welcome.. As would indications of camera settings used by others.




Avro 624 Tutor followed by a Chipmunk Trainer

and



Avro Tutor


Thanks

David

[Donald]

David

I can't help you on the "indications of camera settings", as I've never tried this myself.

Two points re the first one:

• You have a shutter speed that's frozen the propellers. Most folk seem to advise a slightly slower shutter so that you get a bit of blur in the prop.
• There is a quite a bit of featureless sky to the front of the leading aircraft and to rear of hindmost aircraft. Do you think that is needed? I wondered about cropping tighter of the aircraft, with slightly more air in front as that is what they are flying into.

You refer to the problems with focusing, but you have nailed these well. And remember, with things whizzing about like this, you're not going to get everything nailed. The secret is to not let anyone see them and just show us the ones that do hit the bullseye.

[nickjohnson]

Hello David,
Absent any info about your camera – all I can do is relate stuff I use for my 5D /70-200 f4L IS + ex 1.4 II / 400 f5.6 L.

Practice panning on road traffic – looking up at van tops on an elevated section of motorway is ideal.
Use low / base ISO – higher for jets – lower for props / hellos.
Use Tv mode – use 1/800th to 1/1250th (ish) for jets.
Use Tv mode – use 1/250th and down for props.
Clean your sensor.
Practice panning.
Use AI-Servo autofocus. Try back-button focus on a Canon.
Use the lens focus range limit switch – if fitted.
Practice panning.
Goose the shutter to keep the IS spooled up – if fitted.
Use IS mode 2 on Canon IS lens.
Shoot shed loads – most will be rubbish – but the gems will be rewarding.
Practice panning.
Props start to blur at about 1/250th (ish) – depends on revs / power setting.
Props have a nice Maltese cross at 1/125th to 1/160th (ish) – best for a Gray sky day.
Props have a full disk at about 1/80th – hellos main rotors at about 1/20th – good luck with that.
Practice panning.
Shoot shed loads.
USE EAR DEFENDERS.
Have fun.
Oh – did I mention to practice panning?

HTH

[EDIT]
Shoot continuious - watch for the buffer filling up though!

[victor]

Nick,

Many Thanks for your very useful advice. This was my first attempt at this ....

Regards

david

[victor]

Donald,

Many thanks much appreciated.

Regards

David

[glenng]

I love going to The Shuttleworth Collection, as it is about 30 minits away from me and I have only this photo of their old plains flying.