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try taken pictures of birds flying byand also try to get the light on the aircraft itself and not the sky in the background..or else the plane will be black against the sky..also use fast shutterspeed ! this is easily done by measuring the light on the ground and use that setting.. but try with some seaguls flying by or something like that
tripod is ok but not that good if you want to capture the flyby`s as they go quick !!
-cut-
hehe
thats my girlkeep up the good work and one thing..you could contact the airport or the guys running the show and ask if they need voleenters ( they usually do ) but that means you are allowed on the right side of the fence..BUT will be busy doing all other things than be able to take photos.. hehe
looking forward to see your picturesif i had time i would get down there to the airshow myself..but work calls
not that far from oslo you know..only 45minutes( with airliners )
and beeing curious is what makes life worth living
if you plan to go auto on the camera set it on sports..that camera should have that setting
hugs from Norway
Bikerbabe,
Check all your equipment, including memory cards. I lost a whole days photos not long ago after I purchased a brand new card. Turns out it wasn't retaining the data after the power was switched off.
So, load it up with data, unplug it, plug it back in, and then check everything thats on it.
But from your photos of the motorcycle, it looks like you're on the right track. The second one has a bit more of a feeling of movement in it, with the blurred wheels and background. That is what you want in a fly-past photo. I don't think the sports setting will really give you that, as it uses the fastest possible shutter speed, which will freeze everything.
For prop aircraft, the general rule of thumb is 1/<focal length>. So, for example, if you are shooting with a 300mm lens, you don't want to go below 1/300 shutter speed. But since you are getting the hang of it, go with 1/500, which will give you some prop blur on flying aircraft while maintaining focus on the aircraft. For jets, go fast, like 1/1000. All of these kind of depend on light conditions at the show.
I usually shoot on shutter priority and set the speed I want for each shot, or sequence. Obviously, shooting flying airplanes will be quicker than those taxiing, or on static display.
Here is one at 500mm, 1/500 shutter speed. You get some prop blur while maintaining focus on the main subject.
Pic example 1
Don't be afraid to experiment. I took this one at 300mm, but at 1/50, which is breaking the rule of thumb, but it worked.
Pic example 2
Remember to follow through on the shot. When the shutter closes, and then re-opens, the center point of the focus should be in the same spot. If you don't, you are liable to cut off the nose or the tail. It's a pan shot, and really help crisp up the shots. Pick a stance that is comfortable and stable.
You can try with the tripod, but you will likely find that it will limit your movement, especially when the airplanes start to fly. They may come at you from an unanticipated angle, and that could be captured if you can move fast enough.
Be aware of anything that could be in the shot. Once you have picked a spot on the crowd line, make a mental note of where obstacles are. They can really mess your shot up. This includes parked airplanes.
Pic example 3
Other than that, relax and enjoy! Airshows are a fun thing to photograph, and the atmosphere is always enjoyable.
Yep. Get there early! Nothing like getting a once-in-a-lifetime shot....with some guy's head in the foreground. Photoshop only goes so far...
With a DSLR, I like to set mine to the Sports setting and just blast away. Get a good sized card that can hold alot of pics (I came out of the Alliance Airshow last year with 700+ pics on my card....100 or so of which I actually kept). Panning is essential with high-speed photography, or any movement, period....center your subject, and move the camera to keep it in the center, and continue moving even after pressing the button. I also try to include at least one stationary object in the shot, just to give some sort of depth/scale to the pic, unless you're going for a tight crop like in Evan's pic above. A few puffy clouds really help put the planes in their element!
The idea of a lawn-chair is handy, it helps mark your territory (the airshows around here allow them, I believe, ask when you call about goin early). Maybe a small folding two-step ladder, as well, can help get you up and over those annoying fences. I usually try to get right up next to the fence, if its not a 10-foot chain-link variety. If its a huge fence, I try to get back a bit, and find some piece of higher ground I can stand on (grassy nolls work well for snip...er....photography) to get me up and over.
Have fun, take LOTS of pics. Remember, with digital, they're pretty much freebies now anyway. You dont' have to worry about paying for bad shots like you did with 35mm. So blast away! You'll be surprised how many good shots you'll get in with the bad ones.