andre323i From Canada, joined Aug 2010, 1 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 3662 times:
Hi everyone, I am a long time aviation enthusiast (started at the age of 4 when my father worked at LHR for AI and I got to sit in the pilot seat of the first AI's first 747) as well as a photography enthusiast. Just recently, I decided to marry the two hobbies together and start doing aviation photography.
I live in the Toronto area, and their are some prime locations around YYZ for taking pictures that I have been frequenting. I have been able to capture some decent shots, but I have a question regarding technique.
I have been mostly panning/following the planes as they approach and pass by me. But I was wondering if it is better to pick a spot to focus on and wait for the planes to enter that spot and then take a burst of shots, or is the panning method the preferred method to capture the planes in flight.
I realize that panning with a slower shutter speed will get "motion" results, but I'm also looking to capture shots of the planes during a landing approach or after take off where trying to portray motion against a plain blue sky is somewhat hard to do.
sovietjet From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2342 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 3661 times:
Follow the aircraft with the camera, raise the shutter speed, and you have a shot. Don't point the camera at a specific region and wait for the plane to cross. Follow it all the way through, take photos, delete the ones you don't like or that turned out bad.
oly720man From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 6225 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3629 times:
Quoting andre323i (Thread starter): but I'm also looking to capture shots of the planes during a landing approach or after take off where trying to portray motion against a plain blue sky is somewhat hard to do.
In daylight you can try neutral density filters to increase the shutter speed, but you will have the problem that all you'll see is a plane that is a "stripe".... unless that's what you want. To define the plane's outline, like in the lower photo above, you need a flash.
edit
ND filters are likely to reduce the image quality to some extent.
tguman From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 423 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 3465 times:
Panning is easier than trying to hold the camera in one place and wait for the airplane to enter view. If you are zoomed in too much you will clip parts of the aircraft.
With panning, you also get to see all the different angles that your location offers in combination with the various aircraft. If you have a good camera with continous auto-focus (C-AF) that you can trust, once you get the airplane in sight you can leave the shutter half-pressed and it will adjust as the aircraft comes closer to you.
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