Airliners.net

I'm finally using the D5000 body for something other than my typical event and product shots, but it took a 70-300VR to get me there. Typically, too, I've been uploading restored images, instead of current stuff. Well, that's about to change...

This is a sunset shot posted in NN and PS. Comments please. I'll be checking back regularly...and thanks!

2010-07-12

Hi Dave,

There are several issues with your shot. First of all, it looks like you've used way too much NR when processing - all of the detail has been smeared away. Hard to tell if the quality was there to start with because of that - it's a real killer. Other issues include low contrast, and the framing - the aircraft is much too low in the frame. Finally, contra-lit shots are pretty tough to pull off for here, and this one looks borderline. To sum up, the centering, contrast, and lighting are issues, with the detail smearing from the noise reduction being far and away the biggest problem.

Hope that helps you out a bit,

Dana

Appreciate the comments, Dana. The advert guy - my avocation - and artsy-fartsy guy in me were at odds over the composition because of the cloud bank. So, again, advert guy wins, right?

Detail, yes, is an issue in sunset situations and I'm wary of oversharpening/noise.

As to backlighting, well, I do push the artsty-fartsy envelope...which may be my A.net downfall  

Thanks for the hand-holding.

2010-07-12b

Hey Dave,

Pretty much what Dana said.
Yea the quality is not there and problems with the NR,
Those shots are tricky to nail,
Next time try some spot metering on the plane: The biggest problem that arises with these shots are the landing lights,
Those lights really throw the metering out of control,
Keep trying is the key, like that you are trying these Different shots.

Steven.

Quoting davycam (Reply 2): So, again, advert guy wins, right?

Yeah the centering is just an a.net thing. How you have it in the second version looks much better (for here).

Quoting davycam (Reply 2): As to backlighting, well, I do push the artsty-fartsy envelope...which may be my A.net downfall

As opposed to the centering, I think you could get away with the lighting as it is - I was just warning not everyone might see it like that.

Quoting davycam (Reply 2): Detail, yes, is an issue in sunset situations and I'm wary of oversharpening/noise.

I think this is the killer for this particular shot. The second version looks a bit better for detail, but now has too much noise. I don't think you'll be able to find a happy balance with this one. Shooting backlit/underexposed subjects at ISO400 makes it pretty difficult to get something that might be acceptable here.

Some recent popular shots that are backlit but sharp and have little noise to compare:

View Large View Medium Photo © Anthony Guerra-AirTeamImages

View Large View Medium Photo © Ronald J Stella

Thanks to all who have commented. A few of my own as I let my brain chew on this:

1. The noise/halo thing is particularly bothersome to me in any shot. I tend to agree there may be no happy medium here. Yes, I did shoot at ISO 400. I might be able to squeeze something out at 200-300, though you'll see in the EXIF I'm already wide open. Meter was actually showing 1/630 - sky, I assume - as I framed halfway on the short final. This is appx. 30 mins. before local (KFLL) sunset behind a cloud bank.

2. Although a bit unusual for me with a moving subject, it occurs to me I might also try bracketing in this type of shot as opposed to burst. Anyone else have success with this method?

3. I'd have also preferred to have a monopod w/me for smoother tracking, VR notwithstanding.

This really is my favorite kind of shot. So, aside from the trial-and-error we've all used on difficult subjects, you're helping me narrow down. (Which is welcome when it's 32C and 80% humidity).

Please look through my collection here for some examples.
I always use a monopod when the light is weak. VR and IS helps a lot! I'd rather push the iso higher than opening the aperture to wide open. I still shoot wider than normal, but I'd say 1 or 1 2/3 stop above maximum opening. I always set the exposure to Manual, something I can experiment with, even without having an aircraft in the frame. The camera likes to blow out the highlights in the sky when a larger and darker aircraft is sitting in the middle of the frame. WB in sunny warms up the scene very nicely. NeatImage is a very good tool to control the noise and you can even set it up to work on the shadow areas. Sharpen the edges only.
I hope this helps, I cannot think of anything else anymore.
HGabor

Beautiful Schiphol sunsets! (Alway jealous of Euro spotters anyway). And I think you and I are on the same page vis-a-vis monopod, etc. Appreciate the input on NeatImage. I've been using Noise Ninja for years, but....

I heard good things about the Ninja too, I'm a mac user and I think NN is windows only.
Thanks for your kind words, by the way