Request (or where to find it) on shooting planes

[hnebel]

Hi there! I'm new to DPS and have been lurking for a few weeks now taking in all of the great information provided here. What a great group of folks! Anyway, I read the rules for this part of the forum but may be posting this in the wrong place, if so I apologize. I'm going to be attending an air show this weekend and am so excited to shoot some of the planes but I've never done a lot of shots with fast movement yet. I'll be shooting with a Nikon D60 and have the kit lens as well as a 50-200mm. Are there any particular hints or tricks that would benefit me for this event? If I've posted this in the wrong place please let me know.

Thanks!
Heather

[sybren]

Hi Heather, welcome to the actively posting people

Before you go and shoot planes, I'd practice with your long lens and AF Servo mode (or whatever Nikon calls their continuous focussing mode) on some cars and other moving objects. For some nice background blurring try Tv mode and a shutter speed of about 1/30 sec.

[Sime]

Hi Heather, I've popped your question in a more general place, there's more chance that people will see it in time.

I've not taken photos at an air show for a long time - aside of the Red Bull Air Race... I had to keep my shutter speed up and learning to use panning was quite a good idea too (at least with RedBull it was - I was close and they were fast!) here I think you should be able to see the exif.

Sime

[Quo Fan]

I haven't shot planes at an air show since I shot film, but the techniques are the same.

Try using burst mode (or continuous, or whatever Nikon calls it) and pan with the aircraft. With film, I had an electric thumb (auto winder). Try NOT to be right on top of the action, because sometimes the planes get out of control.

When shooting static displays, use a wide angle lens.

[candleman]

yup,
shuttersped of 1/40th-1/100th (depending on the focal length)
the longer the focal length the faster speed you'll want.

pan with the aircraft

use burst mode

use continuous autofocus (AF-C) which is when you continually hold the shutter in a half depressed position and the camera will follow the focus on the movinf object.
(if you can keep the focus point ON the aircraft... thats the tricky bit)

also dont fill the frame TOO much, if you clip a wingtip or tail then your pic is ruined.. leave a little space for cropping.. this also makes panning and follwing the aircraft easier.

[hnebel]

Thank you so much for all the tips! I'm even more excited now! I'm hoping to make time before the weekend to do a little practice on some fast moving subjects. We will be there all day on Saturday so I should have ample opportunities to try for some good shots!

Heather

[candleman]

exactly the same concept for running kids in the back yard
except a slightly faster shutterspeed.

[OsmosisStudios]

Sime: Redbull Air Race is a WHOLE other ball of wax. Those guys are nuts.

[Rolling Stone]

Please don't forget the sunscreen, sunglasses, and/or a hat!