Airshow photography

[lisa]

Im going to an airshow in June, havent been to one for years and certainly not since i got into photography!

Now what im after is any tips and advice to get the best from it, esp since the vulcan bomber is flying there!!! Ill prob only be going in one day but my mum lives on the doorstep of the airport so ill get the planes flying about the other day too.

Also what lens do you think would be best? Also how many extra memory cards am i gonna need i only have 2!

Many thanks

[Cabe]

I've done Farnborough international a couple of times and I have found my Sigma 70-300 stayed on the camera most of the time once the air display had started.

Always shoot in burst mode, this is both a blessing and a curse. You usually get the shot you want of a moving aircraft, but I certainly end up taking 3-4 times the photos.

With a 6mp camera shooting raw (approximately 6mbyte images) I can squeeze about 300 shots onto my 2gb memory cards, which means comfortably I can get around 100 shots from each card factoring in burst fire mode.

It does depend on the Mpixel size of your camera and the Megabyte size of your cards.

One other thing to consider is a Polarisign Filter, to really make those blue skies pop and to cut out glare from canopy reflections on the static displays.

[lisa]

Many thanks will look into a filter.

[freybear3]

i am going to one in august, so these tips will help me as well. thnx

i agree, burst mode will probably be the best feature at an airshow

[kirbinster]

Be careful with your metering too. The camera is going to see mostly sky so you may tend to underexpose unless you dial in some positive exposure compensation.

[lisa]

Thanks for that!

I at the mo have 2GB compact flash cards and when shooting raw get 119 pics per card. I can get another 4GB card for £15, do you think that would be enough to say ill prob be taking other pics too?

[Cabe]

I would say its a bit of a chore, but I buy more 2gb that way when (not if!) the card fails it wont take as many photos with it. I treat cards like film, essentially consumables.

[lisa]

cool thanks, will pop to Costco at some point and see how much they are there compared to online. I always worry about them failing!

[Rolling Stone]

Just a reminder, hat/cap, sunglasses and sunscreen. Trust me.

[lisa]

Thanks, i always do, my oh got badly burnt legs at Brands Hatch one year at the bikes on a cloudy day and seeing what he went through it aint worth not covering up!

Im so excited!