Monday, September 05, 2011
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Friday, September 02, 2011
Thursday, September 01, 2011
what I learned about photographing airshows
In a previous post, I linked to some webpages that gave advice about photographing at airshows. I read them and was happy to get the information before I went to the big show at Selfridge ANG in Harrison Township almost two weeks ago.I went, I heeded the advice, and I took hundreds of pix. But when I got home and saw them on the big screen I was disappointed as to how many of them weren't sharp. So I went back into research mode and came up with some more information (especially when I heard that there was going to be another airshow only a week away!).
So here's what I would suggest when it comes to shooting those speedy beasts at the airshow.
- Find the sweet spot on the lenses you plan to use. I planned to use my longest lens, a fairly cheap Sigma 70-300mm without OS. Turns out it is sharpest around f11 and f13. Roger that!
- Rather than the 1/1000 shutter speed suggested in my reading, 1/2000 or even 1/3200 is better (you will, unfortunately, be nearly freezing propellers, but everything else is better -- and it won't matter on jets)
- With those settings, you're not getting a whole lot of light, so crank up the ol'. ISO. Probably beyond what you are comfortable with. On my Canon 40D I usually don't like to go higher that 400, maybe 640. But I went to 800 often at the second airshow and all is well. Higher ISO contributes to more noise, but more light lessens the effect and I was able to fix the rest with the noise reduction features in Lightroom 3.
- If you have problems panning with the aircraft, I suggest looking for the slower parts of the performance such as when the plane hits the top of a loop-de-loop or intentionally stalls.
- Leave the filters off your lens. The first show I used a polarizer and I think that it very subtly affected my autofocus accuracy (anybody ever have a similar experience?).
- Other than that, get as close as you safely can, use your lens hood, shoot in manual and RAW, try your hand at manual focusing if your lenses hunts too much for that small object in the very big sky, and practice panning smoothly.
Please comment or e-mail me ( ron@ronwarrenphotography.com ) if you have other tips that you'd like to share. Thanks, R
“What The Jiminy Christmas Are You Taking a Photo Of?!?!?!” || Small Aperture
“What The Jiminy Christmas Are You Taking a Photo Of?!?!?!” || Small Aperture:
This is funny, but so much of it is so true. Definitely the part about shooting in public and people getting unusually suspicious about it -- even if you are photographing a wall or something equally innocuous.
This is funny, but so much of it is so true. Definitely the part about shooting in public and people getting unusually suspicious about it -- even if you are photographing a wall or something equally innocuous.
Fujifilm Release X10 Premium Compact Camera
Fujifilm Release X10 Premium Compact Camera:
Interesting little machine. Smaller sensor, but zoom lens f2.8. I'll be interested to hear first reviews (unless Fuji sends me one to test, then I'll be interested to do the reviewing! -- hint, hint!).
Interesting little machine. Smaller sensor, but zoom lens f2.8. I'll be interested to hear first reviews (unless Fuji sends me one to test, then I'll be interested to do the reviewing! -- hint, hint!).
Oh, and an X100 for comparison purposes, of course.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Understanding Optical Stabilization by Jack Howard | SIGMA Blog
Understanding Optical Stabilization by Jack Howard | SIGMA Blog:
Stabilization: Jack Howard explains when and how to us OS to nail sharp shots (as well as explaining what sorts of blur OS can and cannot correct.)
Stabilization: Jack Howard explains when and how to us OS to nail sharp shots (as well as explaining what sorts of blur OS can and cannot correct.)
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Photographer Wants to Build a $270,000 Camera To Photograph a Lost Da Vinci Painting Through a Wall | Popular Photography
Photographer Wants to Build a $270,000 Camera To Photograph a Lost Da Vinci Painting Through a Wall | Popular Photography:
"See" a painting through a wall with a fancy particle-accelerator camera?!? Wow!
Filming Police Acknowledged as First Amendment Right
Filming Police Acknowledged as First Amendment Right:
Well, it's about time. The abuse of that wiretapping law was getting out of control!
Well, it's about time. The abuse of that wiretapping law was getting out of control!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Another Terrific Airshow
Oakland County International Airport hosted a terrific airshow today. I got a chance to improve over last week's shots and I think I succeeded. Here are some samples:
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Jother Woods
Dawn and I maneuvered some of Detroit's art scene today, from MOCAD to Detroit Artist's Market to N'namdi Gallery. N'namdi was where we met Mr. Jother Woods.
Jother (Joe to some) is the artist behind this very detailed display of the locales of his life growing up the son of sharecroppers in Louisiana. There is the three room home he grew up in, a barn, a terrific southern plantation house from the area, and the project moves through time along to modern day with our superhighways and even a helicopter pad. And all made entirely from recycled materials and a few recycled toys.
Mr. Woods was gracious enough to let me take a picture. Be sure to stop by N'namdi Gallery (on Forest just east of Woodward, behind the chicken joint). Odds are good that you will have a chance to speak with the artist. The piece really comes alive when he points out details, tells you about growing up in the south, and plays a bit of a guessing game about what materials he used to turn memory into art.
 |
| Jother Woods and his Plantation House |
Mr. Woods was gracious enough to let me take a picture. Be sure to stop by N'namdi Gallery (on Forest just east of Woodward, behind the chicken joint). Odds are good that you will have a chance to speak with the artist. The piece really comes alive when he points out details, tells you about growing up in the south, and plays a bit of a guessing game about what materials he used to turn memory into art.
Dawn's Aeronautic Art Adventure
So, my awesome wife and cohort in crimes of photography, Dawn Sketch, did it again. She got some outstanding images at last week's airshow. Here are some samples.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Next Big Canon Announcement in Mid-September
Next Big Canon Announcement in Mid-September:
'via Blog this'
'via Blog this'
1Ds Mark 4? Or 5D MIII ? I'll certainly be interested to see what it is and all the specs involved.
Zack Arias' Intro to DOF
Nice little video talking about the THREE elements that determine depth of field.
Zack has a bunch of videos on Youtube, just run a search for "Zack Arias" and you should get 'em all. Collect the whole set, as they say.
Zack has a bunch of videos on Youtube, just run a search for "Zack Arias" and you should get 'em all. Collect the whole set, as they say.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Another Airshow Coming Up Sunday!
See this post from Dawn's "Brilliant In My Poverty" for info on another airshow and airport open house this coming Sunday in Waterford.
See ya there!
See ya there!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
one more
Have to post one more because it is my personal favorite (ironically more for the drama of the sky than the actual airplane here).
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Selfridge ANG Airshow
Went to the big airshow today. Here are a few pix.
Thanks Selfridge, for putting on this terrific free event for the community. Just awesome!
Thanks Selfridge, for putting on this terrific free event for the community. Just awesome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)