Airshows aren't easy, are they?

[K12beano]

First time at an airshow - even if it is a little one at Seething, Norfolk. My shots are mere snaps, now I realise how some people do wonders to get decent shots!







Set here for those not easily bored!

[Yellabelly]

That's a pretty good set of 'snaps' Beano, compares well with other airshow piccies posted on PH.

[Simpo Two]

What impresses me is how well he managed to hold the 'Brikon' up to the sky at all

[MartinP]

Looks like a very good set of images to me. My only comment is it would have been nice for the propellers movement to have been blurred rather than frozen.

[plg]

Forgive my naivety - but is that a de Havilland Vampire in the first shot?

[thatone1967]

MartinP said:

Looks like a very good set of images to me. My only comment is it would have been nice for the propellers movement to have been blurred rather than frozen.

Exactly what I was going to post.

Edited by thatone1967 on Monday 20th September 12:32

[Gargamel]

plg said:

Forgive my naivety - but is that a de Havilland Vampire in the first shot?

I *think* its a gloucester meteor.

Nope I think wrong - you are correct

http://www.vampirepreservation.org.uk/

Edited by Gargamel on Monday 20th September 12:35

[Flip Martian]

Nice pics! Its a good general rule when snapping things moving at any speed to not have the shutter speed so fast that it freezes all movement. Not so slow that everything is blurred but so everything is sharp but that there is some motion and that the things moving quickest (eg the props) look like they're moving. Makes a huge difference to airshow pics.

Also works with jets of course - there needs to be a little blur to show its moving from point a to point b.

Some people cheat and edit things in photoshop of course! :-)

[thatone1967]

Flip Martian said:

Nice pics! Its a good general rule when snapping things moving at any speed to not have the shutter speed so fast that it freezes all movement. Not so slow that everything is blurred but so everything is sharp but that there is some motion and that the things moving quickest (eg the props) look like they're moving. Makes a huge difference to airshow pics.

Also works with jets of course - there needs to be a little blur to show its moving from point a to point b.

Some people cheat and edit things in photoshop of course! :-)

this was taken at 1/500th......

[K12beano]

Thanks for your comments chaps. Yes I did think that Photochop might be my friend when I realised I had gone a bit fast!

I have to admit I know nothing about this type of machinery: that's a plane; that's a plane; that's another plane; ooo that's a jet!

[Flip Martian]

thatone1967 said:

this was taken at 1/500th......

That works... I guess the speed will always depend on how fast the subject is moving too. Trying a few different speeds and also panning the shot will help too.

Gosh, I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about...

[K12beano]

Flip said:

Gosh, I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about...

scary! The interwebnetworld can do that to you!

[Flip Martian]

K12beano said:

Flip said:

Gosh, I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about...

scary! The interwebnetworld can do that to you!

[CobolMan]

thatone1967 said:

this was taken at 1/500th......

Southport on Saturday by any chance thatone1967? I got some shots of the Hurri but they weren't anything like as good as this. Mind you, it was the first airshow I've attended in nearly 30 years and I'm still working out how to get the best from my newish camera.

[Ben Hughes]

Hope this little guide will help someone:

As a general rule of thumb, 1/250th is a good speed for most propeller stuff:





You'll need to drop that lower for helicopters due to their slower-turning rotors: 1/125 at a minimum. Chinooks are a right pain in the arse and demand about 1/80:



With a steady hand you can drop the speed to around 1/30 for some panned landing shots:



Finally, find something to lean on for full prop-cirles from about 1/10 and slower:



Ben

[D4VE 3LL]

You're more likely to get full props on take off than landing as the aircraft will be "on the power" on take off meaning more RPM for the props.

[Flip Martian]

Nice one Ben, good to have a guide. Nice pics too. Ta!