Avoid the Crowds

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Static aircraft photography at air shows can be tough with all the spectators milling about.  There are some down and dirty tricks to getting great shots even with boat loads of people all around, give them a try!

• Get in low and shoot high.  Front shots close in from the center of the prop will usually be above anyone's head. 
• Get in close.  Shoot at minimum focusing distances and "find the picture, within the picture".  Badges, engines and nose art all provide great subjects. 
• Get just behind the wing and shoot the wing and into the fuselage (like the shot above) - paying attention to only get aircraft and sky.  This is a great shot that guarantees you no spectators will be in the way. 

Stay in focus, 

Mark

Airshow Basics

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Firebirds mirror.

Birds of a different feather . . . Air shows are a great excursion for the family - and a super way to extend your photography into new areas.  Here are tips and tricks to get you started.

Job #1 take care of yourself

It's easy to get caught up in the excitement and not realize you're getting over heated so take care.

• Protection from the sun
  • Even on an overcast day, the dangers are there
  • Stay hydrated
    • Drink more than you think you need.  Waiting until you get thirsty is not good enough
    • Stay comfortable
      • Clothing that is light and breathable
      • Good walking shoes - you will be doing some "walking"
      • Accessories
        • Chairs, sun glasses and ear protection - to name just a few
        • Check the air show website for FAQ's, it's not uncommon for a show to prohibit bags - you may have have to hump your equipment in without your camera bag.

Equipment

• Lens selection
  • Short lens: something in the 24-70 or 24-105 range
    • Plenty of opportunities for wide angle crowd shots as well as static displays
    • In-flight lens: a 70-200 is minimum but a 70-300 is a better choice.  A lens that get you up to 400 is optimum
      • You'll want a variable telephoto as the aircraft are constantly changing positions

F-16

• Camera body
  • Whatever you shoot with is fine
  • Bring an extra, fully charged battery
  • A comfortable strap (remember, you might not have your camera bag with you)

Some Basic Tips

Whistling Death . . . Japanese nickname for the plane that ruled the pacific skies..jpg

• Camera Settings:
  • Focusing Mode: AI Servo (as Canon calls it) is mandatory.  These guys fly pretty fast!
  • Multiple shots: set you camera to take images as fast as it can - you'll want to select from the best of a sequence
  • Aperture: it can be hard when you need light, but you don't want to shoot too close to your maximum aperture.  With even a single aircraft, you could need 12-20 feet of depth of field to get the entire ship in focus.
    • Single aircraft: f/8 is minimum, assuming a good distance between you and the aircraft in flight.
    • Multiple aircraft: f/11 is minimum, but f/14 is a safer choice
    • Shutter speed:
      • This one deserves a dedicated post (on its way) but some basics are:
        • Jets: you've got latitude here, use as fast a shutter as you can
        • Prop: this is where it gets challenging.  You want to see the prop "blur" in your shot.  This can require shutter speeds as low as 1/250th or lower.  But you need to have your panning technique down cold in order to ensure the aircraft itself is in focus
        • Harsh light
          • Most air shows take place during the middle of the day, not much you can do about it.  Here are a couple things to look into though:
            • Evening shows: many air shows will have a Friday night event at dusk - take advantage of these!
            • Get to the show very early.  Usually aircraft will be flying in during the early morning hours, including static displays.  This could allow you a shot or two with some good light

Blue Angels

• Expose for the aircraft - don't worry if everything else is blown out or blocked up

F-16 climbing

• Composition considerations
  • Leave room to fly into.  Don't butt the nose of the ship right up against the edge of your frame
  • Look for different angles, including aircraft flying away from you - unlike animals or people, there is no "head angle" to worry about!

Falcon . . . weapons hot

Pre-Show Tips

• Check on show locations and dates
  • Especially the time the gates open
  • Special seating
    • Some shows (for a price) have VIP seating that can also include shelter and beverages
    • Flight line seating, get there early
      • Pay attention to the gate opening time.  If you don't have VIP seating, you'll want to get there early to grab a spot right on the flight line

In upcoming posts, we'll also take a deeper look at more advanced considerations

• Shutter speed: how to enhance your shots depending of type of aircraft
• Panning: how to perfect your rythm
• Depth of Field: how to capture multi aircraft and special routines

Check back soon for these informative posts.

Stay in focus,

Mark

Make Notes - Tip 2

Make sure you remember to plan those "memorable" images to come How often do you pass by an object or a certain location and say to yourself "wow, this would be a great picture if only ______" !  Fill in the blank: "good light", "cloudy day", "it was wet", "it was dry" . . . . and so on.  Well, here's an opportunity to make some of your own luck.  Create a "shooters to do list" and add your new found opportunity.

When you find that special something, follow these steps:

• Snap a cell phone shot of the scene or object:
  • If you're using a relatively new phone, not only will you have a reference image (like the opening shot in this post) but you'll have the GPS info embedded, enabling you to find the location in the future.
  • Use a voice recorder app on your phone (or make paper or mental notes) to note the best shooting direction, lens you'll want to use and what unique elements you'd like to have for the image.  In the above tractor image, it was already late fall with some snow on the ground.  I visualized an overcast day just after a fresh snowfall so that's the conditions I figured would look the best for this shot.  Here are a few examples of elements you may desire for your future plan:
    • A certain time of the year, like fall - or maybe the dead of winter when everything is barren?
    • Would the shot be better in early morning or late evening?
    • Could it be a nice "rainy day" shot?
    • Should you wait for a foggy morning?
    • Are you looking for a bright day with shadows just so - or would a totally overcast day be better?
    • When you return home, build a quick record of your planned "shoot".  Doesn't have to be fancy, even just placing the info on a single sheet in a word processor will do.  Save it electronically along with a calendar reminder or just print it out and keep your planning file the old fashioned way.

tractor planning.jpg

With a little bit of advance planning when you find something of interest, you'll be able to return at the right time and capture a great photo.  The tractor shot below is what I ended up with about four weeks after I took the original cell phone picture and envisioned the "perfect" shot.  I also had a ball in the process!

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So the next time you see potential - make your own luck!

Stay in focus,

Mark

Make Notes - Tip 1

When you go back and look at your awesome image, make sure you can remember what you did!

One of the things that really dives me nuts is when I go back and look at an older image of mine and just can't remember all the tweaks and pokes I did to make it pop.  Now this doesn't really apply to the standard raw editing elements (exposure, highlights, shadows, contrast, etc) but it certainly applies to creative edits, especially filters and plug-ins.  Now, when I run across the above image two years from now, I can look in the notes field and see that I added a couple special items - first was a recipe I built in Nik Color Efex Pro followed by a Topaz colored sepia filter.

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I created a custom field in my image editing program (Aperture) but you can use standard fields if you'd prefer.  "Caption" is probably the easiest, and you can over write your notes when you do a digital export to an online photo gallery.  Here are a couple other things to keep in mind:

• Label your special effects/filters in the order they are applied, separated by the "+" sign
• Don't wait to do it "later", make the note as you apply each unique item
• Use a similar schema in PhotoShop layers, title the layer with a descriptive of what you did

Have fun and stay in focus,

Mark

Cold Weather Shooting Tips - 2014 Version

It was 29 degrees this morning, winter is coming so I figured it's time to dust off the cold weather shooting tips!  You can checkout the original NY Times article for the original post.

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4 years of cold weather shooting (down to -23F) has taught me a thing or two.  Here are a few rock solid tips - some you've probably read a few times, along with a few that will be unique!

Camera and Gear

• Moving from cold to warm - and vise versa
  • Probably the most common topic addressed, my answer is very simple - pack your gear in a photo bag, and leave it there for a little while. For example, the pack will be warm when leaving your house and will allow the camera gear to gradually cool down in the car or field.  The same concept works when going back into the house - I take my memory cards out of my camera/bag (and anything else I want to get to immediately) and then let the bag sit for a few hours in the warm house.  The camera gear will gradually adjust to room temperature.
  • Keeping your breath in check on a really cold day (this is the really big one)
    • Use a lens hood  - the shorter the lens the more critical this tip is.  Your breath (even straight from your nose on a really really cold day) will roll around and frost up the front of your lens - and there is no easy way to get it off without warming up the lens.  This is a real killer just as the sun starts to crest above the horizon on a fantastic cold weather sunrise shoot (yea, ask me how I know about this!)
    • Use some "Scope Dope" to help keep your LCD clear.  This stuff does a pretty decent job on the LCD and an ok job on the view finder.
    • Use a Hoodman Eye Cup to keep your breath away from your view finder.  Actually turn it vertical like in the image below for the best results, it does a great job of keeping your view finder fog/frost free in all cool to cold weather.
    • Battery Power - I've never had trouble with battery power in cold weather - and I keep my spare battery in my outer most pocket for easy access.
    • • My spare battery is easily accessible, but it is also kept company in my pocket by Mega Size Hand Warmers to keep them warm - along with my hands when I stick them in there.
        • Open those hand warmer packs in advance of heading out into the cold, they take 5 to 15 minutes to warm up to full strength.

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The Photographer

Feet

• Keep your feet warm, dry - and on the ground where they belong
  • Don't slip!  There are now plenty versions of the YaK Trax seen in the image below.  Get a pair, they work wonders on ice (including ice that is hidden below a layer of snow)  There are even versions now that have actual spikes.

Maintain Traction on Ice

• Dry feet are happy feet!
  • If you're in wet or snowy conditions, it goes without saying to at least have water-proof boots/shoes.  In light snowy conditions (1" - 3") consider a simple pair of elastic leg gaiters (as seen above) to keep the snow out of the top your boots.
  • In heavier snow (greater than 3 inches and up to 7 inches) try some of the Neos brand products.  The image below shows me using the Neos Trekkers in water but they do the job in snow as well.  Warmer versions are also available - to cover both the "dry" and "warm" requirements.  And yes, you CAN COMBINE the Neos product with Yak Trax.

iphone_blue-herons-4-4-10_2010-04-04_55_original.jpg

• Warm feet are also happy feet!
  • There are many ways to do this, including the Neos Explorer Insulated Overshoes- but I'll give you my particular formula.
    • 1 layer of foot liner socks
    • Toe Warmers (the advertisement claim longer durations, but I find these are usually good for about 3 hours)
    • Regular hiking socks
    • Second pair of HD socks (if it's really cold)
    • Hiking boots

Hands

• My hands are the hardest body part to keep really warm.  Before I talk about gear, here is the most important tip I've learned over the years - once your hands (fingers) get cold, you're in trouble.  Get out of the cold and get them plenty warmed up again.  So the best tip is to have your hands fully warmed up before you set foot outside - "gear up" in advance so you move into the cold with maximum advantage.
  • 1st layer of protection - liners with pockets for warmer packs.  The pockets locate the warmer packs on the back of your hand, above your blood vessels, enhancing the warming impact for your fingers.
  • 2nd layer of protection - primary winter gloves, water proof with thinsulate or other warming material.  How heavy this primary pair of gloves are is up to your personal needs.
  • 3rd layer of protection - Mega Size Hand Warmers. Depending on how cold it is, I'll keep 2 or 4 of these in my coat pockets.  Hands go in the pockets when not in use and I'll actually hold these mega warmers in my hands (between my hand and the camera) when I'm doing extending shooting in really cold weather.

Body

• Keeping your core body temperature up helps you stay warm longer.  So similar to your hands, get toasty (without sweating) before you head outside.  Staying dry is a very critical component of staying warm, and layers are the other key.  If the "core" of your body starts to get cold, it will quickly contract and divert warm blood from your extremities, sucking the heat right out of your hands and feet
  • 1st layer of protection:  Light duty long underwear made of water wicking material (not cotton) to help you stay dry
  • 2nd layer of protection: Medium duty long underwear is added as a layer to increase warmth
  • 3rd layer of protection: Heavy duty long underwear is added (depending on how cold it is)
  • 4th layer of protection:  Outer shell winter coat that is roomy, (with your layers on) wind and water proof.  Collar protection and an insulated hood are a must as well

Head

• Your head is one of the primary places heat escapes your body, so keep protection on and layer it as much as needed.  I'll typically wear a full face mask and my winter coat's insulated hood.  When it's needed, I'll add a neck gaiter or a warm cap.  That's me below in full cold weather gear! 

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Staying warm is not only the safe and smart way to shoot in the winter, it's also the path to great images.  When you're warm and comfortable, you can place all your energy on the task at hand - getting some great shots!!

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Stay in focus,

Mark

Continuous Learning – Podcasts

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Continuing with our theme of ongoing education, let’s touch on Podcasts.  A Podcast is basically an audio show (although more video based ones are becoming available) that can be downloaded and listened to on your cell phone, music player or computer.  My preferred method is in my car through my music player as I have plenty of “windshield” time.

These podcasts are not purely instructional, but rather more of a variety type show with discussions on technique, equipment, interviews and industry news.  If you haven’t tried photo podcasts before, here a few to get you started.

The Digital Photo Experience

Hosted by Canon Explorer of Light Rick Samon and talented wild life photographer Juan Pons, this is one of my favorites.  These guys are just plain down to earth, nice guys – not to mention great photographic artists.

This Week In Photography

Hosted by former U.S. Air Force photographer Frederick Van Johnson, TWIP is a very professionally executed podcast with diverse topics and excellent co-hosts

The Digital Story

Hosted by well-known photographer Derrick Story, this is an informative weekly podcast that spends a little more time on micro 4/3rds and other compact camera systems.  Derrick usually has a segment called the “nimble photographer” focusing on easy to carry/use gear and equipment.

Checkout the links and give them a try!  They can be setup to automatically download new episodes on your phone or music player so you’re already stocked with content when you want it.

Stay in focus,

Mark