Taking Pictures of Planes

[Joe M]

I recently made a photo-taking-trip to our local large airport. Some of the photos are posted in this thread (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33231). I felt like Shutter Speed was going to be the key issue so I experimented with different speeds from 1/750 to 1/2000. After looking at all the images the best seemed to be at 1/750 and 1/1000.

Does anyone have any hints or tips for taking photos like these?

My equipment is a Pentax K10D with a smc Pentax DA* 50-135mm F 2.8 ED (IF) SDM and a smc Pentax DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED.

I was using Continuous Autofocus with a Center AF. It has available an Auto AF system where the camera uses a wide focus detection area and decides what to focus on.

The camera has an in-camera shake reduction system.

My level of experience is motivated beginner.

I appreciate your responses.

[NickLewis]

Hi Joe,

Well, it looks like you're making a perfectly respectable start!

With your choice of lens, I'd probably tend to the 50-200mm. You're not short of light, so speed isn't of the essence, but the extra focal length will give you more freedom to frame the aircraft. You seem to be able to get quite close, which is good. Can you access the ends of the runways, for dramatic shots of departures and landings?

Personally, I wouldn't let the camera choose where to focus. The danger is that it will decide to ignore the aircraft and focus on the background clouds or trees. If you can, I'd choose a mode where you can focus on the aircraft and let the camera track it thereafter.

The other problem that I've experienced with this type of photography is getting the exposure right for the aircraft. If the aircraft is too small in comparison to the metering area, then the camera will expose for the sky, leaving the aircraft silhouetted. If you want that effect, fine, but if not, it's a nuisance. So I try to use partial or spot metering if available and get the aircraft exposed correctly.

If the aircraft fills the frame, this problem goes away.

I like the shot taken into the sun, but feel that the sun's washed out over too large an area. I've had some success with this type of shot by spot/partial metering centred about two solar diameters from the sun's disc when the sun is low. It seems to produce a reasonable exposure, with only the disc itself over-exposed, which you can fix in PSE. (The usual warnings about risk to your eyesight from looking into the sun apply, obviously. You'll have to make your own decision on that. The sun is less intense if low to the horizon or veiled by cloud.)

These aren't easy shots to take, but at least poor frames cost nothing nowadays.

Hope some of that helps,

Nick

[Joe M]

Thank You for the tips Nick.

"Can you access the ends of the runways, for dramatic shots of departures and landings?"

I don't have any special access and with the security situation now I'm reluctant to try without permission. I would love to get some shots like you described and some night shots. So I've been thinking about inquiring if I can do a ride-along with the Airport Police for a few hours.

"The other problem that I've experienced with this type of photography is getting the exposure right for the aircraft. If the aircraft is too small in comparison to the metering area, then the camera will expose for the sky, leaving the aircraft silhouetted. If you want that effect, fine, but if not, it's a nuisance. So I try to use partial or spot metering if available and get the aircraft exposed correctly."

I didn't worry about exposure at all when I took the photographs. Now that I'm shooting raw I've gotten into a mindset I can fix everything in post processing, which is wrong. The K10D has all kinds of options to get the correct exposure and I will definitely work on it in my future attempts.

"I like the shot taken into the sun, but feel that the sun's washed out over too large an area."

I really enjoy trying to get the shots of planes flying into the setting sun. I will take your suggestions and see what I can do to make better shots.

Again, Thank You very much for the tips.

[NickLewis]

I didn't worry about exposure at all when I took the photographs. Now that I'm shooting raw I've gotten into a mindset I can fix everything in post processing, which is wrong. The K10D has all kinds of options to get the correct exposure and I will definitely work on it in my future attempts.I think the difficulty with exposure when the aircraft is small in the frame is that the camera will then meter to render the sky as a mid-grey. Often the sky is a lot brighter than the aircraft, so the aircraft shows up very dark. Even if you post-process to correct this problem, the image of the aircraft can end up noisy and with a limited range of brightness levels available.

The thing to avoid at all costs of course is a perfectly exposed plane and a totally washed out sky!! :)

Nick

[Joe M]

Nick I took your advice and changed the metering to Center Weighted. It still grabbed the sky but gave more weight to the plane. I went out last Tuesday and got about 120 additional photos. There was a cold front moving in and the sky was great.

Here are some I've experimented with by converting to B/W.


http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/4/4/3/7/_IGP0264BW2copy_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1868&c=2)

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/4/4/3/7/_IGP0325BWCRS_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1869&c=2)

The next one is interesting. The plane in the background of the original was too small so I removed it. I placed a plane from another photo in it's place. I think it looks ok but it's hard for me to tell since I did it.

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/4/4/3/7/_IGP0419BWCFinalCopycopy_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1870&c=2)

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/4/4/3/7/_IGP0326BWCRScopy_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=1871&c=)

[mom to 4]

Joe:

I love watching planes. Hate being on them, but love watching them.

I was wondering. Did anyone come after you asking you why you were taking the pictures???? I was just wondering with all the security if anyone questioned you.

[Not4wood]

While in LGA or LaGuardia Airport I had asked (always nice to ask first LOL) about shooting inside the terminal. The Policeman had asked me to just not shoot anything near the Security Area and everything else was fine by them.

In JFK, it was another story. I was told that no matter what Do Not take any pictures at all. So, you use common sense and then take whatever shots you can when no one is looking. Especially anywhere near Security Video Cameras!!!

On that note I will post some of my travels especially from the air. LOL

One of Frontier in Lindburgh Field, San Diego:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/IMG_1785.jpg

Its getting late now so I will post tomorrow. Nite all.... BTW, since this is one of my favorite topics look at my link in my Sig.

[Not4wood]

From the Window of our plane at KMSP Minneapolis/St Paul:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0927.jpg

Leaving NY flying over Yankee Stadium: (The Bronx on the Bottom, Manhattan in the Middle and New Jersey at the top going into the distance)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0024.jpg

While taxiing at KMSP thru the Cargo Area: (Not a great shot, but its thru the window of a moving plane shot with my P&S
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0905.jpg

A failed attempt at a Sunset Pic from the Air. Oh well....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0938.jpg



My last for tonight LOL:
Leaving Vancouver
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0929.jpg

[Joe M]

Hey Colleen,

RDU is setup great for people who want to watch planes. They have two public viewing areas where you can watch take-offs and landings. You are also allowed to take photographs.

Security is very tight, but as long as you don't wander into a secured area everything is alright.

[Joe M]

Mark,

Great pictures.

I've been to airliners.net off and on for years. I've always enjoyed their picture galleries. I have some other photos of planes on the ground I can post later in the day when I resize them.

[mom to 4]

Joe:

My one sister lives and Raleigh and loves that airport. I have never used it. As a kid I can remember watching planes take off out of Newark, NJ, but you can't even move around that area anymore. Only a couple of years ago I was in Washington DC and took the kids to a park to watch the planes take off and land at Reagan, and a cop kept circling around us for the longest time, checking us out before he realized a mom with three kids not even teenagers yet were ok. Better safe than sorry I guess.

I love your pictures!

[Not4wood]

We grew up being brought over to JFK on the Rockaway Blvd side while our mother was shopping. I guess having two little ones my father didn't know what to do or actually did know what to do to keep us busy. By letting us watch the planes coming and going right at the runway side.

This is still really cool, but in Todays Much Higher Security Level its getting harder and much more difficult to get great spots on photographing planes.

[Joe M]

Thank You Colleen.

Here are some more photos you may like Mark.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Cp4PGAbyIv5R3D2BnDvBplXvhyaeF1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Cp4PGAbyIv5R3D2BnDvBplXvhyaeF1)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1kTQgIJJ57tqLc4QjBFwo8Ezn9ZJSz_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1kTQgIJJ57tqLc4QjBFwo8Ezn9ZJSz)


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1o2gDCA8rNFCnkD0orWz6bJrtbVY_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1o2gDCA8rNFCnkD0orWz6bJrtbVY)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1FqMDeSInpYgHz56E0RZghXhTYmvDs_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1FqMDeSInpYgHz56E0RZghXhTYmvDs)

[lexcell]

Great tips and techniques advice here. Thanks everyone for jumping in.

One thing about shooting from an airplane window is the images look flat. You can make them pop with a simple Adjustment Layer Contrast Curve or by using Curves and setting the black points and white points. It not only removes any color cast but add contrast to the image making it pop.

Once you feel you have the settings for stopping the planes taking off try shooting a slow shutter speed and panning with them for a different effect. It really gives a sense of motion. The plane should be sharp and the rest of the image will be blurred giving the image a completely different look. (This has no effect if the background is sky.)

[Joe M]

Great tips and techniques advice here. Thanks everyone for jumping in.

One thing about shooting from an airplane window is the images look flat. You can make them pop with a simple Adjustment Layer Contrast Curve or by using Curves and setting the black points and white points. It not only removes any color cast but add contrast to the image making it pop.

Once you feel you have the settings for stopping the planes taking off try shooting a slow shutter speed and panning with them for a different effect. It really gives a sense of motion. The plane should be sharp and the rest of the image will be blurred giving the image a completely different look. (This has no effect if the background is sky.)

Thank You Laurie I will definitely try that the next time out.

[90volts]

i have mostly taken pictures of military jets, both at work (back in the day) and now at airshows. i use a 35mm canon eos rebel with a 70-300 telephoto lens and a 1.5 tele convertor.

the good thing is that the autofocus did not work well at all through the convertor so it got me used to manually focusing - and quickly. and with that much zoom you can get in very close on the plane without all the background sky. of course F18s and the like are a much smaller target so it may be harder to get a tight pic on an airliner. but this set up will also allow you to be further from the terminal and the curious eyes.

i am thinking of going to a canon eos digital. has anyone had any experience with going from 35mm to digital in the same camera line? wondered if it was practically the same shooting or if there were differences to be expected.

and nice pics. enjoyed them.

[Joe M]

Thanks 90volts I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. I would love to see some of yours if you want post them.

As far as the question about moving to digital. There are far more experienced people than me that can answer your question. You might get some good responses by starting a separate thread in Digital Cameras and Equipment.

Good luck.

[mom to 4]

Joe & 90volts:

Good idea joe about the different thread, but I will just throw my 2 cents in here, as I don't know when I will be back on.

I made the move from my 35 mm to a nice olympus point and shoot a couple of years ago and then jumped to my Rebel. I love it. The biggest thing I had to contend with in making the move to my digital rebel, was the issue of white balance. Once I figured that out I was in good shape. You see I take a ton of nighttime football pictures and I started noticing the pink cast on the pictures (white balance issue) I am always amazed at the difference in white balance from place to place. The other day when I took my white balance photo for shooting at an indoor basketball game at a college, my test picture was blue. At Madison Square Garden it was yellow, and football games outdoors at night was red. So, for me everything else was easy. But, white balance was even easy to figure out when I came on the forum and posted a question.

When you get your digital, don't be afraid to post a question on the forum. You will be amazed at the vast amount of knowledge here!!!

Good luck!!

[NickLewis]

i am thinking of going to a canon eos digital. has anyone had any experience with going from 35mm to digital in the same camera line? wondered if it was practically the same shooting or if there were differences to be expected.I agree - start a new thread - you'll attract more comment with a relevant thread title. Not just from us aviation anoraks.......

In the meantime, I went from using an EOS-3 & EOS-500 to a EOS20D. They are very similar in general operation, apart obviously from the aspects which are unique to the digital medium.

If you're already using a film EOS and are happy with its handling and general design philosophy, then personally I think you need a very good reason for switching brands. Particularly if you have a significant investment in lenses. All your film EF lenses will fit your EOS DSLR (although the reverse is not necessarily true). I'd need a lot of convincing that a Nikon or Olympus body offered sufficient advantages so as to justify a brand switch. (I'd feel the same the other way around - I'm not being brand partisan.)

The most noticeable change in leaving film was that the viewfinder isn't as good....:( (I don't think that's a Canon-specific issue, it's to do with sensor sizes and viewfinder magnifications. But I've never really bottomed out the cause in my own mind.)

Nick

P.S. Joe - I didn't realise this thread was still active - I like the new images you've posted......

[lexcell]

I have taken the liberty of starting a new thread in Digital Cameras and Equipment on switching from film to digital...

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=27

[Hofy3D]

The key to getting proper exposure for planes in flight is easy.
Since you already know what shutter speed you are using, place the camera in shutter priority mode. Let's say you select 1/1000s. Take a meter reading of the ground, the tarmac works best. Remember the aperture.
Now set the camera to manual mode. Set you speed and aperture to what they where when you took the meter reading. Now you are all set to shoot away. Naturally if you metered when it was sunny and it becomes overcast, re-meter before shooting.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h216/hofy/IMG_4147.jpg

[Joe M]

Thanks Hofy, and thanks for sharing the great picture.

When I first read your directions I thought that is too complicated. I read it a few times more and realized it's very simple and makes a lot of sense. Thanks and I will definitely try it the next time I head to the Airport.

[Not4wood]

I found another shot of a Turbo Cessna I thought you would all like.

Let me know what you think of this one. I had blocked the Sun with my hand so I could actually try and get close to shooting into the Sun so I could get a shot of what it actually looked like shooting into the Mountains from standing on the Glacier.

shot at Ruth's Glacier. South of Fairbanks and somwhere near Mt McKinley, Alaska

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/5/3/1/4/IMG_0361_703791_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=2523&c=2)

[Joe M]

What an incredible picture Mark. What were you doing in Alaska? There has got to be a great story attached to this photo.

The red on the snow. Is that reflection from the plane? I assume it must be but I never noticed reflections like that in snow before.

[Not4wood]

Thanks,
Two years ago, we were on a Vacation and ended up using Celebrity Cruises. 5 Day Land and a 7 Day Cruise. We took two extra Days in Vancouver to just hang out and check out the city.

Thats just reflected in the snow. The Sun, was being blocked by my left hand while shooting this as a sun shade. The sun was actually slightly to the left and if you look closely, its still doing a slight peaking on the left top of this shot.

The story for this:
My wife was scared to let me go. I was thinking about it. We woke up the morning before and I had changed my mind. I was going to forget about it. I was outside hanging out waiting for my wife for breakfast before we jumped on our Tour Bus to leave. At the last minute, our Tour Guide was walking out to the bus, I said "What the hell" and then proceeded to ask her if the plane had one more available seat. She took my information, and my check and I was informed later that there was a seat for the Glacier Landing. The other choices were for a Chopper landing later on the Cruise ship for a Glacier. I am not a Chopper Person, I am a fixed wing person and I am also an Aviation Fan ever since I was a kid. I then realized, that if I didn't do this I would be regretting it for the rest of my life.

Another shot from this trip:
This is a shot from the Beaver on approach to landing in the shot we are discussing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0342.jpg

Now, after all this I will include just two more. This explains the mind set of what we felt while flying around all these snow capped mountains. Flying in and around the snow capped mountains of Mt McKinley was the most awe inspiring, heart pounding, most magnificent breathtaking, speachless thing I have ever done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0325.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0312.jpg

325 I think is my favorite, but it depends on the day. LOL

There was also a thread about Alaska, in the techniques section with Laurie a couple of weeks back discribing the beauty of Alaska for a Photo Tour.

[Not4wood]

Sorry, I got carried away with the size of the shots. But I think you get the full idea of whats going on. LOL If anybody wants I could just replace the shot with a link.

This is a picture of me standing in front of the plane that my group was on. The Cessna in the previous shot was the second group that was actually behind us and we watched this Turbo Cessna come in and land.
This is a DeHavilland DHC-2 Beaver. And, me of course:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/TIA2077/Alaska/IMG_0354.jpg

[Joe M]

Incredible pictures and a great story Mark.

It's so obvious when a photography buff takes photos compared to the average tourist pictures.

I was in Alaska when I was 20, at Ft Greely, on a ski and camping trip sponsored by the U. S. Army. My fondest memory is eating half frozen apricots in a 10 man tent on a glacier.

[lexcell]

Nicely done Mark!
You have capture the feeling of flying amongst the gigantic mountains and glaciers very well. Ya gotta love it having a red plane with the white snow and blue sky...major contrasting colors going well together!
Thanks for sharing them. Makes me want to be in Alaska!

[Not4wood]

Incredible pictures and a great story Mark.

It's so obvious when a photography buff takes photos compared to the average tourist pictures.

I was in Alaska when I was 20, at Ft Greely, on a ski and camping trip sponsored by the U. S. Army. My fondest memory is eating half frozen apricots in a 10 man tent on a glacier.

Ah, I thought you might have a connection to the great up North. LOL
What you didn't say though, was what Glacier was it?? Or is that a secret??? LOL and thanks for the compliment. I am rusty and trying to get back into it, learn the new bells and whistles from both my New Camera and also Elements all at the same time. Not an easy feat.

[Hofy3D]

I found another shot of a Turbo Cessna I thought you would all like.

Let me know what you think of this one. I had blocked the Sun with my hand so I could actually try and get close to shooting into the Sun so I could get a shot of what it actually looked like shooting into the Mountains from standing on the Glacier.

shot at Ruth's Glacier. South of Fairbanks and somwhere near Mt McKinley, Alaska

http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/files/1/5/3/1/4/IMG_0361_703791_thumb.jpg (http://www.elementsvillage.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=2523&c=2)

Nice shot. Too bad you didnt have a Graduated Neutral Density filter to keep the sky from being blown out. Then you would have had an outstanding shot. Dont know if this can be fully fixed in Elements.

[Not4wood]

Nice shot. Too bad you didnt have a Graduated Neutral Density filter to keep the sky from being blown out. Then you would have had an outstanding shot. Dont know if this can be fully fixed in Elements.

LOL, Hofy;

That was shot with a 5 MP Canon P&S. Even if I did have a Neutral Density on me. I wouldn't have been able to use it on this camera anyway. This vacation was 2 years ago, and I got my new D80 before this past Thankgsiving. Yeah, I wish I had my D80 on that trip...

[Joe M]

Ah, I thought you might have a connection to the great up North. LOL
What you didn't say though, was what Glacier was it?? Or is that a secret??? LOL and thanks for the compliment. I am rusty and trying to get back into it, learn the new bells and whistles from both my New Camera and also Elements all at the same time. Not an easy feat.

Mark I don't remember the name of the glacier. Just to give you a little background. It was a cold weather survival course. The first week was spent at Ft Greely learning about survival in the classroom and doing some basic cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

The second week we took busses to a camp in the mountains where we did more skiing and snowshoeing. For the third week we snowshoed and skied to the glacier where we camped in tents for about 5 days and played Army.

My class consisted of of men from all branches of the military. We had Pilots, Special Forces, Rangers, and Marines. The idea behind the course is that you could go back and help your unit survive in a cold weather environment. I was an M.P. from Ft. Bragg.

I know this is probably too much information but I enjoyed reminiscing.

[90volts]

The key to getting proper exposure for planes in flight is easy.
Since you already know what shutter speed you are using, place the camera in shutter priority mode. Let's say you select 1/1000s. Take a meter reading of the ground, the tarmac works best. Remember the aperture.
Now set the camera to manual mode. Set you speed and aperture to what they where when you took the meter reading. Now you are all set to shoot away. Naturally if you metered when it was sunny and it becomes overcast, re-meter before shooting.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h216/hofy/IMG_4147.jpg


great tip, thanks. and nice shot. color relly pops there. if i get a scanner one of these days maybe i can put a couple of my plane pics up. didn't have a digital at the time and haven't taken any with the digital yet.