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. 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]

Originally Posted by Joe M

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.






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.

[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/v4...7/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/v4...a/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/v4...a/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/v4...a/IMG_0905.jpg

A failed attempt at a Sunset Pic from the Air. Oh well....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/IMG_0938.jpg



My last for tonight LOL:
Leaving Vancouver
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/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.