The Red Arrows In Action Pictures

[raptorrex]

got a tip, for those without a sophisticated SLR, to get pics as well exposed as this! it assumes your camera has a infinity focus setting, but thats about all you need. set the camera to infinity, point the camera at something like the grass and half press your shutter, this should lock the exposure setting on the camera. now follow the aircraft, through the view finder, but when pressing the shutter, continue the movement, sort of like panning. this should help avoid the dreaded shutter lag.
the explanation:

focus first, in truth most camera lenses don't need focused, just set to infinity, beyond 10 feet. so setting infinity should mean that you get sharp pictures, without the need to focus.

exposure, all cameras, old and new, assume that all light surfaces reflect 18% of the light that falls on them. so to get correct exposure, even in the trickiest conditions, all you need is something that reflects just about that, grass is the most common thing you find that does just that, make sure the grass is filling the metering zone/ viewfinder and wherever you point the camera, unless the light conditions are changing rapidly, you will get perfect exposure on your shots.

Alot of cameras use matrix metering, which casts the aircraft in a shadow, I shoot in centre weighted and meter from the aircraft, I also change my AF point to wide AF which makes it easier to pan and ensure I meter from the aircraft, and not the sky

indeed so, but not all cameras, especially the compact type have this metering. even so the above method would produce just as good a result and with practice better, honest. fixing the focus, even on an SLR, will speed up the shot, no hunting for a focus point. but the best thing is to try the technique, that's how i learnt it. it is also how most Pro's would meter the light too, even with a multi £1000 camera system.

I've never had any problems waiting for the camera to focus, then again I use pro glass

lol not the focus, though it would be set to infinity, the exposure taking is a pro trick.

 

[gaz gun man]

indeed so, but not all cameras, especially the compact type have this metering. even so the above method would produce just as good a result and with practice better, honest. fixing the focus, even on an SLR, will speed up the shot, no hunting for a focus point. but the best thing is to try the technique, that's how i learnt it. it is also how most Pro's would meter the light too, even with a multi £1000 camera system.

I was referring to that bit, not the metering technique

 

[shelaghfishface]

stunning pics Gaz, i love the red arrows, but then i think everyone has a soft spot for them
shelagh xxx

 

[gaz gun man]

cheers

 

[gaz gun man]

boboboy, do you have any sample pictures of your method?

 

[raptorrex]

yep, look at anything shot by a pro photographer at an air show. but read this, lol i only found this just now, knowing the technique, i have never before needed to look it up.
http/www.richard-seaman.com/Photography/...hows/index.html
i guarantee you will find this technique, or variants of it, in every photo link on Air show shooting. it is taught to photo students, so that should be no surprise.

it must be remembered that nothing is new in Photography, however much techno they add to the camera. techniques developed 100 years ago still apply. in this case no meter however complicated could better the results. the same is true on most, if not all, tricks used in the days before computerised cameras.

all these new complicated metering systems do is allow people who don't know how to do things, do them. nothing more.