Page 23 - Cape-Camera-October-2023

Cape Camera October 2023

In Saldanha I shot the helicopter on 400mm at 125th sec.
Above right: Captured at 176mm and 180th sec.
Right: I shot at 363mm and 180th sec.
Air photography (continued)

landing. Everyone thought it was a Mirage, but it turned
out to be an Albatros trainer/ground support SAAF air-
craft. This was the stuff of goose bumps — the noise,
glamour, speed, and drama! The jet alone made the day
worthwhile.
At the lunch break, members of the public were given
the opportunity to get close to the machinery and meet
the air crews.
I can’t say that I am an air show veteran, but I have been
to three or four and picked up some photo tips along the
way (with apologies to photographers better than me).
I will never forget visiting a Pretoria air show about 12
years ago. I arrived early to secure a good spot right at
the fence. I mounted a 500mm prime on a gimbal on a
sturdy tripod and started getting a few good shots when Above: 324mm at 750th sec. Below: 500mm at 750th sec.
a cute little girl, probably about 10 years of age, gently
pushed her way to the front. Feeling quite superior and
senior, I glanced at her iPad. She had some beautiful
sharp, frame filling, shots of aircraft to be envied! She
probably shoots for Vogue now.
The good news is that the Airshow organisers will be
staging another event at the Saldanha Airport in Octo-
ber 2024 when, due to the good support this year, a big-
ger cast will be performing.

Dave’s tips for photographing aircraft takes practice, and some disappointments.
Shooting jets is, on the other hand, better/easier at
Shooting on shutter priority with a zoom lens (up to higher rates, e.g., 1/750 plus. I prefer Auto Focus set on
300 – 500mm) is almost essential, as subject distances ‘Instantly focus on subjects suddenly entering AF points’,
vary widely and quickly. When a jet comes straight at and Servo (Canon).
you at about 500+ kph, you haven’t got time to change Some modern cameras have a distinct advantage
lenses. when using Subject Tracking, combined with a wide
Lighting is forever problematic. I find shooting against focus point selection.
a bright sky requires Central Weighted, or even better, Continuous Shooting is an obvious and tempting op-
Spot Metering exposure settings. tion, but at 30fps it can lead to missing out on your
Shooting prop, or rotor powered craft vs jets, has dif- children growing up. At Saldanha I used Single Shot
ferent requirements. Ideally, the propeller should be repeatedly and believe I captured all that I needed.
visible as a circular or semi-circular blur. To achieve this Clearly, the suggested settings are up to the photogra-
effect, a shutter speed of 1/80 to 1/200 is typical. Pan- pher’s personal preference and experience, but in gen-
ning at such speeds, especially at longer focal lengths, eral, they work for me.

Cape Town Photographic Society 23