Nightshoot Advice

cw318is

cw318is

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Caleb
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Morning all,

Going to my first nightshoot next Saturday at Newark Air Museum. Never been to one before so could really do with some advice. Guessing long exposures and infinity focus will be the order of the day, want to keep my ISO v low as it just doesn't perform above ISO400 without a lot of noise.

As I understand the aircraft are usually floodlit with beacons, lights etc on.

Thanks!
 
Thanks for the pointers, so what do you reckon around f16 or smaller?
 
I went to one at the Yorkshire Air Museum last year, and just left my camera set at F16 all night for the static shots. Best ones were at dusk, when there was still a hint of colour in the sky. A few on my Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theviewfromthenorth/sets/72157622610626380/

Be warned though, if there is a 'model' in front of any of the planes, you're going to struggle with long exposures, I used a VR lens and ISO6400 to capture some of the ones on flickr.

Oh, and for pities sake, don't try and use flash, like some clowns do at nightshoots.........:bang:
 
Thanks Andy, just had a quick look at your flickr set, the Mirage is very impressive. Can't read the EXIF for some reason, can you remember off hand what sort of speed you were using?

I was hoping that I could blur out any people, but whenever I've gone for long exposures with static aircraft someone in a hi viz has always wrecked it!
 
cw318is said:
Morning all,

Going to my first nightshoot next Saturday at Newark Air Museum. Never been to one before so could really do with some advice. Guessing long exposures and infinity focus will be the order of the day, want to keep my ISO v low as it just doesn't perform above ISO400 without a lot of noise.

As I understand the aircraft are usually floodlit with beacons, lights etc on.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Don't know if you have seen the website, but it gives an idea what to expect:-

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/newsItem.php?id=227
 
The Mirage had a multiple studio flash setup around it, which is why it looks like it does.

As for the others, I think I just set the camera to aperture priority and let it sort the shutter speed out itself. Looking at the exif data in Lightroom, the shutter speed varies, but tends to be between 20-30 seconds.

The Victor had a few small floodlights set up on the ground around it, so I'd imagine the Newark one would be the same. I'd advise shooting raw in case you need to adjust the white balance afterwards.
 
Couple of other points -

1) Wrap up warm! You'll likely be outside for a few hours, and not moving around too much, so dress accordingly. Gloves are a good idea - I have some thin sailing gloves that I use when I'm shooting at night to keep my hands warm. If you own a flask, put a hot drink inside it for when you get back to the car after the shoot is over.

2) Cable or remote release is preferable for long exposures, but if you don't have them, use the self timer so that you don't have to touch the camera to release the shutter.
 
Thanks again Andy, so warm clothing, flask and my Hahnel shutter release will be going with me!

Arclight I did see the website although as of yesterday they still didn't know what they were actually going to do. I'd take an educated guess and say definately the Vulcan and Shackleton and probably something Mig related, but last year they used the Wessex which is inside and a few other bits as well.

And neither me nor google know what a Houchin light is, dunno if anyone does?
 
Not sure, but a google on Houchin brings back an aerospace company and suggests it is some form of APU that is used to provide power to the aircraft before engine start.
 
forget about this thread, Houchin is a diesel APU thing, as it was dark we couldn't see it belching sooty black carbon!

Took my mini maglite with me, had great fun with a bit a light painting and I think about 20 people borrowed it to find dropped lens caps!
 
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