Wing Walking

[Tinka]

Hi all,
Did not know wether to post here or critique.
I was at a motor race meeting with my son, when these planes gave a show,
Never having taken photo's of this type before and not having a lot of time to prepare, I stuck the camera on program auto rather than full auto as I knew the iso was set to 200asa, and just took the pictures, these are some of the more successfull/hopefull images from that shoot, levels and curves have had a slight tweek, could they be inproved any more? What settings would you sugest if takeing these again to ensure a more successful result? The images were very noisy, which suprized me at iso 200, I dont know why. The camera is a Fuji 9500 zoom, Average shutter speed one 600th at F8, pattern metering, average focal length around 66.7 35mm equiv ? around 250 to 300?
There are some more images in my galerie.

[Ian]

Re: Wing Walking

Hi all,
Did not know wether to post here or critique.
I was at a motor race meeting with my son, when these planes gave a show,
Never having taken photo's of this type before and not having a lot of time to prepare, I stuck the camera on program auto rather than full auto as I knew the iso was set to 200asa, and just took the pictures, these are some of the more successfull/hopefull images from that shoot, levels and curves have had a slight tweek, could they be inproved any more? What settings would you sugest if takeing these again to ensure a more successful result? The images were very noisy, which suprized me at iso 200, I dont know why. The camera is a Fuji 9500 zoom, Average shutter speed one 600th at F8, pattern metering, average focal length around 66.7 35mm equiv ? around 250 to 300?
There are some more images in my galerie.

I shudder to think what it's like to do this kind of thing - definitely not my cup of tea - looking down from a step ladder is enough to unsettle me

I think you need to get much closer in to really convey the impact of the 'wing walker'. Certainly, in the second picture the person riding the wing is easy to overlook altogether at a glance.

The smoke trail is nice in the first one, but I feel the picture is undecided as to whether to be a biplane action shot or a wing walker shot.

Ian

[bigbob]

Re: Wing Walking

I've shot a few of these and i find that putting the camera in shutter priority about 1/300sec blurs the props nicely , at that speed you'll get somewhere around F13-16 depending on the light , so an ISO of 200 will be fine on most days .
Use central weighted metering so that the sky does'nt influence the exposure too much.
A good panning technique is vital , swing from the hips and don't stop when you've pressed the shutter , continue with the follow through .
Use the zoom , try to get as close as you can with it .
Most of all practise , your shots look ok , next display they'll be better .

B..

[Autumn]

Re: Wing Walking

Hi Tinka

I am very interested in your shots. I think you have done well with them. I also have a Fuji Finepix S9500 but it is not easy to catch aeroplanes, they wont keep still and they move too fast.

I can't offer any help. I have been reading your settings, but I only ever have used pattern metering and spot. I have just had to read about the Average Metering setting (for people wearing black and white and landscapes!) I didn't know that.

Yes, if I had taken them I would be very pleased.

Well done you.

[Archangel]

Re: Wing Walking

Hi Dave,

I see some good shots of airplanes, though they look a bit smaller than I would prefer in the frame.
As far as the camera's settings you are concerned with and the noise at ISO200 I would suggest, to shoot in "Manual" mode and use f4 or f5 (f5.6 maximum, don't go more than that) and shutter of 1/800 or 1/1000 or different for 0EV. Turn sharpness and saturation to "Low".
Anyway, I do not have a Fuji and what I suggest might not be the ultimate choice for your camera, though it works for me in my camera.

George

[bigbob]

Re: Wing Walking

Hi Dave,

I see some good shots of airplanes, though they look a bit smaller than I would prefer in the frame.
As far as the camera's settings you are concerned with and the noise at ISO200 I would suggest, to shoot in "Manual" mode and use f4 or f5 (f5.6 maximum, don't go more than that) and shutter of 1/800 or 1/1000 or different for 0EV. Turn sharpness and saturation to "Low".
Anyway, I do not have a Fuji and what I suggest might not be the ultimate choice for your camera, though it works for me in my camera.

George

Sorry George i've got to disagree on the shutter speed , if you shoot 1/1000 it'll freeze the props which you don't want to do , 1/1000 is fine for jets . 1/350 is about right and that'll give F 16 (from memory) and that won't effect a sky background .

B..

[Archangel]

Re: Wing Walking

Sorry George i've got to disagree on the shutter speed , if you shoot 1/1000 it'll freeze the props which you don't want to do , 1/1000 is fine for jets . 1/350 is about right and that'll give F 16 (from memory) and that won't effect a sky background .

B..

Bob,

From Dave's writing, I assumed he was more concerned with the noise at ISO 200 rather than the frozen props.
Indeed a fast shutter speed will intend to freeze the props, but that is also something to be discussed as when the prop is turning is creating an idol effect and a faster shutter will freeze the plane, but also freeze the idol effect and recorded as idol at the given moment. Though this remains to be tested and proved after experiment as it might not work with all props. Usually helicopter props that turn much slower than the props of these planes might suffer from capturing them totally frozen, which is not always the case with the props of these type of planes.
I suggested an F of 4 or maximum of 5.6 as that will allow him to shoot by lowering the ISO, thus getting rid of some noise in the photo.
Higher F's, require slower shutters which introduce slightly more noise in the photos sometimes.

I don't quite understand what you meant by that F16. If you refer to the values of aperture, I think the Fuji 9500 goes up to F11 maximum.
In this case an F11 can be combined to a 1/200 or 1/250 shutter speed, which I don't think is sufficient enough to completely freeze these type of planes doing these acrobatics, but indeed is sufficient to give the nice prop effect.

Also, the Fuji 9500 doesn't have an image stabilizer, meaning that at long zoom ranges it needs a faster shutter to capture a blur free image.
Taking into account all these issues along with the noise Dave had a concern with, made me suggest wider aperture, lower ISO and faster shutter.


George

[Tinka]

Re: Wing Walking

Hi Ian,Audrey,Bigbob and George,
Thank you all for looking and commenting, and for the suggestions on settings etc: it is obvious that I have to experiment with the suggestions given by Both BB and George, You are right George the maxi aperture is F11 on the fuji and that is in manual mode, the maximum in auto is F8, I really will have to change my camera as soon as funds allow. Oh well off to find some planes, I don't think I will bother with the jumbo passing overhead at 36,000 feet

[bigbob]

Re: Wing Walking

I'm so used to using a DLSR that i forget the limitations of other cameras , your right George F8 will proberbly give a low enough shutter speed to blur the props , i'll now go and stand in a corner somewhere

B..

[Archangel]

Re: Wing Walking

I'm so used to using a DLSR that i forget the limitations of other cameras , your right George F8 will proberbly give a low enough shutter speed to blur the props , i'll now go and stand in a corner somewhere

B..

No need to stand in any corner Bob.
Your photos in your gallery don't show that you should hunt for corners to stand
By the way, I saw some nice photos lately in your gallery of those fields full of yellow flowers.

Indeed, non DSLRs, do have some limitations. I remember the Fuji's 9500 characteristics as it was a same category comparable camera with my FZ30, that both have F11 maximum.


George

[Autumn]

Re: Wing Walking

No need to stand in any corner Bob.
Your photos in your gallery don't show that you should hunt for corners to stand
By the way, I saw some nice photos lately in your gallery of those fields full of yellow flowers.

Indeed, non DSLRs, do have some limitations. I remember the Fuji's 9500 characteristics as it was a same category comparable camera with my FZ30, that both have F11 maximum.


George

I am the one who should be standing in a corning. I have had my Fuji S9500 for 14 months now and not until I read this thread, did I know that it had F11. I suppose it is because I tend to use Aperature priority mainly and that only goes to F8.

I am pleased I found this out because I may be able to get "Milky Water" if I try hard now. Before when I put a slow shutter speed on at F8 the pictures were overexposed.

You learn something new every day. I must get my manual out.