Index
14-24mm lens, 152
50-gallon plastic bags, 71
70-200mm lens, 15, 90, 123, 152, 174, 176
105mm lens, 152
300mm lens, 15
A
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft, 128, 142
A6M2 Zero aircraft, 167, 187, 198, 202
A36 Bonanza aircraft, 179
acronyms, aviation-related, 3
AD/A-1 Skyraider Attack Bomber, 45
ADDS weather app, 58
aerial photography, 177
afternoon light, 31
description of, 65
early bird/sunrise pass to, 71–73
finding a listing of, 65
flying into, 63–65
gear recommended for, 69–71
information in guides to, 149
interacting with owners/pilots at, 73–78
KelbyOne.com class on shooting, 82
lighting considerations at, 79–80
locating yourself at, 78–81
panning technique used at, 80–81
photographic strategies for, 84–87
self-preservation at, 66–68
spectator photography at, 147–149
spending two days at, 80
See also fly-ins
air traffic control (ATC), 165
aircraft
attraction of, viii
restoration of, 29, 91, 160–161
airports, letter indicators for, 3
air-to-air photography, 1, 163–209
author’s introduction to, 167–173
backgrounds used in, 169
backlit opportunities in, 107
basics of shooting, 173
broadside shots in, 195
check lists for, 185–186
communicating with pilots in, 183–185, 198–199
flight bags for, 185
flight suits for, 182–183
flight/safety brief for, 193–194
gear recommended for, 174–176, 181–182
hand-holding cameras for, 173
horizon line in, 201–202
logbook or log app for, 203
personal approaches to, 166–167
photo platform for, 176–180
pilot considerations for, 180–181
portraits of pilots in, 196
post-flight recommendations for, 203
safety harness for, 181–182
sharing your images from, 204
shooting open or no canopy, 187–188
shooting through windows, 188–191
Shot List for, 193, 194, 195–198
video recording of, 191–192
warning about dangers of, 167, 173
weather concerns in, 164–165
wind stream and, 187–188
airworthy aircraft, 29
angle of attack, 39
Antique Airplane Association (AAA), 89
AOPA Regional Fly-Ins, 89
aperture settings
dust in photos related to, 54
Arizona Ground Crew reenactors, 151
astro blast mode, 8
AT-6 Texan aircraft, ix, 32, 65, 103, 178, 182
Midnight Miss III, 2
Midnight Rendezvous, xii
Auto-area AF mode, 4, 47, 98, 99
aviation photography
air shows for, 63–87
air-to-air shots in, 163–209
aviation acronyms and, 3
camera settings for, 4–12
cleaning the sensor for, 13
fly-ins for, 88–91
gear recommended for, 16–17
ground-to-air shots in, 96–131
importance of light in, 22
KelbyOne.com resources on, viii
light and shadow in, 24–39
movement conveyed in, 48–60
open-mindedness in, 38
romance in, 38–39
Aviator (film), 58
B
B-17G aircraft
Sentimental Journey, 14, 38–39, 78, 151, 181
Thunderbird, 192
B-24 Liberator aircraft, 79
B25 aircraft
Doolittle Raiders reunion, 19–21, 134–139
used as photo platforms, 179
B25A aircraft, Miss Hap, 139
B25H aircraft, Barbie III, 82–84
B25J aircraft
Betty’s Dream, 34, 78, 98, 115, 139, 181, 187, 195, 202
God and Country, 179
Maid in the Shade, 21, 134, 135, 138
Miss Mitchell, 18
Pacific Princess, 139
Pacific Prowler, 129
Show Me, 122
Take-Off Time, 110
backgrounds
creating motion blur in, 57, 109–110, 118–119
ground-to-air photography, 109–112
people photography, 150
takeoff and landing, 127
backlit photos, 107–108
ballhead, 192
banana pass, 79–80
banking turns, 57
Battle of Britain (film), 23
Beech A-212 aircraft, 90
Beech D18S aircraft, 30
Beech Party fly-in, 89
Beechcraft AT-6 aircraft, 48
Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft, 202
Bell UH-1 Iroquois aircraft, 67, 68
blinkies, 27
Blue Max, The (film), 124
blurred backgrounds, 57, 109–110, 118–119
body language, 199
BorrowLenses.com website, 15
bouncing light, 155
Bowen, Paul, 169
bracketing photos, 36
broadside shots, 195
Buehn, Dennis, 143
Bush, George H. W., 94–96
business cards, 71, 77, 89, 141
C
C-47 Skytrain, 109
C-130 aircraft, 167, 168, 169–171, 180
Cable Air Show, 82
Cactus Fly-In, 89
cameras
autofocus system, 4–5
exposure modes, 5
FPS speed, 8–12
hand-holding, 44–45, 84, 96, 173
renting, 176
tilting/turning, 101
Canadian Harvard aircraft, 59, 125
carabiner, 173
card write speeds, 12
Caudron G.III aircraft, 122, 123
Cessna 170 aircraft, 191
Cessna 172 aircraft, 177
Cessna 182RG aircraft, 154, 177
Cessna 750X+ aircraft, 34
Cessna Citation aircraft, 195
Cessna Citation X+ aircraft, 158, 159
Cessna T-50 Bamboo Bomber, 52
CFI (certified flight instructor), 177
chairs for air shows, 67–68
Clean Image Sensor option, 13
closest subject priority, 4, 99
clouds
aircraft backgrounds utilizing, 59
ground-to-air photography and, 106, 112–114
illusion of speed conveyed by, 59–60
cockpits
air-to-air photos of pilots in, 196
on-ground photos of pilots in, 127, 145–146
Cole, Richard E., 134, 139, 140
Columbia PFG shirts, 66–67
Commander 500s Shrike aircraft, 52
communication
air-to-air photography, 183–185, 198–199
terminology for aviation, 3
compression, long-lens, 128–131
continuous high firing mode, 98, 99
Continuous-servo AF mode, 99
coupling link, 173
D
David Clark (DC) headsets, 184
dawn light, 30–31
Dawson, “Bucky,” 169
DC-3 Flagship aircraft, 28, 29
debriefing, post-flight, 203
direction of light, 106
disk blur. See prop blur
distance
panning and camera-to-subject, 54
safety and between-aircraft, 193
Diussa, Scott, 2
Doolittle Raiders 70th Reunion, 19–21, 134–140
B25 aircraft at, 134–137
living attendees of, 134
Douglas A-1E Skyraider aircraft, 5
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper aircraft, 186
Dragon Rapide aircraft, 123, 124
D-rings, 182
Dudley story, 141–142
Duxford Aerodrome, 123
E
EA-6B Prowler aircraft, 118, 119
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, 62, 64–65, 72, 141–142
early bird pass, 71–73
editorial market, 86–87
emotion, 22
Epson printers, 143
equipment. See gear recommendations
exposure
camera modes for, 5
clouds related to, 60
determining settings for, 6–8
light and, 35–37
exposure compensation, 6, 8, 155, 156
eye used for shooting, 47
F
F2G Corsair aircraft, 102
F2G Super Corsair aircraft, 107
F2G-1 Super Corsair aircraft, 123, 125
F2G-1D Super Corsair Race 57 aircraft, 160, 161, 199
F2G-2 Super Corsair aircraft, 148, 175, 209
F2G-2 Super Corsair Race 74 aircraft, 161
F4U-1 Corsair aircraft, 130
F4U-4 Corsair aircraft, 35–36
F7F Tigercat aircraft, 52, 118
Here Kitty, Kitty!, 169, 170, 171, 172
F-16 Fighting Falcons, 101
F-22 Raptor aircraft, 86
F-106 Delta Dart aircraft, 30
Fagen MX2 aircraft, 24
family history, 87
family outings, 87
FAST cards, 180
FG-1D Corsair aircraft, 29, 49, 52, 149, 150, 167, 181, 187, 202
fill flash, 152
firmware, updating, 12
flash
gels used for, 155
portrait photography and, 76, 152, 153, 155
remote TTL cord attached to, 154
flash compensation, 156
flight, romance of, viii–xi
flight bags, 185
flight suits, 182–183
flight/safety brief, 193–194
Florida International Air Show, 82
fly-ins, 88–91
challenge of finding, 88–89
gear recommended for, 69–71, 90
how to approach, 89–91
meeting people at, 90
See also air shows
FM-2 Wildcat aircraft, 25, 102, 196
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft, 26, 27, 148
focus
autofocus system for, 4–5, 12, 99
ground-to-air photography, 99–100
Focus Tracking with Lock-On, 99
fog, 164–166
follow-up tools, 77
foot care, 66
Ford Tri-Motor aircraft, 145, 203
Foss, Joe, 151
frames per second (FPS), 8–12
framing images, 54–57
FreeWire Quickdraws, 182
f-stops, 150
G
gear recommendations
for air shows/fly-ins, 69–71, 90
for air-to-air photography, 174–176, 181–182
for aviation photography, 16–17
for people photography, 152
Glacier glasses, 67
gloves for hand signals, 185, 199
Golden Gate Bridge photos, 162, 165–166
Graham, Kevin, 169
ground effect, 124
ground-to-air photography, 96–131
backgrounds in, 109–112
backlighting for, 107–108
basics of, 96–98
explanation of, 96
focusing for, 99–100
hand-holding cameras for, 96–97
Hollywood effect in, 128–131
horizontal orientation for, 100
illusion of speed in, 118–120
lighting considerations for, 103–109
long-lens compression in, 128–131
moving around for, 126
panning technique for, 97–98
smoke in, 114–118
takeoff and landing in, 121–127
vertical orientation for, 101–103
viewer involvement in, 131
Group-area AF, 4
Grumman G-21 Goose aircraft, 40
gunner’s seat, 178
H
Halsey, William “Bull,” 133
Hamilton Metalplane H-47 aircraft, 186
hand-held radios, 184–185, 199
hand-holding cameras, 44–47, 84, 96, 173
Hanriot aircraft, 46
Hardy, George, 156
Hawker Hurricane Mk.XIIA aircraft, 32
Hawker Sea Fury FB. 11 aircraft, 183
Hawker Sea Fury Mk. 11 aircraft, 43
HDR photos, 36
highlight warning, 27
Hinton, Steve, 73
Hollywood effect, 128–131
Hone, Claude, 150–151
horizon line, 201–202
horizontal orientation, 100, 200
Horsemen F-86 Sabre performance, 85
Howard 500 aircraft, 34, 91, 119, 120, 208
Hughes, Howard, 58
human element. See people photography
hydration, importance of, 66
I
IS/VR technology, 176
J
Jefferson, Alexander, 156
Josey, Allen, 135
K
KelbyOne.com resources, viii, 156
Kelley, Larry, 135
Kelty Linger chair, 67
Kennebunkport, Maine, 94
KeyMission video cameras, 17
knee board, 194
L
L-5 Sentinel aircraft, 157, 158
L-39 Albatros aircraft, 196
landscape orientation, 100
landscape photography, xi
late afternoon light, 31
left-seat flying, 177
lenses
long, 90, 128–131, 145–146, 150, 152
renting, 15
light
backlit shots and, 107–108
bouncing, 155
direction of, 106
exposure and, 35–37
romance related to, 38–39
lighting considerations
for air shows, 79–80
for ground-to-air photography, 103–109
for people photography, 150, 153–156
long lenses
compression effect from, 128–131
fly-in photos using, 90
open cockpit photos using, 145–146
people photography using, 150, 152
long-term assignments, 87
Luscombe T8F Observer, 194
M
Magnum 50° reflector, 158
Manfrotto 492LCD Micro Ball Head, 192
McGee, Charles, 156
McNally, Joe, 156
Meyers MAC 145 aircraft, 23
microphones, 17
midday light, 31
MiG 15 aircraft, 57
MILAVIA website, 65
modern military aircraft, 85–86
Monocoupe 110 Special aircraft, 196, 201
Morane-Saulnier MS.230 aircraft, 124
morning light, 31
motion blur, 57, 109–110, 118–119
Mountainsmith Lumbar Day Pack, 16, 69
Mountainsmith Strapettes harness, 69
movement
clouds for conveying, 59–60
communicating in images, xi, 48
framing aircraft to suggest, 54–57
prop blur indicating, 48–54
movies. See video
mystery, creating, 39
N
N-9MB flying wing, 113
National Aviation Heritage Invitational awards, 160
nighttime light, 34
Nikon AN-SBR2 BlackRapid Quick-Draw Strap, 16, 17
Nikon cameras
autofocus system on, 4
gear recommendations for, 16
video recording using, 192
Nikon Professional Services (NPS), 169
Nomex flight suit, 182
“North 40” plane camping, 62
O
Odegaard, Robert, 107, 160–161
Oshkosh gathering, 62, 64–65, 72, 141–142
out-of-focus images, 99
overcast skies, 155
owners of aircraft
engaging at air shows, 73–78
sending prints to, 143
P
P-38F Lightning aircraft
Glacier Girl, 168, 170, 171, 172
P-38L Lightning aircraft, 97
P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft, 53
P-40 Warhawk aircraft, 116
P-40E Kittyhawk aircraft, 53
P-40E Warhawk aircraft, 31
P-40K Warhawk aircraft, Aleutian Tiger, 56, 112, 135, 181, 187, 202
P-47D Thunderbolt aircraft, 37, 53, 70, 192
P-51 Mustang aircraft, 52
P-51C Mustang aircraft, 131, 156
P-51D Mustang aircraft, 49, 53, 181
Big Beautiful Doll, 159–160
Boo-Man Choo, 192
Charlotte’s Chariot, 192
Dakota Kid II, 145, 181, 187, 192, 202
Little Horse, 192
painting effect, 87
panning technique, 47–48
air shows and, 80–81
air-to-air photography and, 173
camera-to-subject distance and, 54
fuselage as focus of, 48–49
ground-to-air photography and, 97–98
long lenses and slowing down, 130
tips and tail problem, 100
panoramas, 202
paper
for prints, 143
for writing notes, 147
Pekala, Bill, 169
pencil and paper, 147
people photography, 133–161
author’s lesson about, 141–142
cultivating relationships for, 146–147, 151
Doolittle Raiders Reunion, 134–140
flash used for, 152
gear recommended for, 152
lighting considerations for, 153–156
making subjects pop in, 150–151
open cockpits for, 145–146
overcoming the social challenge of, 143
pilot portrait project, 157–160
preparation recommended for, 144–145
rewards of shooting, 160–161
sending prints to subjects of, 143, 146–147
spectators as subjects of, 147–149
See also portraits
personal assignments, 87
photo pass, 79–80
photog list, 186
PIC (pilot-in-command), 177
pickup portraits, 156
pigtail, 182
pilot operating handbook (POH), 182
pilots
air-to-air photography, 180–181
asking about fly-ins, 88–89
author’s lesson on photographing, 141–142
cultivating relationships with, 146–147
engaging at air shows, 73–78
ground-to-air focus on, 100
left-seat vs. right-seat, 177
sending prints to, 77, 143, 146–147, 204
thanking after flights, 203
See also people photography
Piper J3C-65 Cub aircraft, x, 104, 106, 108, 111
Piper PA-11 Cub aircraft, x, 60–61
Piper PA-18 Super Cub aircraft, 205, 207
Pitts Special Biplane, 53
Planes of Fame Air Show, 72, 73
plastic bags, 71
Platine paper, 143
Plexiglas windows, 188–190
POH (pilot operating handbook), 182
Point Mugu Air Show, vii
Polly, Michael, 138
Porterfield 65 aircraft, 33, 52, 89, 90, 124, 125, 189
portraits
lenses for, 152
pickup, 156
preparing to shoot, 76
See also people photography
post-flight recommendations, 203
predawn light, 30
prints, sending to pilots, 77, 143, 146–147, 204
prop blur, 48–54
air-to-air photography and, 200
examples of bad and good, 50–53
shutter speed and, 49, 54, 119, 126–127, 171
takeoff vs. landing and, 126–127
protective lens filter, 188
P-S1D Mustang aircraft, xi
PT-17 Stearman aircraft, 64, 105, 108, 114, 121, 206
pylon races, 2–3, 112, 130–131
R
Radar Cast app, 58
radios, hand-held, 184–185
Really Right Stuff Ground-Level tripod, 17
renting
cameras, 176
lenses, 15
restored aircraft, 29, 91, 160–161
right-seat flying, 177
rivets, aircraft, 29
rock-steady cameras, 44–47
romance in aviation, 38–39
Royal Canadian Airforce Snowbirds, 117, 118
S
safety harness, 181–182
SB-5000 Speedlight, 152
SBD Dauntless aircraft, 30
Schweizer SGS 1-26 Glider, 204
scratches on windows, 188–190
self-preservation, 66–68
shadows
contrast and, 29
mystery and, 39
sharing your images, 204
shoes for air shows, 66
Short Skyvan aircraft, 180
show guides, 149
shutter priority mode, 5, 8, 54
shutter release technique, 45, 97
shutter speed
air-to-air photography and, 200
mode for prioritizing, 5, 8, 54
motion blur and, 119
practice shots with slow, 96
prop blur and, 49, 54, 119, 126–127, 171
takeoff/landing photos and, 127
Sioux Falls Airshow, 151
skies
ground-to-air photography, 105–106, 109
portraits under overcast, 155
Slocum, Scott, 169
smoke from aircraft, 114–118
sniper mode, 8
sniper portraits, 152
spectator photography, 147–149
speed
blurring backgrounds to show, 57, 118–119
clouds used to convey, 59–60
creating the illusion of, 118–120
Spitfire Mk. IX aircraft, 34, 127, 155, 178, 181
Spitfire V Mk. IXb aircraft, 9, 10–11, 12
Starduster Too aircraft, 32, 153, 184
Stearman Field, 108
stepless shutter speeds, 5
Stinson Reliant SR-9F aircraft, 31, 162, 164, 165
stock photography, 84
storytelling, 22, 29, 131, 148, 150
strip light, 159
subjects, determining, 22
sun
backlit photos and, 107–108
disk blur and flying into, 200
personal protection from, 66–67
sunblock, 66
sunglasses, 67
sunrise pass, 71–73
sunset light, 34
Super Guppy aircraft, 30
T
T-28 Trojan aircraft, 33
T-33 Shooting Star aircraft, 143
tandem seats, 178
Taylor J-2 aircraft, 32
Taylorcraft BC-12D aircraft, x
TBM Avenger aircraft, 126, 179, 187
Team AeroDynamix, 117
telephoto lenses. See long lenses
test pilots, 158
Texas Flying Legends Museum (TFLM), 93, 94–95, 134
tilting your camera, 101
tips and tails problem, 100
to do list, 185
“Tora! Tora! Tora!” re-creation, 116, 117
twilight light, 34
U
underexposed images, 6, 7, 106
USAF Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcons, 101
USS Nashville, 133
V
VanderMeulen, Richard, 169
vertical orientation, 101–103, 201
video
equipment for shooting, 17
recording on air-to-air shoots, 191–192
VisibleDust swab system, 13
VR/IS technology, 176
Vulture A2 strap, 173
W
Waco DSO aircraft, 42
Waco QCF aircraft, vi, 31, 197
Waco YKC aircraft, 90
weather concerns, 41, 42, 58, 164–165
weight lifting tip, 102
wide-angle lenses, 15, 76, 152
wildlife photography, xi
wind stream, 187–188
windows, shooting through, 188–191
Wings Over Wiscasset air show, 93
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, 19–21, 110
writing pad, 147
X, Y, Z
XB-70 Valkyrie aircraft, 181
YouTube channel of author, 13