First Time Aviation, First Time with a DLSR.. @ MAN

Good stuff! Just a quick note on a few things though that may or may not help. You really shouldn’t need to do much to an image in Photoshop if you get it as right as you can in-camera; that means having a very in depth understanding of how your camera works and having the experience to know how to adjust settings according to the conditions you’re shooting in, which will take years, not months. This isn’t a bad thing though, because the plus side is you don’t actually need to understand every function of Photoshop to get very good results. If you start working your way through those 2000 pages it will probably put you off for life! Not only that, but you’ll be taking information in that you’re never realistically going to use when you could be concentrating on getting the fundamentals right. If you have a decent shot right out of the camera (assuming no special effects are required) then only basic adjustments to the brightness, saturation and sharpness should be necessary, which are easy to go through either here or on MSN. One thing I will say is read the manual cover to cover, then read it again! Pay particular attention to learning the relationship between ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Understanding how the three work together will allow you to tell the camera exactly what you want it to do and help you get infinitely better results than you would in Auto.

That said, there’s no real ‘correct’ way to learn. If you’re happiest learning by fiddling (which is a good way to learn) then by all means do so, and pick up whatever tips and tricks you can from people along the way. If you want to get into it seriously then there really is a huge amount to know and it’s a very steep learning curve, but time spent learning will reward you in time with infinite amounts of enjoyment. Photography can be a very satisfying and enjoyable hobby, so I’m happy to see another forum member getting into it!

Feel free to drop me a PM if there’s anything I can help with. 🙂

Paul

Thanks for your advice Paul,

I have just re-watched the DVD which came with the camera giving you the basics of the functions and how to use it…. off to bed now with the manual! 😮

The PDF i got off a mate is pretty good, and picked up some tips…. (been playing with layers tonight) and i pick up things fast, (im an IT Infrastructure Developer so im used to reading manauls cover to cover… and then again!! )

Any questions i have.. i will drop you a PM..

Cheers

Rick

Hi Paul,

In regards to raw, as you say i did mean just straight out of the camera, however i have been playing with the camera on non auto modes were i can get “RAW” uncompressed files if i wish.

At the moment i am just shooting for my own enjoyment of aviation and at Motorsport events i go to. (more motorsport at the moment from WRC, GB Rallying, le Mans, Rally Cross ) but avaition as i have a keen interest in it also…… to be honest anything with an engine!!

I have had CS3 installed for a few weeks and been playing around with it, (got a 2000 page PDF document which is not light reading!)

My aim for the next few months is to understand how to use the camera to its full advantage and understand what does what and how it affects the photos etc..

I am very keen to “get into photography” as it is something I have always enjoyed, i have a few mates with DLSR’s who know their stuff (one is a professional wedding photographer).

i think the best route for me at the moment is to learn what i can in a trial and error method posting photo’s as i go along asking for advice..

Look out for my furture photos on here! 🙂

Cheers

Rick

Good stuff! Just a quick note on a few things though that may or may not help. You really shouldn’t need to do much to an image in Photoshop if you get it as right as you can in-camera; that means having a very in depth understanding of how your camera works and having the experience to know how to adjust settings according to the conditions you’re shooting in, which will take years, not months. This isn’t a bad thing though, because the plus side is you don’t actually need to understand every function of Photoshop to get very good results. If you start working your way through those 2000 pages it will probably put you off for life! Not only that, but you’ll be taking information in that you’re never realistically going to use when you could be concentrating on getting the fundamentals right. If you have a decent shot right out of the camera (assuming no special effects are required) then only basic adjustments to the brightness, saturation and sharpness should be necessary, which are easy to go through either here or on MSN. One thing I will say is read the manual cover to cover, then read it again! Pay particular attention to learning the relationship between ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Understanding how the three work together will allow you to tell the camera exactly what you want it to do and help you get infinitely better results than you would in Auto.

That said, there’s no real ‘correct’ way to learn. If you’re happiest learning by fiddling (which is a good way to learn) then by all means do so, and pick up whatever tips and tricks you can from people along the way. If you want to get into it seriously then there really is a huge amount to know and it’s a very steep learning curve, but time spent learning will reward you in time with infinite amounts of enjoyment. Photography can be a very satisfying and enjoyable hobby, so I’m happy to see another forum member getting into it!

Feel free to drop me a PM if there’s anything I can help with. 🙂

Paul

I think Rick means shooting ‘raw’ as in getting the images straight out of the camera rather than shooting RAW (uncompressed). Most DSLR’s won’t allow you to shoot RAW if using Auto anyway. 🙂

Paul

Hi Paul,

In regards to raw, as you say i did mean just straight out of the camera, however i have been playing with the camera on non auto modes were i can get “RAW” uncompressed files if i wish.

At the moment i am just shooting for my own enjoyment of aviation and at Motorsport events i go to. (more motorsport at the moment from WRC, GB Rallying, le Mans, Rally Cross ) but avaition as i have a keen interest in it also…… to be honest anything with an engine!!

I have had CS3 installed for a few weeks and been playing around with it, (got a 2000 page PDF document which is not light reading!)

My aim for the next few months is to understand how to use the camera to its full advantage and understand what does what and how it affects the photos etc..

I am very keen to “get into photography” as it is something I have always enjoyed, i have a few mates with DLSR’s who know their stuff (one is a professional wedding photographer).

i think the best route for me at the moment is to learn what i can in a trial and error method posting photo’s as i go along asking for advice..

Look out for my furture photos on here! 🙂

Cheers

Rick

I did spot that hence my edited posts 😀

You have to process after if you shoot in RAW, its basicly a digital negative with none (maybe minimal) in camera processing, so you have to tweek your image after with a raw converter (would have come on a cd with the camera) or PS or the like.

I think Rick means shooting ‘raw’ as in getting the images straight out of the camera rather than shooting RAW (uncompressed). Most DSLR’s won’t allow you to shoot RAW if using Auto anyway. 🙂

Paul

raw rather than editing after..

Rick

Nice pics by the way, if you are going to go in to Aviation photography a 300mm lens should be at the top of your shopping list. Also count yourself lucky haveing MAN as your local, mine is Stansted:D.

Nice pictures.

i am going to try to shot raw rather than editing after

Hi Rick,

Welcome to the wonderful world of the DSLR camera! May it bring you much happiness and enjoyment! 🙂

My first question before I can offer some advice is just how in depth are you planning on going with aviation photography? I ask because if you’re just wanting to shoot for your own enjoyment then the approach you mention above is absolutely fine, but if you’re looking to eventually upload to sites like Jetphotos then editing really is a necessity.

Is it something you’re wanting to seriously get into?

Paul

Nice shots, that weather sure did change throughout your time there. But that’s good old Manchester for you 🙂

Very refreshing to see shots straight out of the camera with a bit of room round the aircraft….nowadays everybody is cropping their photos far too tightly around the aircraft (with the zoom , then with photoshop)…its largely driven by the screeners at Airliners.net and other photosites in my opinion….you might find the gamma tool in microsoft photo editor handy for lightening the darker shots

Thanks for the advice, i have got CS3 installed now on the pc, but i am going to try to shot raw rather than editing after..

Looking forward to get more shots in this summer!

Rick

First time shots

Very refreshing to see shots straight out of the camera with a bit of room round the aircraft….nowadays everybody is cropping their photos far too tightly around the aircraft (with the zoom , then with photoshop)…its largely driven by the screeners at Airliners.net and other photosites in my opinion….you might find the gamma tool in microsoft photo editor handy for lightening the darker shots

Cheers for the advice..

Currently only using a max of 150mm.. but looking for a 300 shortly!

Rick

Aww cool, well posts some more shots soon to see how your getting on? (:

Another nice set. 😎

Very good attempts for the first time shooting with a DSLR.
I can’t say much as I am still in the compact/super zoom stages on camera’s.
But if you could try and zoom in a little more (If you have more zoom), They shots could look alot more cooler! (:

Best regards, Kriss.

Cheers for the advice..

Currently only using a max of 150mm.. but looking for a 300 shortly!

Rick

Very good attempts for the first time shooting with a DSLR.
I can’t say much as I am still in the compact/super zoom stages on camera’s.
But if you could try and zoom in a little more (If you have more zoom), They shots could look alot more cooler! (:

Best regards, Kriss.

And just a few others…..

Cheers

Rick

Nice work. 😎

Thanks for the kind words.

Rick

Nice work. 😎

more..

it got wetter…..

I have a few more which i may post..

Rick