Tail Lights and Night Shots

[Tony G]

I was at the terminal last night trying to get some shots while the sun was just about set and the strobes on the Aircraft become more distinct. ( i then dicovered a tripod would be best:rolleyes:), most shots come out really blurry and grainy, any tips anyone). This is an example of the shots i was trying to get.

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/IMG_6909.jpg

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/IMG_6896.jpg

http://i486.photobucket.com/albums/rr222/DAplane/DAplane.jpg



A question i would like to know is, are all airliners fitted with lights to display the tail sceme? If so do some decide to use it and some dont? I believe they are located on top of the Horizontal stab. If you can add any tips for night photography that would be great. Thanks.

[NickN]

Have you tried running your shots through any 3rd party noise reduction software?

And what ISO etc are you using?

A tripod with a longer exposure and low ISO on stationary aircraft will be your best avenue I would say. Shooting moving aircraft in that low light will always be a challenge.

[Erik H. Bakke]

Alternatively, if the conditions and what you want to photograph dictates the use of a high ISO setting because of movement, then use the lowest ISO setting that still eliminates motion blur sufficiently to achieve your goal.

Then sacrifice resolution for noise reduction by downscaling the resulting image. Naturally, this would work better the higher difference between your camera resolution and the resolution of the end result.

However, this technique tends to give quite the same dynamic and colour vibrancy as you would get when photographing a still subject. With experience, you can correct some of this through image processing.

[Daniel G]

I can't speak for other types, but in the Dash logo lights are generally on below 10,000ft at night.

[Mark D]

A question i would like to know is, are all airliners fitted with lights to display the tail sceme? If so do some decide to use it and some dont?

As mentioned above, they're usually referred to as logo lights.

Not sure how they decide to turn them on or off, I remember an OLD story when QFA & Ansett used to operate into YSSY, some Ansett aircraft at the time (early A320 ops?) didn't have logo lights. If it was late at night and a noise sensitive area some crews on the other airline would intentionally turn off the logo lights so others would get the blame :-) No idea if true but a good story.

[Tony G]

These are the sort of shots I would like to start taking. I believe the A380 is taking by a board member. Really nice shot.


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Malaysia-Airlines/Boeing-747-4H6/1408679/M/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Qantas/Airbus-A380-842/1407662&tbl=DARK&photo_nr=27&sok=&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=1407687&next_id=1407604

http://www.airliners.net/photo/TAM/Airbus-A320-214/1400627&tbl=DARK&photo_nr=129&sok=&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=1400664&next_id=1400589

[Brenden S]

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6321669
The shot of the 717 shows the logo lights are on the wing tips like which are also installed on a 737-300/400/500 (6/7/8/9 are on the hori stab)

Not all aircraft have them fitted, it is a optional extra. Most have them fitted in the horizontal stab.

Shots like these ones were 30 Second exposures at 100 iso f2.8 to f8
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6133028
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6061973

Then you can do a shot like this.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=292188

And these are from the viewing deck at the intl I think these were 10 second exposures af f5.6 for the light as there is bugger all there at the holding point.
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=236151
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=236143

All the shots were using a tripod of some sort, rubbish bin, ladder, ground, pens, ID cards, phones...... Anything I have on hand at the time....

[NickN]

I would say those shots were taken at very high ISO then run through something like Noise Ninja to flatten them out.

[Andrew McLaughlin]

I would say those shots were taken at very high ISO then run through something like Noise Ninja to flatten them out.

Actually, if I'm taking a long exposure (5+ secs) I take them at a very low ISO (i.e. 100), as the exposure time will give me sufficient light. I would only use a higher ISO for moving aircraft or for short exposures of less than a couple of seconds.

e.g. I took this 10 sec exposure at 100ISO last week.
http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p402/Magoodotcom/IMG_0227_2.jpg

[NickN]

Sorry Andrew I should have made my point clearer, for moving aircraft the ISO would have to be jacked up obviously. I personally like using 100 ISO and focusing on stationary aircraft for the reasons you stated.

[Stephen Brown]

That shot taken from the Penthouse Andrew???

[Tony G]

Thanks for all the info Getlemen... I will take some advice on board and give it a go. I am also going to do a night course for a few weeks at a local high school and pick up some tips. Nice photos Brendan and Andrew.

One last question. From what i have gathered, it is almost impossible to take a night shot of a moving aircraft/object with a light trail behind it?

[Andrew McLaughlin]

That shot taken from the Penthouse Andrew???

Nah - just the 35th floor. Geez it was high up...:eek:

[Brenden S]

Tony, its not impossible, just tricky. Use a high ISO (3200 +) and a low shutter speed, and very good steady panning. With camera technology coming along rather well I am sure we will see a vast improvement in images at low light, ie Canon 5D mk II

Examples
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6203214
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6107061
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5674203
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=515151
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=515253
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=278419
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=43533

[Tony G]

Cool shots. Thanks for the effort of posting them on Brenden.

[Brenden S]

Only took me 30 mins to go through 16 or so pages.... of 1400 images

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

Only took me 30 mins to go through 16 or so pages.... of 1400 images


Plenty of time no doubt :P

[Nathan Long]

Only took me 30 mins to go through 16 or so pages.... of 1400 images

Shouldn't you be studying? ;)

[Brenden S]

Yes, only 3 CASA engineering exams.... I better study before I get booted off the course....