Digital Camera settings

[MechFx]

Hi all,I've just bought a new digital camera so I can hopefully take better pictures for the Gyro News magazine.I've seen a lot of great flying photos and I'm wondering if there are any general rules for a good picture? ground-air and air-air.??????? Shutter/Aperture/ISO ???????I've tried to find a book on Sports photography without success, most books only have a couple of pages on this topic. Any suggestions ?cheers,Art SpinkGyroNews Editor

[asra]

Art, you should have an automatic exposure function on your camer. You will find that is all you will need except for moving objects whereby there you would use the sport function which increases the shutter speed and vertually freezes a turning propeller.I will post one I took as an example.I used the auto and the sport function, the quality on the web is not that good but the picture was on the Summer 2004 back page.logic will get you from A to B - imagination will take you anywhere

[asra]

Barry I would have to differ that it virtually freezes a propellor after looking at your example. I do get your message though and must admit I have never tried to shoot fast moving items on auto that way. Always gone manual. Must be a throwback from the slr days but will try it out this weekend.Pete

[MechFx]

Thanks for the replies.Will try them out this weekend.Art SpinkGyroNews Editor

[Tim]

That photo of Barry's is a good example of the quality you can still get while keeping the size under 90KB for forum use.Tim McClure

[asra]

Hi ArtI use a Canon 300D digital SLR for air to air/ground photos, I usually have it on aperture priority and try to keep the speed setting above 500ths/sec to combat rotor/ engine vibrations. by altering the aperture, its not too fiddly to do this in flight. This year I'm setting up a helmet mounted bullet camera connected to a small video recorder so I can film the whole flight. I'm looking forward to seeing how it works.Kev

[MechFx]

Hi Kevin, thanks for that,I've been practising with encouraging results.Haven't tried any Air - Air stuff yet, soon I hope.I'll be over your way next month, I've been looking for gyro-related things to do..Any suggestions ? Its seems a bit early in the year for Fly-ins and air shows.cheersArtArt SpinkGyroNews EditorWyangala/Maroubra NSW

[asra]

Hi ArtIf you are near North Wales drop in and visit us, accomodation could be arranged, the scenery up here is stunning, although at the moment my gyro (single seater) is the only one flying up here, my friend Andy Kitson's machine is up at Kirkbride near Carlisle.You should definitely visit Kirkbride, where Roger Savage is based and Chris Jones is instructing, there are over twenty gyros based there. I am sure a flight could be arranged. There is some nice scenery to fly over. Flights along Hadrians Wall or through the Lake District are nice.Another gyro centre is St Merryn in Cornwall, although I have never visited it. And Henstridge in Somerset which also has about twenty gyros based there, Tony Melody is the instructor I believe. Hope to see you then Art.Kev

[asra]

Art, we are having fly-in Victoria on the March long weekend 11th-12th and 13th, at Phillip Island in Victoria which you should attend. It is held at the Phillip Island Airport which is a privately run, and one of best venues you could ever hope to use. They don't mind us camping there and Don Cowling lives only a 5 minute walk from the airport so the gyro hospitality will be sensational. We have had gyro weekends before there and the amount of public that we attract as they pass by on the main Phillip Island Road to Cowes has got to be seen to be believed. It is only a five minute fly over to the famous Phillip Island track which you can circumnavigate by air and the scenery around many parts of the Island is unparalleled with Seal Rocks, the Penguin Parage Beach and the many beautiful ocean cliff sites. Great place for taking pictures and there should be the majority of the Victorian boys attending. In fact I will start up a new topic on the forum to publicise it.PeteBairnsdale,Vic.

[MechFx]

Might just do that Pete,I've put together a notice in the next Gyro News for the event. hopefully we can get the magazine out before that.. Fingers crossed as It's cutting it a bit fine.kevin, I flew with Roger savage on my last visit so I'll be visiting Kirkbride again this time, and have been in touch with the Cornwall bunch. Will definately contact you closer to the date.cheersArtArt SpinkGyroNews EditorWyangala/Maroubra NSW