Gear & Settings

AIM • FRAME • CLICK™

Great aviation photography begins before the aircraft enters the frame. Know what every piece of equipment contributes to the photograph you intend to make.

Build the working kit

Choose the body, lens and support equipment for the assignment rather than carrying gear without a purpose.

Camera body and charged batteries
Lens choice matched to distance and access
Clean media cards with enough capacity
Tripod, monopod or handheld strategy

Set for the moment

Aircraft do not wait while settings are rebuilt from scratch. Establish a dependable starting point, then adapt to the light and motion.

Shutter: decide whether motion is frozen or shown
Aperture: control depth and lens performance
ISO: raise only as the scene demands
AF: continuous tracking for moving aircraft

Purpose

Decide what the photograph needs to communicate.

Configure

Prepare the camera before the action arrives.

Verify

Check exposure, focus behavior, battery and card status.