Freeze the Helicopter

davespicsdavespics Registered Users Posts: 93 Big grins
edited February 1, 2009 in Technique
Hi,

I was at a local event this weekend where they brought in a helicopter. I had a 2.8 lens for the day and had no idea I would end up stopping the blades of the copter.

2960174564_6d5e4ff64c_b.jpg
My Site - www.davespics.com

Comments

  • pyrypyry Registered Users Posts: 1,733 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2008
    The blades are actually going round much slower than people tend to think. Bright glass in daylight will stop them easily, as you found out :D

    As for the picture, crop a slice off the left and top to put the helo off center and it'll look very nice thumb.gif
    Creativity's hard.

    http://pyryekholm.kuvat.fi/
  • digismiledigismile Registered Users Posts: 955 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2008
    This was a chopper flying overhead during a 4th of July parade. The blades are nearly stopped at 1/1500 of second. Your photo was 1/6400! No wonder it's sharp!

    5800635_NzLee-M.jpg
    Brad

    www.digismile.ca
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited October 21, 2008
    With almost any propeller-driven flying machine you must have your shutter speed in the vicinity of 1/80..1/125 of a second to get the prop blur. This usually works more or less ok for choppers and acrobatic planes, almost all biplanes and other slow flying crafts. Unfortunately it's a tough call for something like P-51 "Mustang" going full speed, since you'll get inevitable motion blur on the plane itself (try 1/250..1/400 in this case).
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • moose135moose135 Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2008
    It's a series of compromises to shoot prop aircraft or helicopters, trying to get acceptable prop blur while avoiding aircraft blur...that said, I don't generally go as slow as Nikolai suggested. I don't really want the props to disappear, but to have just enough blur to allow you to see the motion.

    1/100 (Yes, it's on the ground, but it was right at start up, with the prop turning very slowly)
    289881262_GRptB-L-2.jpg

    1/250
    303140501_PpnrU-L-1.jpg

    1/320
    369854989_t9dRW-L.jpg

    1/400
    302541291_Pqes4-L-1.jpg
    The Moose is Loose!
    http://www.moose135photography.com
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2008
    moose135 wrote:
    ... I don't generally go as slow as Nikolai suggested...
    ...yet your images prove my point to a a "tee" lol3.gif
    slow on civic planes and choppers, faster on fighters
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • TexPhotogTexPhotog Registered Users Posts: 187 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    I knew that if I searched about this the awesome DGrinners would show me the light... I'll be posting some Helicopter pics soon... although, they are static because I was shooting with a fast shutter...
    Miguel
    www.kabestudios.com
    I use a little bit of everything gear wise...
    Nikon/Canon/Sony/GoPro/Insta360º/Mavic 2 Pro
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    Frozen Helicopter
    Is this one frozen enough? rolleyes1.gif



    176751129_Le6VS-XL-1.jpg

    Z
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • NikolaiNikolai Registered Users Posts: 19,035 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    Zanotti wrote:
    Is this one frozen enough? rolleyes1.gif
    Z
    Is that how you roll? R35p3ct! thumb.gifmwink.gifrolleyes1.gif
    "May the f/stop be with you!"
  • Darren Troy CDarren Troy C Registered Users Posts: 1,927 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    Awesome image, Zanotti! thumb.gif
    http://DarrenTroyCphotography.com/
  • Ed911Ed911 Registered Users Posts: 1,306 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    Helicopter and ice
    Z

    That is a very nice shot...worthy of publication. I could see that in one of the photo mags.

    Thanks for sharing.
    Remember, no one may want you to take pictures, but they all want to see them.
    Educate yourself like you'll live forever and live like you'll die tomorrow.

    Ed
  • moose135moose135 Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    That's a super shot, Zanotti! thumb.gif
    The Moose is Loose!
    http://www.moose135photography.com
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    Moose, that is one sweet Mustang shot!clap.gif
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited December 28, 2008
    Doesn't look like Florida to me, George!
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • TexPhotogTexPhotog Registered Users Posts: 187 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2008
    Well... it's no "frozen" shot like above - AWESOME SHOT btw - but here are some shots of helicopters that I shot while on my way to the Grand Canyon

    Please tell me what you guys think... thank you!

    http://www.pmaphotovideo.com/gallery/6534242_5UHiz/6/429518473_QtpRm#P-7-15

    ps - sorry for the link, but for some reason, I'm unable to post the pics directly from this computer... I'll try to do that when I get home to make it easier :D
    Miguel
    www.kabestudios.com
    I use a little bit of everything gear wise...
    Nikon/Canon/Sony/GoPro/Insta360º/Mavic 2 Pro
  • scottVscottV Registered Users Posts: 354 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2008
    1/640
    418017014_fLnR6-M.jpg
    1/1250
    418026701_RFRDY-M.jpg
    http://scottvickers.smugmug.com
  • xtnomadxtnomad Registered Users Posts: 340 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2008
    You can pratice this at home with a box blade fan with the gaurd off( try this at your own risk). I learned this in a high school photo class to help with motion and time compared to shutter speed. If you want to take it to that level, number the blades with a markes alot and switch on high. Then for a given light start with a slow shutter speed and slowly increase the shutter speed to stop the action or to control the blur effect. I only wish that digital was around then so I did not have to wait for developing and prints. OOps i just dated my self! eek7.gif
    xtnomad :wink
  • PindyPindy Registered Users Posts: 1,089 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2008
    Most light aircraft propellers cap out around 2300 RPM before red-lining. I believe helos are more like 1400-1500 RPM.
  • BalloonaticBalloonatic Registered Users Posts: 2 Beginner grinner
    edited February 1, 2009
    Hey, I caught big brother! 1/640 :D
    DSC_0166.JPG
    1/800
    DSC_0172.JPG
    Just noticed, I thought this was the same Heli but look at the N number
    image0010.jpg
    This one I stopped the rotors and put them back in the box!rolleyes1.gif
    DSC_0489.JPG
  • moose135moose135 Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited February 1, 2009
    A couple of recent ones, shot in the aftermath of the US Airways crash, both at 1/250:
    456659016_sMeL4-L.jpg

    459810622_cWthv-L.jpg
    The Moose is Loose!
    http://www.moose135photography.com
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