Lessons Learned - Coolidge Night Shoot (aka the IAR AAR).

[jslugman]

For low-level laying on the ramp shots Canon's Angle Finder C would have been the thing to have (mine in a box on a ship). This allows you to kneel and compose your image rather than lying on the ramp like its face down Tuesday.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/183200-REG/Canon_2882A001_Angle_Finder_C.html

[Joe Copalman]

Whoa surprisingly high price point for a tiny little elbow-shaped tube with a mirror in it.  Was considering getting one of these, but couldn't imagine they'd be more than $60-$70.

EDIT: Looks like there are a few "budget" alternatives that are much more reasonably priced, though loose fit seems to be a common theme in most of the reviews. 

[trmphoto]

I also would have moved the lights so that the aircraft was evenly lit on both sides, and would have shot it closer to dusk for more color in the background.  Again, one to grow on. 

It would be nice to have a third light aiming at the tail section to fill in some of those deep shadows when shooting from the side, but I'm not sure how feasible that would be (the light might need to be higher off of the ground than the other lights?).  Next time I'll bring some extra extension cords, arrive early, and see if something can be rigged up.

[Joe Copalman]

Right there with you Tom.  A little later in the evening I repositioned to wear the wing was covering its own shadow on the tail.  It was still a good angle, but I definitely think that a third light would have been a good thing, perhaps just outboard and aft of the fuel tank, pointed up and diagonally toward the tail.