Life & Style | People
How to take good plane pictures
With the bi-annual Dubai Air Show on in full swing, Tabloid interviews freelance aviation photojournalist Paul Merritt who recently moved to Dubai from Australia.
- Published: 00:00 November 22, 2005
Looking through the lens of a freelance photographer.
With the bi-annual Dubai Air Show on in full swing, Tabloid interviews freelance aviation photojournalist Paul Merritt who recently moved to Dubai from Australia.
 Paul Merritt in a F/A18 Hornet en route Kay West |
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Welcome to Dubai. What brings you here? Is aviation photography your full-time profession?
Thank you. I think there are only a few people in the world who can honestly boast of making a success of a full-time career in aviation photojournalism. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. I've come to Dubai at the invitation of Emirates airline as a Crew Scheduling Superintendent in their National Control Centre at Dubai airport. As a team leader, I apply my 30 years experience in crew scheduling to effectively manage some 8,000 flight crew on a day-to-day basis. Over the years, aviation photography has developed from a hobby to a passion.
How, where and when did it all started?
Well, I was born in the UK on the 17th of December (year withheld!) and those interested in aviation will recognise that on that historic date in 1903, Orville Wright flew the first heavier than air powered flying machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. So I guess I was destined to become interested in aviation.
Also, my grandparents bought me a book on aircraft for my 10th birthday so the aviation bug began very early on. My father was a keen amateur photographer and encouraged me in photography at an early age by buying me an ultra basic box brownie circa 1960 or thereabouts. Not much happened during my school years apart from joining the Air Training Corps. It was about that time (mid-teens) that I became interested in photography again and began heading off to air shows with my latest camera in my backpack.
So when did you start taking high quality material like we see today?
I got deeper into photography after emigrating to Australia in 1971. On joining the workforce, I could afford to purchase more adequate camera gear. At the same time, I started travelling to some of the world's greatest air shows. And I ended up with a wonderful collection of great aviation images which begged to be published. Thankfully, my talents were recognised and this enabled me over the years to arrange some amazing photographic opportunities.
You must have met interesting people?
I have been extremely fortunate to have met Douglas Bader, Johnnie Johnson and Stamford Tuck ? all Second Word War fighter pilot heroes and now deceased. Chuck Yeager who was the first pilot to break the sound barrier and various astronauts such as Jim Lovell who was the commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13.
Tell me about some of your experiences. Any close calls?
About six years ago, I was invited by the US Navy to do some air-to-air photography of a F/A18 Hornet fighter/attack aircraft from the backseat of another Hornet. My pilot Capt John Leenhouts happened to be the world record holder for carrier landings (traps), some 1,600 plus which is a record unlikely to be beaten.
Another occasion was in Dubai four years ago where I flew in formation with the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, The Red Arrows, during their dress rehearsal/ flying committee qualification flight followed by a fly by of the Burj Al Arab ? both experiences were incredible!
With regard to close calls, I remember one occasion when I was offered a quick circuit in the back seat of a Yak trainer at the Abbotsford air show a few years ago for the purpose of taking a few air to ground images of the show. Although rushed, everything went according to plan until touchdown where my pilot, whose father owned and flew a Spitfire and whose brother flew in the Snowbirds, the Canadian Air Force aerobatic team, forgot to select undercarriage down! Luckily, being a training aircraft, the wheels do not completely retract so the only major damage was to the propeller and the pilot's reputation!
Surely it must be difficult to operate a camera correctly when in unusual situations such as pulling G. What's your technique?
To begin with, situational awareness is critical. You really have to concentrate on what is happening around you especially in the confines of a fast jet cockpit. If things were to go wrong, they do so very quickly! You need to be able to remain calm and prepare your body using various techniques for the crushing effect of gravitational forces (Gs).
In the F/A18, I wore a G-suit (speed jeans) and we experienced positive 6G on a few occasions. With the Red Arrows, there was no G-suit to be worn and I was subjected to positive 3.5G to 4.5G most of the time with occasional negative 2G and a crushing positive 7G on the break for landing. It becomes impossible to take photographs during high G manoeuvres as a 1.5-kg camera becomes a 10.5-kg weapon at 7G!
What camera gear do you use?
My photographic arsenal consists of Canon professional camera bodies and lenses. I switched from film to digital some years ago and now have an EOS 1D Mark 2 body (digital) and an EOS 1V body (film). My lenses are all 2.8L and range from 17mm up to 300mm.
Thanks for your interesting insight into the world of aviation photojournalism. Are you attending the Dubai Air Show? And what about the future?
Absolutely! I am looking forward to expanding my aviation photography while in Dubai and taking advantage of the mainly sunny skies. In addition, the major air shows in Europe are now only seven hours away!
Tabloid's top 10 tips
If you have an interest in photography the Dubai Air Show is a perfect opportunity to try out your skills. Before you grab your camera, take a look at Tabloid's top 10 plane photography tips:
Va va zoom
It sounds obvious but planes are normally a long way away ? often thousands of metres above your head. So a good zoom lens is an essential accessory.
Speed up
Adjust the settings on your camera to give a faster shutter speed. This will prevent shaking hands blurring your pictures.
Coming down or going up
It is always easier to capture a plane during landing than take off. The plane is slowing down rather than accelerating so it will be easier to frame.
Taxi!
Although the results may not be quite as exciting, photographing a plane on the ground is much easier. You will be able to get closer while a plane is taxiing for take-off and it will also be moving much slower.
Location, location, location
Being in the right place at the right time is the biggest challenge. Before taking your photographs, scout around for the best places to stand ? the ones that will give you the greatest view of your subject.
Be specific
Try not to make all of your photographs look the same. Capture different parts of the plane
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