USAF museum visit advice please.
USAF museum visit advice please.
6 weeks from now I’ll be at the USAF museum at Dayton (God and Aer Lingus willing).
I have heard that the lighting is very low level and would like advice from anybody - either previous visitors or those experienced in low light photography. I hope to be allowed to take my monopod in.
Currently use a Canon 1000 with canon or tamron lenses and/or a Fuji finepix 9600 which gave good results a few years ago at Udvar-hadzy.
I have heard that the lighting is very low level and would like advice from anybody - either previous visitors or those experienced in low light photography. I hope to be allowed to take my monopod in.
Currently use a Canon 1000 with canon or tamron lenses and/or a Fuji finepix 9600 which gave good results a few years ago at Udvar-hadzy.
Last edited by iainpeden on Sat 06 Aug 2022, 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
(Mark Twain: There are lies, there are damn lies and then there are statistics)
- Pen Pusher
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Blooming predictive text !
(Mark Twain: There are lies, there are damn lies and then there are statistics)
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Went in 2005 and it was very, very dark. Also it takes much longer to get round than you think!
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
I have been on-line chatting with a former USAF Test pilot (bit of name dropping there) who lives in Dayton who also said it was quite dark in places so I reckon a bit of practice before I go.
I have got two full days there but have managed to arrange it for the same weekend as the annual USAF marathon run at Wright-Patterson AFB next door.
I have got two full days there but have managed to arrange it for the same weekend as the annual USAF marathon run at Wright-Patterson AFB next door.
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- Alpha Delta 210
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
I also visited in 2005 and was able to use the hotel airport shuttle bus for my three days at the museum. I was quite new to digital photography and struggled with the very low light levels in some of the halls. I might have to re-visit my images to see if I can improve them with the benefit of a few more years experience!
In the Museum FAQs, it says "Bring a tripod if possible ".
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Questions/
In the Museum FAQs, it says "Bring a tripod if possible ".
https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Questions/
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Thanks to CG and alpha delta ( and Brian for being a better proof reader than me).
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- HeyfordDave111
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Yup, tripod is a must, plan your 'must have' shots as i found a decently low iso, F8 will give a 30 seconds or so exposure.
Also schools.... the museum on a week day goes quiet (ish) around midday - 1pm as all the school trips tend to go home then, leaving much more time between peeps in the hangars.
If you have one a remote cable could be handy too.
Any pics you take will have a yellow 'hue' to them but this can be eaily corrected in Post.
I'd be tempted to start in the presidential hangar., then the furthest aircraft hangar of the main complex, taking in the B36 etc, then i to the WW2/50's hangar for BocksCar etc.
Lastly, look for new angles, not just 3/4 on shots as you can find them and they are nicely interesting.
Have fun, i've been 4 times and still want to go again.
Also schools.... the museum on a week day goes quiet (ish) around midday - 1pm as all the school trips tend to go home then, leaving much more time between peeps in the hangars.
If you have one a remote cable could be handy too.
Any pics you take will have a yellow 'hue' to them but this can be eaily corrected in Post.
I'd be tempted to start in the presidential hangar., then the furthest aircraft hangar of the main complex, taking in the B36 etc, then i to the WW2/50's hangar for BocksCar etc.
Lastly, look for new angles, not just 3/4 on shots as you can find them and they are nicely interesting.
Have fun, i've been 4 times and still want to go again.
Got to love Russianhardware
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Thanks HD, it’s been on my bucket list for a long time.
(Mark Twain: There are lies, there are damn lies and then there are statistics)
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
I went in 2015. I spent a whole day, well from opening at 9.00 til 4.00 when I couldn't walk any further then from 9-12.30 the following day.
All I did was take a photo, move on to the next item, take a photo - repeat! I didn't really have a chance to spend any time on any particular item. Oh, and the Presidential hangar was closed as they were building another exhibition hall because 1 million square feet of space wasn't enough!! As a result I didn't see the B-70
Yes, the lighting is "subdued" and in spite of the 1m sq ft, exhibits can be close together adding to the difficulty. I didn't take a tripod, but I remember putting my compact on the end of a selfie stick (which I haven't found since) and that gave a few decent results. It is a bit hit and miss but with some practice can be quite effective.
Have a great time. It is a fantastic museum.
Andy
All I did was take a photo, move on to the next item, take a photo - repeat! I didn't really have a chance to spend any time on any particular item. Oh, and the Presidential hangar was closed as they were building another exhibition hall because 1 million square feet of space wasn't enough!! As a result I didn't see the B-70
Yes, the lighting is "subdued" and in spite of the 1m sq ft, exhibits can be close together adding to the difficulty. I didn't take a tripod, but I remember putting my compact on the end of a selfie stick (which I haven't found since) and that gave a few decent results. It is a bit hit and miss but with some practice can be quite effective.
Have a great time. It is a fantastic museum.
Andy
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Median Stack Method. Multiple shots (Continuous High shooting) at high ISO, can even be done hand-held and processed in photoshop.
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
You may also find that in some areas you can balance the camera on a display cabinet or rail for stability but I would recommend a tripod if possible. When I was there ten or so years ago, I didn't realise till I got there how dark it would be in some areas. That said, it is the best aviation museum I have been to and it would be worth spending more than just one day if you can manage it.
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Thanks, Irish. I do have a monopod that I’ll be using. I have two full days there.
I’m there more for the experience of the museum and ticking off some “new” types.
I’m there more for the experience of the museum and ticking off some “new” types.
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Don't forget the Wright Brothers Museum
https://www.daytonhistory.org/visit/thi ... al-museum/
https://www.daytoncvb.com/things-to-do/ ... -memorial/
https://www.nps.gov/daav/index.htm
https://www.daytonhistory.org/visit/thi ... al-museum/
https://www.daytoncvb.com/things-to-do/ ... -memorial/
https://www.nps.gov/daav/index.htm
Cheers
George
Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.
George
Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.
Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
Thanks George.
Can you persuade my wife that she won’t miss me for an extra night away?
Can you persuade my wife that she won’t miss me for an extra night away?
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.
I went before I was Married!! Won a trip with Aer Lingus to NY, Went all over the States with my Dad including Dayton and Pima, AMARC, Rhinebeck, Smithsonian. Unreal Trip I will never forget.
Cheers
George
Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.
George
Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.