USAF museum visit advice please.

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iainpeden
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USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

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.
Last edited by iainpeden on Sat 06 Aug 2022, 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Pen Pusher
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by Pen Pusher »

iainpeden wrote:
Sat 06 Aug 2022, 3:54 pm
Currently use a Canon 1000 with canon or tampon lenses
:astonished:
The Future Of Photography Is Mirrorless

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iainpeden
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

Blooming predictive text !🤫
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cg_341
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by cg_341 »

Went in 2005 and it was very, very dark. Also it takes much longer to get round than you think!

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iainpeden
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

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.😠
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Alpha Delta 210
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by Alpha Delta 210 »

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/

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iainpeden
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

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.

Post by HeyfordDave111 »

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.
Got to love Russianhardware

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iainpeden
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

Thanks HD, it’s been on my bucket list for a long time.
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by Blackbird »

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

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wallace
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by wallace »

Median Stack Method. Multiple shots (Continuous High shooting) at high ISO, can even be done hand-held and processed in photoshop.

Irish251
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by Irish251 »

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.

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iainpeden
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

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.
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Georgeconna
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by Georgeconna »

Cheers

George

Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.

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iainpeden
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by iainpeden »

Thanks George.
Can you persuade my wife that she won’t miss me for an extra night away?
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Georgeconna
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Re: USAF museum visit advice please.

Post by Georgeconna »

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.

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