Need advice to photograph the shuttle launch

kgarrett11 · September 5, 2006

I am going to the cape tomorrow to view the shuttle launch. I have a Nikon D200 and will be using an 80-400mm VR lens on a tripod. Can anyone give me advice about setting that I should be using to get the best pictures. I will be at 400mm for most of my shots. Any advice will be welcomed.

DJ-S1 · September 5, 2006

Well I'm jealous... make sure you post what you gfet, please!

bump for someone who might have a clue, cuz I don't.

wxwax · September 5, 2006

Cool. I hope the weather (and the shuttle foam) cooperate.

I've never tried to shoot a shuttle. Putting myself in your shoes, I guess I'd work to keep my shutter speed well above 1/500, maybe faster, to stop the motion.

And I'd expose for the shuttle itself, letting the other values fall where they might. And I'd shoot in RAW.

Shay Stephens · September 5, 2006

http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/shuttle/guide.txt

Photographing Shuttle Launches
==============================
The following link gives detailed information on shuttle launch photography

http://rescomp.stanford.edu/~stanj/Travel/STS-93/exposure.html

andreas@il.us.swissbank.com has some hints for photographers:

Get the longest lens available (e.g. rent one at Helix). I used a 300mm
shooting from Titusville and was still too far away to clearly see the
shuttle. However I could take beautiful shots of the engine's firetrail and
the smoke.

Put your camera into continuous shooting mode (unless you have a VERY high
speed camera like a Nikon), as the whole spectacle will be over within no
time. I shot about 1 roll of film (36 pictures) until the shuttle was gone
for good while almost constantly pressing the button.

Use a LOW speed film (ASA 50) as the light is so bright (Remember: NASA
launches only under good weather conditions), that even with a long tele lens
you still have enough light left for short exposure times (I had 1/1000 with
F 5.6 and a Kodachrome 64). That way making detail enlargements is also
easier, meaning less grainy.

Try to AVOID a tripod, as the shuttle moves "upwards to the right" (at least
from Titusville with the standard 28 degree inclination). You are more
flexible if you use a onepod or even better one of those professional
harnesses, that you wear like a jacket and that support your long lens (like
a tripod attached to your upper body).

During the night before the launch you can see (at least sometimes) a search
light illuminating the launch pad. With a tripod and a very long exposure
time (> 20 sec's on Kodachrome 64) you'll get nice pictures as well. Make
several shots with different times according to general night time
photography rules.

A final hint for the early-birds: I was lucky enough to see the big and red
glowing sun rising exactly behind the VAB (from the US1 in Titusville). An
incredible view, that didn't even require a tripod.

Jim Blackwell (hrsblackwell@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov) and Todd L. Sherman
(afn09444@afn.org) has these hints:

I can also say something about photographing night launches. Basically, for
STS-61 and STS-67 I used 1000 ASA film and shot at 1/1000 th of a second at
F/8. For STS-61 I was at the VIP site at 5.3 km and used a 70-210 mm zoom at
the 210mm setting. For STS-67, I was at the NASA Causeway (about 10 km I
think) using a 500 mm f/8 lens. Got great shots in both instances. I used
Kodak Royal Gold (used to be Ektar) 1000 ASA film. I would also advise anyone
to remove any filters they may have on their lenses as they can get nasty
internal reflections and that a good, sturdy, well-built tripod is a must,
especially with the 500 mm. Even footsteps from other persons nearby can be
amplified by the tripod if it's not a good one. I also used a cable release
and a motor winder on the camera.

Todd L. Sherman (afn09444@afn.org) has these hints on doing time exposures
of night launchers from afar:

I can tell you that you should give yourself say a half hour ahead of the
launch to get yourself set up and ready, with camera pointing in the
direction the shuttle is expected to come up above the horizon. Make sure the
camera is on a good, sturdy (as sturdy as possible) tripod, and make sure
you're as far away from other people as possible because even thier walking
around can cause vibrations that the tripod can pick up and exaggerate.

Set the shutter speed dial on ulb and connect a length of cable release to
the button. When you see the first hint of glow rising, open the shutter and
hold it open with a cable release until the SRBs burn out, then close the
shutter. You now have a time exposure of the launch. What you should see upon
developing is a long, bright trail starting at the horizon and curving
upwards into the sky as the shuttle rises. You'll also get some minor
trailing of the stars. Make sure your position is as dark as possible with no
nearby city lights in the direction the camera will be looking or you will
get some sky "fog" which may ruin the shot. If it's partly cloudy, try taking
the shot anyway. You never know what might happen. There may be breaks in the
clouds through which the SRB contrail may show through, providing an
interesting shot, still.

Don't forget to put your photo up on the web! Then tell us where to find the
photos in one or more of the space-related newsgroups, so that we can all
`ooh and aww' at them! You'll also want to tell us how you made the shot...
film speed, aperture setting, shutter speed, lens size, camera used, sky
conditions, and direction of light.

Most-likely, from your own city's location, you won't be able to see any
detail of the shuttle or it's outline (especially here in Gainesville, 145 km
away from KSC). You'd need a telescope for that and, besides... you'll be too
busy concentrating on your exposure to have a look.

If you have any filters on your camera, though...take them off for a
nighttime shot. These things only happen once in a long while, and you're
only going to get one try (unless you're gifted with a large budget and can
afford an arsenal of other cameras). You don't want the chance of internal
glare or reflections ruining your shot.

And chain little Jimmy to a stake permanently out of your camera's field of
view. You don't want him jumping or standing in front of the camera and
ruining the shot, either.

ginger_55 · September 5, 2006

even better one of those professional
harnesses, that you wear like a jacket and that support your long lens (like
a tripod attached to your upper body).

___________________________________

Where are they available????

Do they help with "carrying camera and lens fatique""?

ginger

Oh, anyone shooting the shuttle, or anything else: enjoy!

kgarrett11 · September 5, 2006

Thanks to all
I really appreciate all of the advice. I live in Jacksonville and I hadn't even thought of going down tonight and trying to get some pictures of it sitting on the pad. I also didn't consider taking my UV filter off of my lens during the shot.
I'm going to have to search the web when I get home from work to see if I can get a room relatively close. A couple of people here at work have suggested that I go to Jetty park on route 528 for the launch.

DJ-S1 · September 6, 2006

You've got a few more days to plan - the launch has been put off until Friday at the earliest.

kgarrett11 · September 10, 2006

DJ-S1 wrote:

You've got a few more days to plan - the launch has been put off until Friday at the earliest.

I went down on Friday and waited but it got scrubbed. I went back down on Saturday and it finally went up. Some of the results are posted on Field&Streets.

gavelbanger · October 17, 2006

Did you use a tripod with the 80-400 VR?
I will be going to the 12/7/06 night launch of the shuttle. I will have a D70 with a 80-400 VR with me. Did you get the correct settings? Any advice? Did you use a tripod and if not how did it work out. In advance, thanks.

BPCooper · October 30, 2006

gavelbanger wrote:

I will be going to the 12/7/06 night launch of the shuttle. I will have a D70 with a 80-400 VR with me. Did you get the correct settings? Any advice? Did you use a tripod and if not how did it work out. In advance, thanks.

I've PMed you. If you have any more questions on this subject feel free to ask.

I would not entireley agree with the referenced website's suggestions, but some of it is good advice.

-Ben

http://www.LaunchPhotography.com

Need advice to photograph the shuttle launch

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