TOP GUN

Pro aviation photographer Philip Stevens teams up with an enthusiast who shares his love of planes for a day of shooting fast jets at the RAF Valley training base on Anglesey, off the north-west coast of Wales

PRO PHILIP STEVENS

Aviation buff Philip has been photographing military aircraft for the past 45 years. Keen to get airside access, he started writing articles and providing photographs for aviation publications back in the 1980s. As well as selling images through stock libraries, Philip has written a book, Thunder Through the Valleys, about low-level aviation photography, https://bit.ly/47xJkac

APPRENTICE STEVE WHITTAKER 

Steve, 53. lives in North Wales, and is a regular visitor to nearby Snowdonia, where he shoots planes flying in the 'Mach Loop' lowlevel training area for military aircraft. He uses a Canon EOS 5D Mk III with a selection of topend Sigma and Canon L-series lenses, and wants some professional help to improve his aviation shots.

TECHNIQUE ASSESSMENT

Philip checked Steve's camera settings to ensure he was cleared for take off...

THE NEED FOR SPEED

"Steve was using Aperture Priority mode with a wide f/2.8 aperture, but to freeze fast jets you'll need a shutter speed of at least 1/800 sec - or the ability to slow it right down for panning." says Philip. "I suggested he switch to Shutter Priority mode to give him complete control over shutter speed, then increase the ISO to achieve a midrange aperture of f/8-11 to give enough depth of field to have the entire plane in focus."

A QUESTION OF FOCUS 

"Steve had correctly selected Al Servo AF and High-speed Continuous shooting mode, but had done so in conjunction with a single AF point, positioned where he wanted the plane to be in the frame," says Philip. "I advised him to stick to the central AF point, as it's the most accurate, and also activate the surrounding eight points; that way, if a plane strays from the central point a neighbouring point should still lock on."