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Aviation photography

Aviation photography: plane spotting at the Toronto Lester B. Pearson international airport (CYYZ)

Air Canada Airbus A330-343 C-GHLM in Toronto 2016
Air Canada Airbus A330-343 C-GHLM in Toronto 2016

Here is some information aimed at helping tourists visiting Toronto, who like photography and aviation, and would think of booking one day during their visit to head to the Toronto Lester B. Pearson international airport (CYYZ) for a plane spotting photo session.

Initial planning

If you can, get a scanner or download an app on your cell phone to get real time information on air traffic around the airport: you will then know in advance the type and nationality of inbound or departing aircrafts.

http://www.torontopearson.com/app/#

Search for websites giving you access to Toronto airport VHF frequencies and program your scanner if you decided to get one.

http://www.canairradio.com/yyz.html

Have a look at different plane spotting websites for the Toronto airport: there are many precious advices from experienced plane spotters that will prove useful in heading to the best spots and avoiding common mistakes. I used the two links below:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zdHrYLKKTr6s.kVyJADEEDD94&hl=en_US

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zoK-gCuBpw20.kihycrsJLTH8&hl=en

Print two or three maps of secondary routes around the airport so that you can orient yourself when there is a change in runway use due to different winds or if you use a taxi ride to move around the airport: the driver will always ask you details on how to get there since those secondary routes are not a common destination for him (and chances are that he will not know where to go if you ask him to head to threshold of runway 05. Basically, he needs road names, not runway numbers).

Cessna 560XL S5-BAV Toronto 2016
Cessna 560XL S5-BAV Toronto 2016
British Airways Boeing 777-236 G-ZZZA in Toronto 2016
British Airways Boeing 777-236 G-ZZZA in Toronto 2016

Before leaving your Toronto hotel

Before you leave the hotel, look at the Toronto weather forecast, among them the TAF, to know the wind pattern for the day. The Nav Canada site has everything you need to know and there is a possibility to choose between coded or plain aviation language.

https://flightplanning.navcanada.ca

The Environment Canada site is also very useful:

https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/on-143_metric_e.html

Don’t forget to bring many snacks as well as a bottle of water since you will possibly be at a good distance from a restaurant for many hours, depending on which runway is in use. The same goes for additional batteries and memory cards for the camera.

Don’t forget the scanner, the cell phone (to call a taxi driver or get access to the arrivals and departures information) and all the photo equipment needed, as well as an abnormally high number of clothing layers necessary in case of winter photography: eight hours almost immobile outside in February calls for an appropriate preparation if you want to appreciate your experience. If you economize on clothing, it is certain that you will have to shorten your photography session.

I chose February for its very interesting light and not for its temperature! Most of the shots in this article were taken in only one day at the Toronto airport, between 10h30am and 18h30.

American Airlines MD-82 N482AA final 05 Toronto 2016
American Airlines MD-82 N482AA final 05 Toronto 2016

From the hotel to the airport

If you chose to stay at a downtown hotel in Toronto, the best way to get to the Toronto international airport is to use the UP Express train, from the Union Station on Front Street. Its use is very simple and departures are made every fifteen minutes. In February 2016, the cost was CDN $44.00 for a return trip to the airport, while a taxi ride cost $130.00.

UP Express Toronto 2016
UP Express Toronto 2016

The UP Express ride only takes 25 minutes and the train stops at Terminal 1.

It is preferable to avoid using your car around the Toronto international airport since some secondary roads are private and no stopping is allowed. You will take more time to look for police than to enjoy your plane spotting photography session.

Once you are at Terminal 1

Once you exit the UP Express at Terminal 1, get your scanner and monitor the ATIS frequency (120.825) to get the latest information on the runways in use for take offs and landings. For my photo session, the ATIS announced that runway 05 and 06L were in use, both for arrivals and departures. I took a taxi, showed the map with secondary roads to the driver and within few minutes I was where I needed to be and started the photo session.

Air Transat Airbus A-330 C-GTSN Toronto 2016
Air Transat Airbus A-330 C-GTSN Toronto 2016

A preliminary internet search allowed to discover that heavies mostly arrive from Europe during the afternoon et that runway 05/23 is favored for Emirates Airline Airbus A-380 arrival. I thus decided to position myself near runway 05 instead of 06L.

There are two or three quite isolated spots around the airport that provide interesting point of views for aircraft photos but that can present security problems for a photographer working alone with expensive equipment. Experienced plane spotters suggest that you should be accompanied by friends if you decide to opt for those spots (see the “plane spotting” internet sites suggested at the beginning of this article).

Emirates A-380 final for Toronto (CYYZ)
Emirates A-380 final for Toronto (CYYZ)
Emirates A-380 on final for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016
Emirates A-380 on final for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016
Emirates A-380 on final 05 for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016
Emirates A-380 on final 05 for Toronto (CYYZ) 2016

Technical advices

For precise photos of aircrafts in movement, I use the following parameters with my Canon 5D MKII camera:

1. Only the central AF Point of the auto focus system is selected and not the surrounding ones in order to avoid that the camera sets the focus on other objects than what I desire (trees, ILS structure, buildings).

2. The AI Servo setting is more efficient than the AI Focus or One Shot. The aircraft will be followed precisely.

3. If I want to include surrounding objects in the photo, I adjust the aperture to 7.1 or 8, instead of 11 or 13. I thus avoid increasing the ISO too much, which would affect the picture’s quality if it has to be enlarged with Photoshop.

Westjet Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSV Disneyland Livery in Toronto 2016
Westjet Boeing 737-8CT C-GWSV Disneyland Livery in Toronto 2016

4. To take pictures of an approaching propeller powered aircraft, a speed adjusted to 1/125 is generally adequate. You must pivot according to the aircraft movement so that it looks like it is immobile in your viewfinder. The picture is easier to take when the aircraft is farther away but becomes more of a challenge when it gets closer and flies by you since you must constantly change your pivoting speed.

Porter Q-400 C-GLQD on final for Toronto Billy Bishop airport (CYTZ) 2016
Porter Q-400 C-GLQD on final for Toronto Billy Bishop airport (CYTZ) 2016
Air Canada DHC-8-102 C-FGQK Toronto 2016
Air Canada DHC-8-102 C-FGQK Toronto 2016

5. A shutter speed that is too high will immobilize the propeller of an aircraft and make it look like the engine is not working, which will take away realism.

6. Throughout the day, position yourself so as to have the sun behind you (if there is any sun!), unless you are looking for special effects.

Global 5000 GL5T C-GJET in Toronto 2016
Global 5000 GL5T C-GJET in Toronto 2016

7. A very high quality lens, like the Canon 50mm 1.4, allows for beautiful pictures during the evening since there is no compromise on ISO, as the lens does not need much light. The grain size stays relatively small.

Air Canada Boeing 777 final 05 Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 777 final 05 Toronto 2016

8. I use a very low ISO if the photo includes an interesting but far away aircraft, in order to be able to crop the picture with Photoshop. Since I cannot compromise on the speed to avoid a blurred picture, it becomes obvious that it is the aperture that pays the price.

Air Canada Airbus A-330 final 06L Toronto 2016
Air Canada Airbus A-330 final 06L Toronto 2016

9. If the situation allows it, add visual references other than clouds to get a bit more variety in your aircraft photo collection.

Air Canada Boeing 777 final runway 05 Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 777 final runway 05 Toronto 2016

10. Try a black and white photo if the cloud formation is particularly interesting.

C-GQBG CL-415 and cirrus clouds on a black and white picture
C-GQBG CL-415 and cirrus clouds on a black and white picture

11. RAW+JPEG files allow for important adjustments when necessary. A JPEG only photo gives you little leeway when you want to correct mistakes or during problematic lighting conditions.

12. Variable sky conditions and constant direction winds are preferable for your photo session since the runway in use will not be changed in the afternoon and your pictures will benefit from different light intensity and cloud formations.

13. If you want to take the aircraft in relation to the ILS poles and you are looking for a symmetrical photo, just move few inches to the right or left while the aircraft is approaching or going away from you. You will also want to avoid that the horizontal poles of the ILS cut the plane and make it difficult to see.

Westjet Boeing 737-800 final 05 Toronto 2016
Westjet Boeing 737-800 final 05 Toronto 2016

14. Have fun experimenting, like taking a shot just above your head while including other objects for added interest.

On the ILS 05 for Toronto 2016
On the ILS 05 for Toronto 2016

15. Instead of always showing the whole aircraft, try a close-up view.

Air Canada Boeing 787-9 C-FNOI in Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 787-9 C-FNOI in Toronto 2016

16. The close-up view might be such that even passengers of an aircraft on final will look at you while you immortalize them.

United Express on final at the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport.
United Express on final at the Quebec Jean-Lesage international airport.

17. Chances are that you will meet other enthusiast plane spotters in the same area as yours since they also prepared themselves for a successful photo session.

Westjet Boeing 737-800 C-FYPB in Toronto 2016
Westjet Boeing 737-800 C-FYPB in Toronto 2016

18. Since you are in Toronto, head to Toronto Harbour when you are back downtown. You will witness the air traffic surrounding the Toronto Billy Bishop airport (CYTZ), formerly known as Toronto Island, and possibly take some original shots.

Porter Q-400 C-GLQM and C-GLQB at Toronto CYTZ 2016
Porter Q-400 C-GLQM and C-GLQB at Toronto CYTZ 2016

19. This is the photo equipment used for my Toronto airport plane spotting session: Canon 5D MKII camera and the following Canon lenses: EF 50mm f/1.4 USM, EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM. No polarizer was used that day since I wanted to increase my margin of manoeuver with fast moving aircrafts under the February low intensity light.

Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER final 05 at Toronto 2016
Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300ER final 05 at Toronto 2016
American Eagle CRJ-701ER N523AE Toronto 2016
American Eagle CRJ-701ER N523AE Toronto 2016

Aviation photography requires much planning for successful photos. But all your efforts will rapidly bear fruits once you are on site and you will not see time pass! Have a great plane spotting session and give me some news of your experience if you can!

Air Canada Boeing 767-375 (ER) C-FCAB in Toronto 2016
Air Canada Boeing 767-375 (ER) C-FCAB in Toronto 2016

You can have access to other aircraft photos taken at Toronto through this link on my site:
photo galleries/aviation only

For other articles on aviation and photography, click on the following link: Aviation photography

Categories
Photography

Night Photography

Empress Hotel at dusk, Victoria Harbor, Canada 2014
Empress Hotel at dusk, Victoria Harbor, Canada 2014

1. Ensure you bring : tripod, remote cable, flashlight and timer.

2. Use of RAW (.TIFF) is highly recommended. There is a greater potential for corrections afterward, if something is not according to your taste.

3. Noise reduction activated on the camera.

4. If the winds are calm: ISO between 50 and 200.

5. If there are strong winds: ISO 400 might be useful to avoid a blurred picture caused by the continual small vibrations of the tripod due to a long exposure. That is why a heavy tripod is always preferable.

Trailing lights on boulevard Champlain, Quebec City
Trailing lights on boulevard Champlain, Quebec City

6. If you wish to take a picture of people moving at a normal pace, and you have access to quality lenses, it will often be necessary to use ISO 800 to get a clear shot. This setting could allow the shutter speed to be adjusted at about 1/200 which is plenty to obtain a picture that is not blurred; that is unless you are not using a long focal like 200mm or more.

7. For people shots, it is better to have your back to the remaining light on the horizon, unless your goal is to capture a silhouette.

8. For extended exposure, use the autofocus “one shot” setting until it stops working due to insufficient light. Then use manual focus. Or use manual focus all along, with Liveview, if you prefer it that way, for extra precision.

9. Mirror lock-up function must be activated to avoid vibrations caused by the shutter action.

10. Use a remote cable when taking the picture to avoid useless vibrations.

Old Québec at dusk
Old Québec at dusk.

11. If you wish, you might think of selecting a specific AF point to ensure a better focus if there is a small area that matters the most to you in the picture.

12. Do not use the FULL AUTO mode during night photography.

13. The three most important modes are 1. Aperture (taking care of slightly overexposing for surrounding lights) 2. Speed 3. Manual. There is one more reason to overexpose a bit if you work with the RAW format: there is more data information in light than in shadow, so once the picture is taken you have access to more data to play with to adjust the dark sections of the picture.

14. If you expect an exposure longer than 30 seconds, use BULB mode.

15. Night pictures are best taken using the camera bracketing funtion (-1,0,+1) and this, every two minutes.

A Christmas tree in Sillery
A Christmas tree in Sillery

16. The best period for night shots is 15 minutes after sunset, until official night time, which you can find on the internet. As this period is quite short, it is important that you know in advance what is of interest to you and where you will position yourself when comes the time for the picture.

17. Total darkness is not what is the most favourable in night photography. But you can certainly obtain interesting results using black and white.

18. Beware of surrounding light reflection in your lens.

19. Histogram has to be reviewed to ensure that there is no serious overexposure.

20. It is preferable to choose an aperture between F11 and F16 for maximum sharpness as well as an adequate depth-of-field.

21. If shooting a subject against the remaining light over the horizon, there might be quite a contrast in lighting between where you stand and where your subject is positioned. You might think of using grad filters (3-6-9-10) to help correct this huge light difference, or you can transform the standard photo session into an HDR one. Or both! There are also filters specifically designed for sunrise and sunset periods that can improve your shots.

Paris, Le Marais 2013
Paris, Le Marais 2013

All the photos were taken with a Canon 5D MKII