none wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:51:12 -0400, Indrek Aavisto wrote:
I am planning a visit to Duxford.
Can anyone advise me about the lighting conditions at the museum? I do have
a tripod, but it is quite heavy, and the airlines have some pretty low
baggage weight limits. That being the case I am considering leaving the
tripod at home. Hand held, I can probably get down to about 1/30 second
exposure without a lot of blur due to camera shake.
Thanks,
Indrek Aavisto
My experience was that lighting levels weren't problem. What was a
problem was 'planes crammed in, with little room to stand back & get a
good shot. Parts of the museum are darker - such as around the SR 71 and
Phantom in the US Airforce hangar - but even then a 'standard' camera
should be able to get a reasonable shot. I haven't been since they opened
the British aviation hangar, where the TSR 2 & Sunderland are located.
Assuming you'll be in London you can add the RAF Museum at Hendon (free
entry; Duxford is not free) to your list - several of the halls there
*are* dark, but you might be better off taking a good flash unit than a
tripod. The Imperial War Museum (no idea if it is free - it wasn't when I
last visited, but that was before museums were generally made free) in
?Elephant & Castle? has a few aircraft, as does the Science Museum in
Kensington (free entry, but an imposing presence to encourage 'voluntary'
donations); and within 'easy' reach of Duxford is Shuttleworth (but I've
never been there).
Travel within the UK isn't cheap, whether by European or US standards.
Petrol is also relatively expensive, at c. £1 a litre.
Hi Indrek,
Can I add to that by confirming that both The Science Museum and The
Imperial War Museum are free. Lighting levels are not too bad in the
Imperial War Museum, but absolutely dreadful in The Science Museum.
As "none" advises, light levels vary considerably in the various halls
that comprise Duxford, although he correctly states that a good flash
unit should be adequate. Exhibits are crowded together in some of the
halls - see the attached picture. There is also a new section at Duxford
with the Airborne Forces Museum now in situ, having been relocated from
Aldershot. I haven't visited it yet, at Duxford, but as an ex-para it's
high on my list.
The Shuttleworth Collection is superb with reasonable light conditions
throughout.
If your schedule (pronounce that how you will :-) ) permits you should
also try and get to the RAF Museum at Cosford, which is in the Midlands
and again has free entry. Light levels are generally good, apart from
the Cold War Exhibition. This museum has many of Britain's post war
experimental aircraft plus many other superb exhibits.
This link lists the UK aviation museums and could be a useful guide for you:
http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/ukmus-home.htm
I have visited all of the major ones, so if you need any information on
any of them, please let me know and I'll do my best to help.
Regards
®i©ardo
--
Moving things in still pictures