In message , Indrek
Aavisto writes
i 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.

i Hi Indrek,

i Can I add to that by confirming that both The Science Museum and The
i Imperial War Museum are free. Lighting levels are not too bad in the
i Imperial War Museum, but absolutely dreadful in The Science Museum.

i As "none" advises, light levels vary considerably in the various
i halls
i that comprise Duxford, although he correctly states that a good flash
i unit should be adequate. Exhibits are crowded together in some of the
i halls - see the attached picture. There is also a new section at
i Duxford
i with the Airborne Forces Museum now in situ, having been relocated
i from
i Aldershot. I haven't visited it yet, at Duxford, but as an ex-para
i it's
i high on my list.

i The Shuttleworth Collection is superb with reasonable light
i conditions
i throughout.

i If your schedule (pronounce that how you will :-) ) permits you
i should
i also try and get to the RAF Museum at Cosford, which is in the
i Midlands
i and again has free entry. Light levels are generally good, apart from
i the Cold War Exhibition. This museum has many of Britain's post war
i experimental aircraft plus many other superb exhibits.

i This link lists the UK aviation museums and could be a useful guide
i for you:

i http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/ukmus-home.htm

i I have visited all of the major ones, so if you need any information
i on
i any of them, please let me know and I'll do my best to help.

i Regards

i ®i©ardo


i --
i Moving things in still pictures


Thanks for all the feedback. It's much appreciated.

My schedule (as in "hut at the end of the garden"-ule:I have not been
thoroughly corrupted by North American spelling and pronunciation) is fairly
flexible, but my wife might have something to say about a surfeit of
aircraft museums. We shall see.

Cheers,

Indrek Aavisto


As far as Shuttleworth is concerned, there are other attractions
(distractions?) for the less aviation-minded, such as the Swiss Garden
and the Bird of Prey Centre. See:
http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth_home.asp

The best days to visit are the display days.
--
Peter

Ying tong iddle-i po!