Helping you capture RIAT, one photograph at a time.

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RIAT is one of the best places in the UK to get into aviation photography. In just a few days you can photograph fast jets, helicopters, historic aircraft, huge transporters, formations, arrivals, departures and one of the largest static aircraft displays you are likely to see at an airshow.

But if you are fairly new to photography, knowing where to start can sometimes be the hardest part.

That is exactly why I created this guide.

I wanted to build a complete aviation photography guide specifically around RIAT and the people who attend it, particularly those who have just bought their first camera, are trying aviation photography for the first time, or simply want to come home with better photographs.

You will find advice covering everything from camera settings and equipment to photography locations, hiring lenses, photographing the static park and editing your images afterwards.

I have kept the photography language as straightforward as possible. You will still learn about things such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO and autofocus, because they are important, but I will explain them in a way that actually relates to what you will be photographing at RIAT.

For example, what settings should you use when an F-16 comes screaming down the display line? How do you slow your shutter speed down enough to capture movement in a propeller? What lens should you take? Where should you stand? What happens when the weather turns cloudy or starts raining?

Those are the sorts of questions this guide is designed to answer.

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More Than Just Camera Settings

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Good aviation photography is not only about having the correct settings.

Throughout this guide I will also look at where and when to photograph aircraft around RIAT, how changing weather can actually help create more interesting photographs, ways to make your static aircraft images stand out, and how to think a little more creatively about the photographs you take.

You will also find help choosing photography equipment, advice on hiring cameras and lenses if you do not want to buy expensive gear, and a simple introduction to editing your photographs once you get home.

And there is plenty more included throughout the guide.

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You Don't Need the Most Expensive Camera

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One thing I really want to get across is that aviation photography does not have to start with thousands of pounds' worth of equipment.

A good second-hand camera and telephoto lens can be more than enough to get started.

Learning how your camera works, understanding a few basic settings and practising your technique will often make a much bigger difference than simply buying more expensive equipment.

That is something I have learned through my own photography over the years, and it is one of the reasons I wanted this guide to remain practical rather than overly technical.

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Built Around RIAT

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This is not intended to be a generic photography manual with RIAT added to the title.

The advice throughout these pages has been written around the situations you are actually likely to experience at RAF Fairford.

From photographing arrivals and departures at Park & View to standing along the main crowdline, exploring the static park or capturing aircraft passing over the nearby campsites, each section is designed to help you make better use of the opportunities RIAT gives you.

And sometimes that means ignoring the idea of the "perfect" conditions.

A dark cloud behind an aircraft, rain on the static park or changing evening light can completely transform an otherwise ordinary photograph. Part of becoming a better photographer is learning how to use those conditions rather than fighting against them.

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Start Here. Experiment. Enjoy It.

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You are not going to get every photograph right.

Neither do I.

Aviation photography involves plenty of experimenting, missed shots, slightly blurry aircraft and photographs where you realise afterwards that your settings were completely wrong.

That is all part of learning.

Use this guide as a starting point, try the settings, change them when you need to and gradually discover what works best for you and your equipment.

Whether RIAT 2027 will be your first airshow with a camera or you have already spent a few years standing beside airfield fences with a telephoto lens, I hope there is something here that helps you improve your photography.

Take your time exploring the different sections, practise before the show where possible and, most importantly, enjoy photographing the aircraft.

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