Air show and aviation photography rewards patience more than gear, but the gear still has to keep up. Aircraft move fast, cross the frame at odd angles, and rarely give you a second attempt — so the difference between a keeper and a miss usually comes down to a handful of habits built before the plane even shows up. Shutter speed is the first decision, not an afterthought. For a frozen prop disc with visible blade detail, something in the 1/500s to 1/1000s range usually works well.