Nov 18, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DPA2AA360191.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
We really had a great crew for our 1st Air2Air Workshop. But as I’ve written many, many time, it’s about the folks more then the aircraft. One of our students, Kevin, flew down to Phoenix, not commercially but in the A36 Bonanza. He asked if we could use his plane as one of our subjects and with a snap of a finger, wallah!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DPA2AA360217.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Now I’ll be completely honest with you, shooting GA (general aviation) had never been of interest to me. I’m a history buff and I want to photograph history. And while this is a 1982 plane, it doesn’t quite make the “history” books, yet.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DPA2AA360346.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
But once we got up in the air and started to photograph it, I got pretty excited about it. In fact, I hoot and hollered about photographing it more then Kevin. You’re in the air at sunrise photographing a plane, how bad can it be?
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DPA2AA360268.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
I played a little with the A36 as well, shooting in less then perfect light and a little more “commercially” minded. I never thought about that realm of aviation photography as something I could get into but now……
Photos captured by D3x, 24-120AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Nov 17, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP46071.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
After the sun set, the Mustangs piled off and went back to the field and the Spitfire joined back up with us on our flight back to the field. Bob did a great job flying and offering us photo opp after photo opp. I’ve shooting at 1/30 going for broke to not blur the prop but the background. We’re coming it doing 130knots and low to the deck because of our last photo opp of the evening flight.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4684.swf, 402, 600 [/swf]
We “dragged” the Spitfire down the runway to get the very cool shot. I decided to go vertical but after seeing some of the participants horizontals, I now wonder if that wasn’t the better option. Thankfully I will have the opportunity again when I can shoot it horizontal and then make the call looking at my own photos. It was an amazing hour flight with four great planes and five great pilots. Phew…I’m tired!
Photos captured by D3s, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Nov 17, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DPA2AB1709731.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Casey moved in and stayed in for an entire orbit! It was great flying and a killer photo opp especially with such a famous P-51D, Cripe’s Almighty!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dpa2ab1709331.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Did I mention Casey stayed close and it’s a great plane?!
Photos captured by D3s, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Nov 17, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dpa2ab170987.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Then is was time for Mustang round up. You couldn’t find two more gorgeous examples then these two planes being piloted by father and son, Bob & Casey.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DPA2AB170848.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Shot at 1/45, there is no break in the prop arc. Go to 1/60 like below and there is a small space in the arc. Having them all solid or all with spaces gets boring so I would go back and forth with shutter speed selection.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dpa2ab170873.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Then Casey moved in…..and wow…mtc
Photos captured by D3s, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Nov 17, 2010 | Aviation
I originally posted this with no text, didn’t think it needed it but I got slammed with emails asking the question, “Why can’t I believe it’s my photograph? The answer is real simple, it’s an amazing opportunity that I never thought I would ever have!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP43821.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Hell, we didn’t know Bob was going to join us until a few minutes before we left the ground to shoot. Then bam…a Supermarine Spitfire joins the formation and the shoot. It would be like your heading to Central Park to shoot birds and all of a sudden a Black Bear asks if it could tag along for the fun of it. As photographers, it’s what we always hope for but it rarely happens. But here’s the deal, a photographer worth their salt is ready for when those moments do happen so they can make the image. I’m very grateful I had the opportunity!
Nov 17, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2012.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
It’s Spitfire solo time. Like I mentioned we varied each orbit a little. Richard was on the mic calling the formations with Doug up front orchestrating the movement of planes. Like Jake, I really liked the Spitfire. While not an original from the factory, this gorgeous production is true to the original in every way except it’s made of wood and not metal. I sure didn’t stop be from shooting up a storm with it!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4412.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
This is a kind of classic “desert” scene which the Spitfire might have seen during the African campaign during WWII. The photo ship kept a pretty constant altitude while the subject planes would vary their position and altitude (as they felt comfortable to do so) in compliance to our photographic direction.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp2218.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
And before it split off for a while we had one last glimpse of the Spitfire in the setting sun. Wow!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-120AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
