Oct 9, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR27935.swf, 402, 600, [/swf]
Road trips, they can be long some times. This one began with the Reno Air Races a month ago and we’re still not done. A number of folks have asked how I deal with being on the road and my images. There’s a piece on the site that explains it all but I basically keep it very simple. The only addition is this time since I was only home for 36hrs, I made a 3rd backup of the drive of images since I didn’t have time to dump them all on the network. It’s great to be able to look back while on the road at memories like being on the ramp photographing this T28, even though it was only a month ago. The key is backup, backup, backup!
Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 5, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0022bw.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
OK, so I had more on my mind then just the correct perspective. With the light as it were, the foreground and background, I knew at the time of the click I would be going to B&W with the final images.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0086bw.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Running Silver Efex Pro 64bit, it was no more then the move of a couple of sliders and I was done. Quick, simple, sharp and effective, my favorite kind of photography and finishing!
Oct 5, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0022.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
One plane I have a childhood love affair with is the PBY Catalina. They are great planes of WWII that served many roles, most thinking of them as search & rescue. They are an amphibious which means they can land on water. And like much of our aviation history, few remain. So when I pulled up in the parking lot at Fantasy of Flight, I instantly focused in on it. With the sun climbing in the sky, I walked over to it got right up to the rope and with the 70-200VR2, made the click. Not very dramatic.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0086.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Then after the demo flight, I had a second opportunity. The tarmac ends on the other side of the PBY and that’s where you are allowed to stand during the flight. Two hours later, the light wasn’t any better but I could get right up on the plane, get down low and shoot up on it with the 18AF. I like the 18mm shot better. That might not be your favorite and that is perfectly right. Lens selection is in great part correct when the perspective of that lens matches your vision. In the perfect world for example, I would have loved to shot the PBY with a 400mm from the ground. There was the minor issue of a hanger full of planes preventing that. So I went with plan B. Compare the two, look at the view down the nose and the size of the trees in the background. Quite a difference between the two. There is no right or wrong answer, only the answer that communicates your vision!
Oct 5, 2010 | Aviation
Click Here
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0076.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
I get the question if the 200-400VR2 is worth upgrading. With the 200VR2 now out and with the 70-200VR2 having been out, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the trend. So, is the VR2 worth the upgrade? Here’s a classic example of the new technology at work. Now I wish I had the talent to shoot the 200-400 & 200-400VR2 in stereo, handheld of a plane in flight. I’m just not that good. But I can recognize the reduction of elements causing the loss of flare which is one of the main attributes of the new technology. This image has great contrast, color and sharpness. Zoom in, you can count the rivets in the Mustang’s skin. Nice!
Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Oct 4, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK1516.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
We’ve been able to lower the price of our Air2Air Workshop to $2995 (you folks who have already registered have been taken care of). The price in large part is dictated by the cost of the planes we’re photographing. For example, one hour of B-17 air time is $8k! Combine that with the planned P-51 (no guarantee one either) and the plane we’re shooting from, well, you get the idea. We’ve been working the phones and negotiating and have successful been able to lower our costs so we’re passing that along to you. We still have a couple of openings for Nov and will have the first half of 2011 to announce shortly. Cya in the skies!
Oct 4, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0034.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
Basically everyday, the Fantasy of Flight has a air demo. It features one of their many planes and this day it was Kermit Weeks’ 2nd warbird, a P-51D Mustang. It’s a gorgeous plane like all at FoF, perfectly restored. Yeah, I’ve photographed the Mustang a lot but I can never get enough so we stuck around for the flight.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0045.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
There were two treats in this flight. The first was the fact that FoF invites you up to the edge of the tarmac once the Mustang has taxied out. Why is this a treat? You get as close to the Mustang as we get to planes at the Pylons at Reno. That’s cool! Then the plane is flown on the deck right in front of your noses. 200mm is all that is required to make the image. I had to zoom back to that for the first two images!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPFOFM0065.swf, 585, 473, [/swf]
The other treat was the pilot, it was Kermit Weeks himself. After the flight he signed books and talk to the folks. We had the opportunity to talk with him and talk a little planes, a little business. It was definitely a real treat for us and great to spend the day with planes.
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
