Sep 22, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR29440.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Reno always has some military jets present. We’ve seen some really amazing flying in everything you can imagine from the current inventory. This year we had the F-18 Super Hornet. Standing at the end of the hanger, you can easily photograph them taxing out for their flight.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR29629.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Once in the air the one thing that it easy about photographing jets is you can go to Aperture Priority (or stay in Shutter Priority if you like) and crank up the shutter speed to 1/1000 or higher. That makes getting a sharp image easier because panning quickly at they zip by is a challenge. Since only they know their route, following them is a must. A great source of entertainment for me is watching all the other photographers. It’s like a ballet as the lens swing left and then right, up and then down in concert with the jet wizzing by. I keep thinking I need to make a video of it, always too late to act on the thought.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR29591.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
And then there is when they turn everything upside down on you. Damn, what fun!
Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 21, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/dpa2ap380256.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Click Here
I was planning on taking the 70-200VR2 but at the last minute after the briefing I knew I needed a physically smaller lens. It’s then it occurred to me that my good friend and NPS boss Bill Pekala had the new 28-300VR. I’d seen some gorgeous shots he’d shot with it so I asked him if I could borrow it for the shoot of a lifetime. Yeah, I was trusting his opinion and this lens I’ve never shot with for a once in a lifetime opportunity. To say it delivered is pretty anticlimactic! Just click on the link above to see for yourself. Even in the slip stream the zoom stayed true and the sharpness, it’s what I come to expect from Nikon. Keep in mind you’re looking at a Zoomify image shot from the ramp of a C-130 at 1/250 and it’s tack sharp! Bottomline, the 28-300 freakin rocks!
Photo captured by D3x, 28-300VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 21, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp0856.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Some mornings we’d head out on the ramp early not knowing what we’d find. When we made the turn on the ramp and saw the P-38 23 Skidoo parked there, we didn’t have to go any further for a subject. This great plan which is hangered at Planes of Fame is one of the six flying P-38s. It was O-dark thirty when we arrived, we were actually a little early this morning. The sodium vapor lights were still on we were so early. I was curious what effect they might have on the 23 Skidoo. Well, now I know. Kind of a cool glow to the fuselage.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp0875.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Then the light started to come up and equaling out with the sodium vapor so just before they went off, I made this nose shot. You can still see their influence in the front of the plane which without them would have all gone to shadow. First time I’ve ever done “light painting” for filled in shadows with sodium vapor, that’s for sure.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_bmp0906.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Then the lights went out and the sun was just about to pop out. I went around to the third side to make the last click. All the photos were made at 1/10 with the camera resting on the tarmac. They were all shot on Vivid with -2 comp. It was a real easy, very enjoyable 20 minutes with a fabulous plane and piece of our aviation history!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 20, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/daparrr28820.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I learned a very important lesson when at Oshkosh Airventure earlier this year, it’s all about the people! With that in mind, I volunteered to be the team photographer at Reno for Classic Fighters. While photographing the crew in action, I learned that they too are volunteers and come from around the globe to be here this week. And then there are the volunteers that make everything work. The Media Opps folks, the security to the ticket takers, all volunteers there for the love of flight. It’s a passion for planes that brings us all to Reno, the pilots, crews, photographers and the crowds. There is no way you just can’t get sucked in with all this passion for the aircraft and it’s makes the week so amazing!
Photo captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 20, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR28777.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
No matter the subject, you follow the light and you just can’t go wrong. I got up from the tarmac and looked towards the west and there were the canopies of the F-16s a glow in the coming sunrise. That’s how it is at Reno, it’s the light that brings these modern flying sculptures to life.
Photo captured by D3x, 70-200VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 20, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/daparrr28613.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
You might just be wondering where I’ve been today. Well, to be honest, asleep! The Reno Air Race experience is an amazing one, also amazingly tiring. With an average of less then five hours of sleep a day, it’s go, go, go and I’m not talking about the planes. I came back with 12788 images which came in bursts of panic amidst hours of waiting. I know of no other experience like it and love every moment of it which includes sleeping in after the wrap up party!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/daparrr28629.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Each and everyday of the races began with being on the tarmac, literally, before sunrise. Some mornings we would arrange for a warbird pulled out to photograph. Other mornings we would simply work with the planes pulled out for early morning flights. Other mornings we’d work the static displays. Above is Rare Bear being prepped for flight. I was literally lying on the tarmac (making sure to no lie down in a oil slick) with the camera resting on the tarmac, shutter speed is 1/6. I went for both blurred and sharp silhouette of the crew chief at work. Then I simply turned around and make a quick click of the C-17 in the static display.
I’m way behind in finishing images and telling stories so back to the files I go. I look forward to sharing more, the climax is HUGE!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
