Aug 5, 2010 | Aviation
OK, I’ve been waiting a couple of years to get this beaut in the viewfinder, I’ve gotta comeback with something! This is the A-1 Skyraider, a kick ass plane that whooped some ass in Vietnam. And it’s just a cool plane! I’m not sure how I should take this, but I’m finding success shooting up the ass of planes.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0984.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0977.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
There was enough variance in the clouds at this point that I could pull a little interest out of them in ACR. The location of the A-1 on the ramp, it’s color and very cool details under the wing made for more interest. Then there is that prop that just wraps it all up in a nice bow. I just wish that yellow T-6 wasn’t frame left, it pulls the eye away but at least I got a static from the morning I like. 90min of struggle for one image, better than 90min of struggle for no images.
Photos captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 5, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0965.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
The T-28 is a cool plane that I first meet last year at the Reno Air Races. A trainer, it has this kinda funkie shape and size that, well, just clicks with me. There was a mess of them at Oshkosh in just about every paint scheme the military ever used. So when the sun came out briefly and I saw the God beams, I ran right over to the huge line of them.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK1045.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Shooting right towards the sun, there was no way I was going to make the shot in one click. So once again I did a handheld 3 image HDR. I started to feel a little bit better about my statics but still feel like a looser. Dang these things are kicking my butt!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 5, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0894.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
If I’m not challenged enough photographing statics (parked planes), we woke up the second day to overcast skies. Nothing probably puts me photographically into a nose dive are gray skies with killer subjects. The frustration just oozes our of my pixels! But you’ve gotta do something, the subjects won’t be there the next day. So I did something….
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0903.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
The A-26 / B-17 shot above is a handheld three image HDR. For a couple of heartbeats we had a small window in the overcast, enough to make things worse. The light coming through the clouds made for a horrible exposure range that only HDR would deal with. I turned the opposite direction and came face to face with this C-47 and you can see the skies just weren’t giving me any break. The frustration level just kept rising.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0935.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I mean, here I am up close and personal with the B-17 and what have I got, gray skies! The light and color sunk back into the clouds and my hopes of making some cool images sunk as well. One thing that is incredibly cool about Oshkosh is the total access to the planes. You don’t see any ropes, any persons telling you to keep away. The welcome mat is out and early in the morning, there is no one else out there except for the few diehards wanting personal time. A great opportunity and I simply couldn’t turn it in my direction. I am challenged!
Photos captured by D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 4, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0657.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
I’m not sure if I will get all the stories and experiences from Oshkosh blogged so trying to pick those that were unique. After all I’ve done in my limited time shooting planes, this one was kinda amazing. At the end of our first day, we were back at camp (which is our Cessna 206 parked alongside runway 26) just relaxing. Then the runway came alive as planes flew out for photo shoots. A parade of who’s who went by and without any effort right from out tents we photographed planes like this F-86.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0685.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Or this Avenger, which blew away our opportunity we drove 10hrs to photograph just a month ago.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0695.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
How about this rare, one of a couple flying Zeros. This was a first time sighting and photographing of this gem for me. Damn cool!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0709.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
Then there my old time favorite the F4-U Corsair. Of all the images I took this evening I love this one the most. Why? It’s the implied intensity of the pilot taking his plane out and the implied ease of the task for the plane in its attitude in the frame. Yeah, it’s very easy to say I’m reading a whole lot into the frame and you might not see that. It could be I’m too attached to the frame, could be it’s too small for your to see here. But it’s those little details I look for in every one of my clicks of any subject that when they resonate with the viewer, the photograph succeeds.
Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 handheld on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 4, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK1912.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
We’re sitting there eating breakfast all by ourselves with nothing but empty seats around us. The next thing I know this gentleman is sitting next to me. He has a great smile and like the majority of nice folks at Oshkosh, said good morning. Scotty being the bold member in our little group struck up a conversation with the gentleman who we learn is Dudley. Well he talks planes with Scotty and Kevin and after a while, we all finish breakfast and go our own ways.
Later I see what appears to be the same guy behind the A-4 talking with the pilot of the Skyhawk. They are soon shaking hands. He walks closer to us and I see it’s Dudley so when I have a moment, I walk up to him and ask him if he flew the A-4. Oh yeah, he flew the A-4 and a whole lot more. 90min later we had become fast friends with Dudly and heard some great stories. Near the end I asked him if he would like to have his picture taken with the A-4. The twinkle in his eyes and smile on his face was all that was required to make the photo happen. I went to Oshkosh thinking it was all about planes. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s all about people and thanks to Dudley, I found this out quickly making the week something very special! Thanks Snake!
Photo captured by D3x, 24-20AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
Aug 4, 2010 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPOSHK0479.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
OK, I’m gettin hooked on the A-4 Skyhawk, I’m making plans and time will tell if I’m learning.
