Start the Year by Finishing Last

Jan 2, 2010 | Aviation

Last fall was one heck of a ride, producing more images than I could physically finish in the time I had at hand. So with the start of the new year, I’ve have a small window of opportunity to go back and look, enjoy and get caught up on finishing some of the images on the network from last fall. I started with the oldest, those from the Reno Air Races of last Sept (I also needed to get some of these out to a client).

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR15944.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

One of the Blue Angles’ F/A-18 Hornets on the flight line is being warmed up by the ground crew at 05:15am. The sun has yet to come up but it is putting a glow in the sky which is the light source for the jet. To get the nav lights I had to hit the shutter release and let ‘er rip. I tried squeezing one off when I saw the blinking lights but after a couple of attempts I gave up and let the camera catch them. The only post work I had to do is clean up runway markers and “polish” the plane body. When you look up close, the paint isn’t perfect so I cleaned it up.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR19115.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

During the races if you have a press pass, you can stand at the end of one hanger and catch the planes landing after their heat. This is a challenging place to shoot because of all the foreground and background obstacles. Getting that clean shot takes a bit of practices, long lens and really good timing. The last couple of days of the race I switched from the D3 and its 9fps, big buffer to the D3x and its 1.8FPS and smaller buffer. I went to  the “one shot” philosophy and was incredibly happy with the results. I can’t get over the detail I can see in the P-40. Finishing was no more than removing some dust from the sky. I’m glad it’s only Saturday, more time to go through more images, there are 5113 in the folder from the races.

Photos captured by D3 / D3x, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

The Tail End…sort of

Sep 19, 2009 | Aviation

Oh man, it was my last day, already! We could only be at the races for three days this year, had to get to ME to teach. The only thing that makes it better is I’ll be back again! I got a little time out shooting today, mostly the Unlimiteds.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9276.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

The Unlimiteds to my are the sex machines out here. They are wicked fast, rumble the earth and romantic as hell as they are all WWII aircraft like this Sea Fury.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8643.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Media has a platform at the end of the hanger which is a great place to hang when the planes are taxing out and landing. I decided to up the ante today and shoot with the D3x. Why is that a challenge? 1.8FPS and the small buffer. What’s cool if you can enlarge this image of the P51 and read the type on the side of the pilots helmet!

Now when I showed the guys the photo of this Sea Fury and you can see the pilots eyes, all they said was, “I think you have panning down.”

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP9328.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

At the end of the day, a couple of planes were pulled out for fun runs. I headed out to the ramp, laid down, took the shutter speed down to 1/20 and just made some clicks in the gorgeous light. If you’ve never tried aviation photography, you might want to head to your local airshow just once and give it a go. You might find it’s really dang cool!

Photos captured by D3x, 500VR/24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film

I love Jet-A in the morning!

Sep 19, 2009 | Aviation

I’m writing this at the airport, not Stead home of the Reno Air Races, but from Reno as we’re flying to ME for DLWS. Every morning this week, I’ve received an email from my aviation mentor Richard who’s not here. I get my crit of my images and corrections to my plane nomenclature. Great way to start the day

Actually, this was the way to start. I decided that if we arrived and the Blue Angels crew was out, I would try to make a shot with them in action. The light wasn’t exactly romantic, but it worked for the action. I tried a couple of shutter speeds to get the right blur, I settled on 1/20. I kinda like it

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8490.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Then I spied Lady Jo was pulled out, she was going on an early morning flight. The killer volunteer staff who cart us around the airport were on hand, so I hitched a ride to the other end of the ramp to photograph her. First I went with the reflected light. I think I like that better so I spent time waiting for it to happen.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8528.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Then once it did, I switched to the other side and did the 5 frame HDR. While a valid technique, I’m tired of it. I’m on the hunt for a better solution, it will probably take some time. In this application, the shadow detail which shouldn’t be present is. I just need that solid black. Gotta play with that.

For a platform, I unscrew the head of my tripod and rest it right on the ground. The left hand is pushing it down on the ground while the right hand operates the camera.

We’ll miss the last two days of the races but Jake & Brent are there so I know I’ll be seeing it in their images. This is a great event that I’m so happy Nikon sponsors because we all get in by working for them. So thanks Scott, Bill, Bill & Mike, it was a great time! A super BIG thanks to all our friends and fellow photographers, Dave, Erv, Kevin, Naomi, Neil, Jerry and the rest for taking such good care of us! Richard, by the time you read this, you’ll be a dad. Congrats bud!

Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR / 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film

Vertical it is!

Sep 18, 2009 | Aviation

I love a challenge. I love even more knocking them down and making them, if successful part of my shooting arsenal. Last year shooting at Pylon 8 which is at the end of the Valley of Speed, I was challenged with shooting planes scream past at 400+mph vertically. Even with the D3, you’re lucky to get a 6-7 frame burst before the planes have come and gone. You do the math how much time you’ve got the bird in the viewfinder.

This is one hot image for me, one of my best so far in my two years. The F4U Corsiar is on the tail of that P51 Mustang, it’s a vertical image, tack sharp and the blur on the prop works for me. My only nit with it is the prop blur is not a full 360, but I’ll live with that. I can’t wait to print this one up!

Then there is that P40, oh, she’s a sweet plane! I’m not sure what it is about it, but I basically ignore every other plane in the sky when I see it. Because the Unlimited Class screams by, you have to sight them a mile out and plan which plane(s) coming up you’re going to concentrate on.

Then there is the Vampire. I like it because it is a little funky looking and in my mind, a bit of the underdog out here. It’s last couple of lap it passed planes, hugged the ground and came in on this steep angle. Cool!

To finish my salute to shooting speeding planes vertically is this one of the Blue Angels. I love the top image a whole lot more! Now if you’re wondering just how difficult it is to shoot vertical panning shots of planes, head out and give it a try. Better yet, head out and perfect the technique for your own photography! mtc

Photos captured by D3, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Reno Air Race morning, better start

Sep 18, 2009 | Aviation

On the ramp by 06:00, we were greeted by not only some promising clouds on the horizon, but the entire Blue Angel flight line a buzz with activity basically sinking my morning photographic plans. Oh well, I went over to the F15s to work them in the coming color.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8344.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

First, I kissed the ground, literally. I unscrewed the BH-55 from the tripod, put it flat on the ground and did this 5 image HDR of two of the F15s. I really love the image, not too thrilled with my first processing. I lost too much of the black so when my eyes are not so tired, I will rework this image to bring it back. But the loss of the black is why the canopy on the rear jet is not a sharp line. That just won’t do.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8278.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Then I saw this vastly improved image of the lone Blue Angel at the end of the runway. So this time using the 200-400VR, I made this 5 image HDR. I love the romance of color I really like. I have to admit, taking a five image HDR with the 200-400, I wondered if I would have five sharp, alligned images. Glad I did.

[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP8228.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]

Then I saw this one, single click, simple, clean image of the sunrise through the canopy and I was a very happy camper. While I know HDR and can use it, I really rather not. Simple and clean is so much easier to do when you’re not awake. I have one more morning to shoot, I’m scratching my imagination what to some up with. If I don’t have flight crews and truck on the tarmac, I have an idea which might be fun. Time will tell. I can tell you the group of very talented photographers I’m shooting with, Scott, Bill, Bill, Richard, Jake, Joe & Kevin are keeping me on my toes. They are producing some beautiful images. I mean, check out this Warthog by Scott. Wow!

Photo captured by D3x, 24PC-E / 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film

Just No Respect

Sep 17, 2009 | Aviation

My best friend Bill Fortney, who I trust and have only highest regards for, shot this of me this morning. He was wearing the biggest smile when he had me come over to his computer to see his work.