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.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5862.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
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!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5991.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
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.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7290.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
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!
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP7050.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
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
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
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.
Sep 17, 2009 | Aviation
It turned out to be a much better day than my start indicated was possible. I was given a special treat by seeing the new High G Ridge grandstands on the race course. Plane photographer extraordinaire and really nice guy Mark Johnson took me along when he went scouting the new locale.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4422.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
We went scouting during the Unlimited and Jet class practice runs. Light wasn’t like great or anything, we knew that. We just went because, well we could and the new spot needed to be scouted. I got this one, cool shot of a Sea Fury as it zipped past.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5038.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Fat Albert is here, the the Blue Angels C130 support plane I believe. It’s got a wicked paint job I think so when it made a couple of passes down the runway, I had to make a couple of clicks.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5565.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
After all the practice runs, a number of flight when out and some came in so Scott, Jake & I headed out for an hour to enjoy the flights. We had a couple cool opps like the other, really coolly painted Yak taking off into the setting sun.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5257.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
During this time one of my favorite classes was coming in from its practice run, the T-6s. These are such a romantic plane from a long ago era, it still amazes me that WWII trainers are today being raced. Great planes.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP5621.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
The day finished with this sweet F-33 Shooting Star taking off into the light. Last year this was the pace plane for the Unlimiteds, not sure if that’s its role this year but I’m just glad to see it back.
Richard, my mentor out here who’s not here because of the lame excuse of “having a baby,” started me thinking in June about a 360 degree blur of the prop which requires shooting 1/60 to 1/45. Well, if you notice, all the props here are blurred 360 and the images are sharp. So I’m making progress and thank him for the idea. I miss Richard!
Photos captured by D3, 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Sep 16, 2009 | Aviation
It was a slow start, not for photo opps but for me to get back into shooting. It’s the longest spell I can remember not shooting, five days and I felt it. Before the sun was up, we were at Stead Airport for the Reno Air Races. The Blue Angels were gearing up so we headed on down.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4017.swf, 444, 585 [/swf]
It just took a couple of whiffs of Jet-A and I was thinking photography. Now, did I actually make any images. I’m still not sure. The above image is just a burst from the D3 to get one with the strobes going off.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4322.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Once the sun popped up, I looked down the ramp to see this one Blue Angel off by itself. I moved a bit to the right, got low and made some click at minus 2. Kinda like this one, just a basic, romantic, clean shot
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/_BMP4952.swf, 585, 444 [/swf]
Later on in the afternoon the Blue Angels were up for two hours getting use to the field. The didn’t do much formation flying but I got this one click when they did that is kinda cool. I had a really cool photo opp today with a great guy, Mark Johnson. I’ll have more of that story and some pics later. It’s great being back here, really love the photographers who are here shooting. Just the greatest bunch of folks. mtc
Photos captured by D3, 70-300/ 200-400VR on Lexar UDMA digital film
Jun 22, 2009 | Aviation
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/DAPARRR14331.swf, 585, 442 [/swf]
Holly cow…where does the time go? Back in the office after a killer, killer time at the Reno PRS (Pylon Race School). While the new pilots learn the Reno Air Race coarse (just north of Reno at Stead Airport), 25 of the best aviation photographers are brought in to photograph the whole event. I’m incredibly fortunate to get in as a volunteer working the Nikon NPS booth who are there to support the photographers.
This is the GREATEST bunch of photographers! Besides the fun, quotes from every airplane movie ever made, they are the most sharing group of photographers I’ve ever run into. Thanks to each and everyone of them, especially my dear friend Richard who keeps pushing me by giving me a new technique to attempt (bastard) that he knows I just gotta master. Even had a newbie to tease this time, my dear friend Joe Glyda who kept texting me just saying OMG!!!! Then there are the guys, Bill Pekala, Bill Fortney and my long time friend Scott Diussa from NPS who just make it all possible. Thanks guys!
It was a great week, Jake came back with 2034 (and is totally hooked like dad), I 5165 images (after editing). I only kept 62% of what I shot, in part because of Richard and his “new” technique I was determined to master (I didn’t) and trying to do a Moose Cam. It was a giant sail in the wind and along with slinging the lens, just didn’t work in capturing sharp stills.
Here’s a little gallery (37) of images of my favorites from the week. I approach this whole thing with the romance of flight in mind. I look then for clouds for the background and not just any clouds. I’m constantly turning the camera body so the planes are lined up in the frame how I want and not plumb to the earth and I shoot in Shutter Speed Priority at 1/180 or slower to blur the prop (jets are back to Aperture Priority at f/8). Then it’s just pan, pan, pan, pan and more panning. I was quite thrilled to not only have Jake & Brent shooting beside me, but to hear their arms were sore on day two as well.
I can’t recommend the Reno Air Races enough. To see my 2008 images from Reno, click here. Whether you’re a shooter or not, the fun and excitement just rocks. The Blue Angles will be at the even this Sept along with some other aviation surprises I can’t announce other then to tell you, you should be there! Nikon & I will be.
Photos captured by (flight) D3, 200-400VR (static) D3x, 24-70AFS on Lexar UDMA digital film
