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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
Ah, in Reno for the photography flight school for the air races. We had a great morning on the flight line, have just a moment to post before heading out to the pylons. More to come :)
There was no Moose Cam back then, but there was a video camera rolling. Here’s a small taste of the Reno Air Races 2008. For some unknown reason, I got stuck in front of the video camera to create this segment. It was totally on the fly in between sessions of getting gear out to photographers. It does give you a little taste of the races and why it’s so much fun. Be sure to watch the ending, it’s the best part.
And if you want a recap of all my 2008 blogs from the races, head here. And yes, we will be at Flight School and the Races in 2009. And as a point of clarification, the content and creation of this video was all the idea of TopFlightTV.
If I wasn’t anxious enough to be back out photographing the Races when Josef goes and emails with the great news his book on the races is out. Josef is the nicest guy you’re going to ever meet, the friendliest and most helpful photographer I’ve come across in a long time, loves to laugh and dang if he ain’t a great photographer too boot!
You don’t have to take my word for the photography, you can check it out in his newly released book. I couldn’t find it instantly in the US, but I bet it will make it here. As for him being a nice guy and funny, those joining us at our New York DLWS will find out for themselves as Josef will be joining us.
When you run into Josef, ask him about chasing the solar eclispe around the North Pole in a AirBus. It’s a great story and he has photos to go with it!
If I wasn’t anxious enough to be back out photographing the