Jul 19, 2014 | Aviation
Being that I didn’t post for the last couple of days, thought I’d put up a Saturday post to entertain you for the weekend. Being very fortunate to have some amazing friends with some amazing aircraft in some amazing country, there is some amazing flying I get to participate in and photograph. This is just such an opportunity. This is a very rare FM-2P Wildcat that needed to be flown to be exercised. With that being the case, it was arranged that I would race back to the private airfield (had to drive 50min to get there) and in an hour, the Wildcat would do some air work around me (10min flight for it). So Sharon and I jumped in the truck and raced back to the ranch, up the hill (with D4s / 80-400VR3) to get into place.
I receive a text “launching” so I knew I had ten minutes before they arrived. I know what’s coming, this is not our first rodeo. Even so, it’s hard to press the shutter release when you see a magnificent warbird being flown on a strafing run as you might have seen in WWII pass before you. The first pass I was at 80mm but on the second I went to 250mm and while I knew it was a low percentage shot, I did get this one frame I really like (panning, panning, panning!). One aspect of flight I’m always trying for but it’s a huge challenge is communicating speed in a still image. When you can get a background that is close to the subject (major challenge with a plane) and you can blur that background, then the mind says, speed.
You should know, this same kind of opportunity is available to you as well! The relationship I have with this pilot is one that has come over time working on many projects up to this point. It’s really no different than the relationships I have with biologists getting me into projects with critters otherwise not approachable. The whole process is up to you! Getting it started, growing it and making it one that benefits all. It starts with the craft, the making of the photograph, the storytelling. Then finding, working and building the relationship which takes as much time as the craft in some cases. Then together you come up with the photographs that tells their story using your craft that you share. It’s a real easy formula that works every time once you put in the time. Today’s a great day to start yours!
Jul 16, 2014 | Aviation
Take a really fun plane, Cub, an amazing pilot; Warren Pietsch and a crazy photographer; me who is willing to hang his D4s / 16Fish OUTSIDE the plane and you’ve got a really cool video!
Jul 16, 2014 | Aviation
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Panning is such an essential tool in photography. It doesn’t matter if you photograph rocks or rabbits, stamps or sports, there is some point when capturing THE photo requires a solid panning technique. I have written many, many times about it and posted a few videos because I feel it is for many a difficult or lost art in photography. I pride myself on my panning skills, I practice them over and over again yet there are times even I feel that my panning is simply not up to par.
Well last week I had an opportunity to see if I could walk the walk and I did the talk. I had a very special, kinda one person airshow up close and personal with a P-40E Warhawk and FM-2 Wildcat. Standing on a hill, I had flybys of formation and single aircraft and they were anything but standing still. Shooting with the D4s / 80-400VR3 I planted myself on the rise and waited for the aircraft. Knowing where they were coming from, knowing how close they would be to me (which directly effect how fast you have to twist to keep them in the viewfinder) and where they would be going, I set my feet to twist and pan. They were hauling ass, no if, and or buts about it! And I missed more shots than I would have liked. Worst thing, I used a faster shutter speed than I wanted to because I knew by what I was seeing in the viewfinder they were kicking my butt. That only means one thing, I gotta get better and that means more practice. So, if your technique isn’t where you want it, you’re not alone because mine isn’t either. It’s a challenge, a good challenge that can only make our photography better if we keep at it.
Jul 7, 2014 | Aviation
“What does Sharon do while I’m shooting planes?” Had a bunch of emails just come in asking this question. What she does is, FLY!!! That beautiful blond in the back for that gorgeous Harvard and in the front seat (with them crazy chrome eyes) in the magical Waco is Sharon. I’m working, shooting with the D4s / 24-70AFS while she has the great fortune to fly and take it all in. We are very fortunate to have the friends we do with the great planes making amazing opportunities available to us. So unlike what some asked, Sharon is not on the ground but flying more than I!
Jul 7, 2014 | Aviation
Sharon and I flew up to Minot, ND to spend the 4th with our dear friends as we did last year. It was to be a “quiet” 4th with perhaps a little flying. Well, it turned out to be an amazing busy, massive blast of a time goofing off. We no sooner had boots on the ground and we were up in a Mooney 231 scouting for an air to air the next day. Then we did some more flying, then we did some more flying and then some more. Finally got my dream flight in a TBM Avenger doing bombing and straffing runs. Unbelievable!. Then we spent that day at a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior project with a great group of folks. Meet a great military photog Arron and was treated to seeing some truly amazing images. We never got back to our room before 2AM for two nights! Some of the flights I shot just video so much so filled the 32GB Lexar XQD twice, really cool video which at this point along with 7k images have just been dumbed on the hard drive. I have been so busy, not even had a chance to go through them and if you know me, that’s radical!
All of this and I only came planning on one shoot, the next in my pilot portrait project. I brought along the Profoto Kit (Logistics Manager 30 – Rolling Gear Case, B1 500 AirTTL Battery Powered Flash,Lithium-ion Battery for B1 500 AirTTL,Fast Battery Charger,Air Remote Transceiver,50 Degree Magnum Reflector,Honeycomb Grid, 10 Degrees,Air-cushioned Light Stand) with me for it (you can see the basic set above). I ended up doing portraits and even a senior portrait. Spent a fair amount of time at the airport which included working some with the Texas Flying Legends aircraft getting ready and heading out to an airshow this coming weekend. I came light shooting mostly with the D4s, 24-70AFS, Df, 24f1.4 and 85f1.8. While the plan was for a quiet 4th, it turned out to be stuffed full. I’m behind in my storytelling so stay tuned the next few weeks as I get you all caught up on our adventures and the lessons learned behind the lens.
