p.5 #1 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
robert614 wrote:
Great set Douglas!
Nice work on the crossing shots! I don’t know what was wrong with me this year. But it seemed like I always picked the wrong plane to track on my crossing shots. So I ended up with a bunch with the plane in back in focus 😄
Thanks Robert! Now you need to buy me a beer for this. . I have paid very close attention to the opposing passes, because, like you, I tracked the "wrong" jet quite often. Upon analyzing my shots from numerous airshows and carefully watching the videos on YT, I have come up with the following table for the Blue Angels. This may not be 100% accurate but I followed this table last Fri and Sat. You can download their entire maneuver manual online but it doesn't specify which jet will be in the front in the opposing passes.
Last year at the Blue Angels show at the Naval Academy, I was standing next to the narrator for the ex Blue Angels and family section, he himself was a Blue Angel 7 or 8 years ago, I asked him how I could know which jet would be in the front in the opposing passes so I couldn't put the focus on the jet that would end up behind, he didn't quite understand what I was asking, I explained it several times more but he still couldn't give me an answer.
I did a table for the Thunderbirds too but they may have changed the routine so I need to double check that at the show in 2 weeks.
p.5 #5 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Douglas L wrote:
Thanks Robert! Now you need to buy me a beer for this. . I have paid very close attention to the opposing passes, because, like you, I tracked the "wrong" jet quite often. Upon analyzing my shots from numerous airshows and carefully watching the videos on YT, I have come up with the following table for the Blue Angels. This may not be 100% accurate but I followed this table last Fri and Sat. You can download their entire maneuver manual online but it doesn't specify which jet will be in the front in the opposing passes.
Last year at the Blue Angels show at the Naval Academy, I was standing next to the narrator for the ex Blue Angels and family section, he himself was a Blue Angel 7 or 8 years ago, I asked him how I could know which jet would be in the front in the opposing passes so I couldn't put the focus on the jet that would end up behind, he didn't quite understand what I was asking, I explained it several times more but he still couldn't give me an answer.
I did a table for the Thunderbirds too but they may have changed the routine so I need to double check that at the show in 2 weeks. ...Show more →
p.5 #7 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
The great horned owlets are starting to branch.
We know where there are three nests, two of them have owlets that branched.
The third one should be any day now.
Had the lens out on a cloudy day yesterday, maybe one day soon the sun will stay out longer than 10 minutes at a time.
Eaglets are popping too.
I'm 700 feet from this nest, on a bridge, shooting down at them.
When the leaves pop, that will probably block this nest from view.
p.5 #20 · Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Image Thread
Someone decided to leave the nest tonight, while I was there.
I was checking on another owl in the area, when I came around the nest tree, I watched this owlet
do a somewhat controlled fall to a tree maybe 20 feet from the cavity.
I know they normally branch, this one kind of fledged.
. I have paid very close attention to the opposing passes, because, like you, I tracked the "wrong" jet quite often. Upon analyzing my shots from numerous airshows and carefully watching the videos on YT, I have come up with the following table for the Blue Angels. This may not be 100% accurate but I followed this table last Fri and Sat. You can download their entire maneuver manual online but it doesn't specify which jet will be in the front in the opposing passes. 
