mdbassman wrote:
Steve, just wonderful images. Tack sharp , exposure "right on"! All framed beautifully. Well done!
Thanks, Dan.
I've always been into military aviation, but I am fairly new to aviation photography.
Been at it for about a year now.
It's a blast, and I am always learning new things.
When you start out, you are like a sponge soaking up water.
You can't get enough information fast enough!
Once you get the basics down, then you spend the rest of your life developing
your "style", and trying to maximize the potential of every shot.
It's always a challenge, because RARELY do I shoot in "favorable" conditions.
You are always at the mercy of so many variables, but this is what seperates the
"pros" from "everyone else"!
Speaking of the sweet light, I shot this owner's MU-2 tonight in the last glow. Shutter speed down around a hundred. This is one of those instances where you have to pan exactly with the aircraft or you end up with a blurry mess.
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:25 PM GMT
There's a huge difference between taking a picture of any subject and really photographing it, especially aircraft. I think the thing you all like about these images is that they capture the personality of the aircraft, the sensation and emotion of flight. Stopped, or almost stopped props, ramp snapshots, flat light, mediocre composition, anyone with a point and shoot can come home with those. You want to come home with images that you can just sit and stare at be mesmerized. You want your viewer to hear the Merlin winding up, the tires chirping on touchdown, you want to bring them to a place where they can almost smell the Jet-A fumes.
Very nicely done Jim... I love the air to air shots and I also like your eye. You can't teach that... you either have it or you don't. I've shot just two airshows and really don't have the right stuff for it, but I manage to get a few I like.
Thanks for sharing... if you do something in Chicago count me in.
If this is one of your "attempts", I'd like to see what you get when you really go after it. Nice shot, sharp, great color and composition. Keep after it!
A Legend Cub and it's owner having some summer fun on an East Texas lake. By the way, a number of you guys have inquired, any of my aviation images are availble in prints.
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:26 PM GMT
Here is one you might enjoy... Patty Wagstaff and crew chief Gene Powers. Patty was going through her flight mentally using her hand. I was in her chase van and jumped over someone next to me and slid the door open in time to get this shot.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
There's a huge difference between taking a picture of any subject and really photographing it, especially aircraft. Stopped, or almost stopped props, ramp snapshots, flat light, mediocre composition, anyone with a point and shoot can come home with those. You want to come home with images that you can just sit and stare at be mesmerized. You want your viewer to hear the Merlin winding up, the tires chirping on touchdown, you want to bring them to a place where they can almost smell the Jet-A fumes.
Sony wrote:
Very nicely done Jim... I love the air to air shots and I also like your eye. You can't teach that... you either have it or you don't. I've shot just two airshows and really don't have the right stuff for it, but I manage to get a few I like.
I wouldn't give up just yet. The thing that continues to change my photography is simple boredom. At first all I would ever take were those standard profile shots when the airplane would be the closest. That got boring very quickly, and then I began to expand. After a while those shots got predictable and boring, and moved on yet again. Now that I've been doing this for about 8 years I've acquired a pretty modest number of tricks in my bag to help keep me from getting bored with my shots.
To paraphrase what I just said, practice! I am extremely fortunate in that my day job is on the ramp of a smaller GA airport every day of the week! I can pull my camera out and take whatever pictures I want, any time I want.
If you are seriously interested in expanding your skills in aviation photography I recommend simply spending a few hours at a local airport, shooting everything in sight.
When I first shot that picture I was so excited! But now I've shot so many like that it's simply pathetic! haha It was also right after I got my new digital equipment.
Darn Jim you did it again! The PT and me, Madison, WS to West Chicago (KDPA) Feb. 1968 -16* F. I worked as a goffer during HS for Bill Ross at KDPA he bought it and I had to get it. I had to drain the oil up there and find a stove to warm it up on before we could get the Kinner fired up. I don't think I've been colder before or since. Thanks again,
