By the way, I'm not totally comfortable with my sharpening techniques. Or my focusing just isn't as consistent as I'd like. Either way, I'd appreciate comments on the focus and sharpening of pictures like this one, which I was debating whether to post or not. Nice capture, but I think it's a trifle blurred so the sharpening effort makes it grainy. Hmm.
Yeah, you're right... That was cheesy on my part. I oughta have to buy a round for everyone as a way of saying I'm sorry. But I gotta say Rodolfo, I love coming back here and seeing the shots you're posting. Looks like you had a blast... Ya see, if it wasn't for your cool images I wouldn't have checked back so soon.... Yeah, I know, bad excuse...
Hey, here's a bit of Stearman envy... This is from last year's gathering here in San Diego.
I rather like this one, although sharpening the wings and tail to look "right" makes the canopy look funny to me, and vice versa. Still, by cropping tightly I got a look I liked, with just a piece of the "mitten" on the right side to hint at the location and the end of the rock wall he's passing. http://www.pbase.com/image/78904190/large.jpg
I love this picture. Even at 340mm (the best I can do with current gear), this guy was so far away that what I posted to Pbase (see the original image here) is a 100% crop, no resizing at all!
The picture posted here is the "large" version according to Pbase, so it's been resized down to 800 px on the long side. But that's not much of a reduction... http://www.pbase.com/rpaiz/image/78905093/large.jpg
JW
I looked thru the 127 pages of photos and can only say "Thank you" for all the fine photos. They are truelly amazing and thru the many posts, it is obvious that you are also a fine man, humble, and extremely talented. Thanks for all those incredible photos. It is a great testiment when so many people who are not into aviation are blown away by your photos because they are so striking.
What clarity. Thanks. Bob L.
Nah... thank you very much for the compliment, but I'm humble enough to know that I don't get shots this good that often, and I'm loyal to the Jim Wilson school of threads here. I've learned a great deal from several people on this thread, and delighted to give back on whatever scale I can. This is definitely a case where I'm happier as a small part of something great, than all alone on a much smaller scale.
Speaking of heroes and teachers (take a bow, guys), this shot has nothing to do with airplanes but shows a lot of what the spirit was at the air race. (So it's at least vaguely relevant.)
Thanks for all the air race photos. Are there any air races in or near Milwaukee, Wisconsin? I WANT to go to Reno, but if I travel that far my wife will want to go too, so the Reno air races are pretty much out . . . for now.
sifpandor wrote:
Thanks for all the air race photos. Are there any air races in or near Milwaukee, Wisconsin? I WANT to go to Reno, but if I travel that far my wife will want to go too, so the Reno air races are pretty much out . . . for now.
-- Mark
Nope, Reno is it. There are small races held for IF1 guys, but you will never see the big iron at full song anywhere but Reno. How awesome is it? Watch the end of this clip as Voodoo passes right overhead.
And although it's not an air race but an airshow, if you haven't been to EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh (last week of July), you should really consider going. The best performers are invited to a daily three-hour airshow that is incredibly fun and a killer photo opportunity. Worth the price of admission by itself, even disregarding the thousands of other things that make AirVenture the sacred annual pilgrimage for aviators.
I was lurking in this thread last week and was inspired to go shoot my first Air Show last weekend. I am still going through about 1300 shots, but here are three quick ones. Feedback welcome.
Yeah, thanks for the reminder Rodolfo. AirVenture is on my calendar. I've gone a few times in the past, most recently I went two years ago after I had my 20D for only about 2 months. Unfortunately, 3 days after I got back I had some major computer problems and all of my image files had gotten corrupted.
Very cool stuff there. This year I will be going with my brother-in-law who has wanted to be pilot ever since he first realized he could actually fly those things. At his birthday a couple of months ago he got his wish. We all pitched in to get him flying lessons. This is going to be his first time ever at Oshkosh and he will be overwhelmed. Highly recommended.
Good shots, keep up the good work. I hope to meet you and your brother at AirVenture 2007. My logbook has somewhere around 3,000 hours in it and I don't think the thrill of my wheels breaking ground has diminished one bit. How many things can you do for 35 years and still experience the same exitement and sense of wonder that gripped you the very first time? My pursuit of flight has taught me so much about myself and life, about conquering fears both large and small, about judgement and self discipline. In addition to all that, it has blessed me with the ability to take myself to a place where everything below seems beautiful, problems left there seem far less significant and communication with my Creator is much more direct and unencumbered. You won't see any of these reasons to fly in the campaigns to draw new potential pilots to the brotherhood, but they're a major part of why I still love it and look forward to each flight as if it was my first.
