Outstanding shots! You are hardly a "tag a long" photographer. Sean is a wonderful guy isn't he! He's one who the ego factor hasn't consumed. What an incredible pilot and showman. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, I'm happy about that skymaster.. 1/40th sec at 200mm is a 'mostly miss' situtation, but it made for a cool blur on the one image that was sharp enough to use. I'll play with that on-ground pitts.. yes, maybe. That image got lightened up a bit more than was 'real'. At that point light was pretty murky, with the low fog.
One thing I definitely noticed is the amount of sensor dust I have. I usually shoot at much more open apertures, but here I got shutter-speed centric, and the f-stops went way down on some of these. You guys use neutral-density filters a lot when shooting aircraft in bright daylight?
I'm fairly new at this, and the only time I've done this reasonably well was at the recent Red Bull air race. Applied lots of things I learned here, so thanks again to the pros among us!
I started out slowing things down as much as possible by stacking the 1.7x TC (1.5 stops lost) on my 70-200/2.8 and then adding the CPL, twisted to max effect, for another 2 stops (or whatever) of light loss. That gave me anything from 1/100 to 1/320 wide open (f/4.8 with the TC), which was just about perfect for what I wanted: little depth of field and good prop blur. So I didn't need to do any tinkering; but if I needed slower, I could stop down the aperture, and if I needed faster, I could twist the CPL or even remove it.
For whatever help that is, this was my first and crude approach to light level control. But it worked!
I've just posted this question about the Sigma 120-300 vs. the Nikon 200-400 on the Nikon SLR's forum. Since the whole point of buying a longer lens is to get more reach on aircraft shots, I'd appreciate any feedback or comments y'all can give me.
To chime in an offer a little insight has to my success in shooting from air to air. First off I need to thank Victoria R. (I appologise I cannot remember her last name or the magazine she works for, I have her card back in the office and can post her contact info on Tuesday), a photographer who was on working on assignment with Tam Oracle the day I came to visit. She gave me some key pointers.
One, Prop Blur, Try to keep you shutter speed between 200 and 250th of a second, this will allow some blur, which will add to the dynamics of the motion, and still freeze the planes movement. I am attaching a good example of propblur.
/Users/admin/Desktop/propblur.jpg
Second, from a ground position use the fastest lens you have, 2.8 or there abouts as the subject is far enough away fro the camera that depth of field is not a concern for separating the forground and background. Still not 100 % sure why she was pushing that one, but hey she is the pro, I was thankful just to be invited.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
How was your trip to Monument Valley? What a setting for any type of photography. Where did you stay?
I only found out about the Red Bull air race a week before it was to happen, and that's a pretty remote area, so lodging was impossible to find nearby. I stayed at the Quality Inn in Tuba City (about 2 hours drive), but for future reference, perhaps the closest lodging that looked halfway decent would be the Holiday Inn in Kayenta, AZ (maybe 20 minutes away). Overall, it was a six-hour drive from Phoenix. Long, but worth it.
A satisfying photo trip to Monument Valley would involve lots of driving between rock formations, since many of the really interesting and attractive geological features are spread out. Lots of interesting angles... I tried to take in a few while I was there, but in a one-day trip it was very much a stretch. Awe-inspiring place, really, makes you think of the larger issues in life like creation and eternity. Very spiritual, and I do want to make a second trip out there in the fall when it's not so hot.
Thanks for the insight. I have wanted to spend some non-pressure time absorbing and shooting Monument Valley for a long time. Let's see how the fall shapes up, I'd enjoy seeing and shooting it with you.
As a quick reminder (and my apologies if this bugs anyone), I'm considering the purchase of the Sigma 120-300/2.8 lens with 1.4 and 2.0 TC's as a way to get more reach with good quality for the next couple of years, since I still cannot afford the Nikon 200-400 (and since the 2x TC would give me 600mm). The Sigma with TC's is $3,100, the Nikon is $5,100.
I have this question posted on the Nikon forum. Since my use of the lens will be primarily for aircraft, I would dearly appreciate any feedback and opinions you all can give me to help make the purchase (or not to purchase) decision.
I'll ask around and see what I can find out for you. I was tempted to go Sigma when I was looking at the Canon 14 Rectlinear. Price differential was $900 vs. $2100. I demo'd the both and shot them side by side, this was back in the days of film. While this might have nothing to do with the lenses you're considering, I found noticeable fall off at the edges and a warmer tint to the clouds using the Sigma. I've never owned an aftermarket lens and even though there wasn't a huge difference, there was enough to sway me to spend the extra grand. I figure we own these for the rest of our lives and I couldn't stand the thought that every shot I took with the Sigma, would have me wondering if it would have been just a bit better with the Canon. I know everyone has budgetary considerations and that's sure a lot of money, but if you can make the stretch, I don't think you'd ever regret it.
As I posted on the other thread, two things are making me favor the Nikon now. One is that I've now read easily two dozen reviews, and they are all, without exception, more positive for the Nikon (using words like "flawless" and "legendary") than they are for the Sigma (using terms like "excellent" and "more than satisfactory"). And I do want the best image quality I can get, darnit.
The other is that the Sigma does not have VR. When shooting at the 1/125 or 1/160 that I need to get good prop blur, VR is a great help in avoiding camera shake even at 340mm using my 70-200 + 1.7x TC. And that's only 1 to 1.5 stops slower than reciprocal... shooting those shutter speeds at 560 mm would cause many more images lost to camera shake, don't you think?
My 600 f/4 IS is excellent in every way, but even with all my practice I get soft images more than I'd like. Part of that is the sheer weight of the camera/lens combo and shooting hand-held. I would hate to see what I'd get without IS and the superior optics. I think you're on the right track. There's something to the old expression, "buy the best and only cry once". You'll never regret buying the Nikon. Keep us posted on what you do and let us see some work from that great lens!
I agree completely with Jim; stick with the Nikon glass. While on the front side you're saving a few bucks, but the all around quality of what you're getting is no where near what you'd get with the Nikon, Now, you're out the money and you take a loss on the other lens if ya try to sell it. The result is a deeper hole that where ya are now.
If you and I can ever get together I'll bring along my 200-400 and you can shoot it. It really an amazing piece of glass. Because I don't use it as often as I'd like, I've thought about selling it on a couple occasions. But all I gotta do is take it out and shoot a couple frames and any thoughts of letting it go quickly disappears. This lens along with my 85 1.4 are my all time favorites. The image quality for both is just stunning.
It is great to see this thread still going. I took my two boys (6 and 2 1/2 years old) to our local GA airport this afternoon to plane watch and have some good father and boys time. While we were there a flight of three T-6s and a Yak trainer made a few formation passes and then landed. They were followed closely by a a trio of RVs. All apparently were there in association with the local Confederate Air Force group. It was one heck of a thrill to hear and feel the P&Ws. I immediately thought of you because of your great photography work, your passion for aviaition and the fact that you own one of those gas guzzlers. The boys loved looking at the T-6s and I was kicking myself for not bringing my 10D that day. It is just as well, I was there as Dad, not the local aviation photography nut.
I can not wait to see the P-38 pics from GML. I almost keeled over when I saw your shot of the P-38J Skiddo.
Sounds like a Dd/sons day made in heaven! If you ever get to the Dallas aea I'll make sure you and the boys get the full T-6 experience. I've been doing landscape work around the house this weekend and this afternoon I heard the distant rumble of a P&W, sure enough eventually a Six roared overhead. It was all could do to stay on task, fortunately our weather has been really crummy or I'd have been on my way to the hanger.
Glad you're still enjoying our thread! How about that 100,000 milestone!! You guys are great.
