I found this thread while looking for some good photos from the dayton show last weekend. It was the first show for my 3 kids. I am sitting at my computer after work at 1:49am b/c I had to get to the end of this thread and just tell all of you who have posted their work here; Good God you are all so talented. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of viewing your amazing work. Keep up the great work.
This AirVenture was a bittersweet experience for me. Although I struck some major successes in my Seneca III renovation (and probably $15,000 in overall savings), I was only able to get out and shoot photos for a single afternoon. And that turned out to be the end of Precious Metal and her pilot.
I must also humbly admit that I was clearly not prepared for the weight and heft of the 200-400 lens. My keeper rate was waaaay down this year, so I have one or two good shots, an excellent learning experience, and not much else. Here's the first one I liked: http://www.pbase.com/image/83278703/large.jpg
I'll try to find another one over the weekend. Great job, everyone!!
I must also humbly admit that I was clearly not prepared for the weight and heft of the 200-400 lens. My keeper rate was waaaay down this year, so I have one or two good shots, an excellent learning experience, and not much else.
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Fascinating to see that you didn't only capture nice prop blur, but you also caught a bit of roll blur (as if that isn't apparent from the position of the ailerons )
Here is one capture from Dayton this past weekend... I was there to witness Jim LeRoy's final performance. I hope to never have to witness another accident like that again...
Beautiful work Guys! Rodolfo, don't be disheartened by your keeper rate, the 100-400 is a great tool but not nearly as quick as the 70-200/2.8 when in auto-focus mode. My keeper rate was down a bit this year too, partly the MKIII growing pains and then the mediocre skies and light. Still it was a great week. I regret not being able to get together with you though!
Your shot of Sean is very good, and if you look t it closely you can see that the center is sharp and your shutter speed was at a point where you got a little motion in the wing tips, actually very nice. It's always a trade off between slowing the prop with a fast shutterspeed that allows everything to be crisp, and using a shutterspeed that gives the prop a good look but blurs the aircraft a bit if it's rolling or pitching. I think you chose the best of all worlds on this one.
If you hang around shooting airshows, you'll witness some things you wish you hadn't, it's just the nature of the beast. I thought I was going to witness a couple bad ones during the week, but somehow the pilots/planes narrowly pulled the maneuver off. They were so close to the ground and mushing so badly that it wasn't skill, just luck that they arrested the sink rate a split second before impact. That's why I say, be sad that it happens, but don't be surprised, these guys know they are one distraction/miscalculation away from eternity, but they love it. Johnny Rutherford summed up the performers attitude at my Buddy Charlie Hilliard's funeral when he said, "Life get's a little boring if you don't crawl up to the edge every once in a while and look over." Everyone's edge is in a different place.
Re: Precious Metal, I just heard the NTSB lead has concluded that they weren't intending to land in formation and Gerry couldn't see Stang in front of him during his approach until he caught a glimpse of him at the last second. You can believe that based upon the sequence of shots and how blind 51's are in that configuration.
The fact that Gerry went up on his wing probably saved Casey's life because you can see where that prop was headed after it cut the gash in the middle of the fuselage.
Another great shot Jack! Thanks for the correction, I coudn't tell if I was imagining the gear doors or not. Man that's pretty country!! Let's see some more of your shots up there.
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