I didn't really have a choice, but I can tell you that this shoot convicted me of the fact that no matter how good one thinks they are, you cannot successfully handhold a cinema camera in the air. I had an 8x8 attached to one of my Sony 4K cameras to try and dampen some motion. The difference between that technique and using my cinema stabilizer is night and day. The Long Ranger was a great platform, but again, a two blade rotor compared to the Bell 407 cannot even be described. Ross's 407 is like shooting from a gyroscope in itself.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
"Lurk and Learn?".....................Your imagery this week hardly has you in that category You've been a sleeper Douglas, you're excellent! I knew that I'd regret not staying to shoot the show and your images sure make me think that I made the wrong decision. We had the run of the field, the venue faced the right direction for once and it looks like the weather was aces.
Truthfully, the NYC assignment had me stressed for a week before and I was battling whatever this head cold upper respiratory thing that everyone seems to have. I was exhausted and Chandler was as well, so we agreed to a Friday early am departure. I'm thinking that we all may come back next year if schedules allow and do the whole thing.
Thursday afternoon, after we shared all our footage with the powers that be, we just roamed the field during the practice sessions. Just our knocking around shots told me the show was going to be a barn burner and you took full advantage of that! Well done!...Show more →
Thank you Jim! I think I saw the same 747 cargo jet landing on Saturday. I wasn't even paying attention when it was touching down. I went through my files from Saturday's show at Stewart and found these few are quite different from the ones with blue sky and white clouds. I personally like effect of the dark clouds. C&C are always appreciated.
You bet that sky makes a difference! Those are beautiful. Sheila often asks me why I would spend time shooting something that I have captured a million times and that couldn't be anymore beautiful. You just answered that question, it can always be more beautiful as elements change. I was just looking at your NY skyline images a few minutes ago and wishing that I had had the time to come and shoot with you. No more "lurking" Bud, you are a player......
Well...nothing aviation yet (hopefully see my first SU-57 this afternoon), but I'm enjoying a trip that I really never thought would actually happen. Just waking up for day two now:
Well hello! Many, many thanks to all for the wonderful images you all post. I know that some of what you planed did not work out in the way you intended. For my part, I have to say that to not succeed is not automatically to fail. It’s hard to remember that in our increasingly polarised world.
Over here on the UK south coast, things are kinda quiet. We just finished our last summer bank holiday and the wx is … err.... hot ! - well by our standards it is! I’m already missing the sound of the Boultbee twin seat Spit - apparently it’s gone off to Duxford for maintenance.
Right so what’s it to be – Colour, B&W, or forget it?
Hi Nick, Right you are Bud, and the experience with Chandler was worth it on it's own. B&W or color, tough choice because they both have wonderful qualities. Well done no matter what final selection you make.
Ttown Aubie wrote:
Douglas you have posted some remarkable shots. I am glad that you have joined our group.
Thank you very much. I have been visiting this thread for several years. I enjoy both the photos and commentaries in this thread.
I just post here once in a long while. I am just a hobbyist. There will be two more airshows (Dover AFB and Oceana NAS) in my region next month but I won't be able to go due to timing conflicts. So the airshow season is over for me this year. Most of my friends don't understand why I go to airshows 6 or 7 times a year to see pretty much the same thing. I just love to hear the jet noise, watch the performance and feel proud and patriotic.
nickjohnson wrote:
Well hello! Many, many thanks to all for the wonderful images you all post. I know that some of what you planed did not work out in the way you intended. For my part, I have to say that to not succeed is not automatically to fail. It’s hard to remember that in our increasingly polarised world.
Over here on the UK south coast, things are kinda quiet. We just finished our last summer bank holiday and the wx is … err.... hot ! - well by our standards it is! I’m already missing the sound of the Boultbee twin seat Spit - apparently it’s gone off to Duxford for maintenance.
Right so what’s it to be – Colour, B&W, or forget it?
kdrk888 wrote:
Thank you very much. I have been visiting this thread for several years. I enjoy both the photos and commentaries in this thread.
I just post here once in a long while. I am just a hobbyist. There will be two more airshows (Dover AFB and Oceana NAS) in my region next month but I won't be able to go due to timing conflicts. So the airshow season is over for me this year. Most of my friends don't understand why I go to airshows 6 or 7 times a year to see pretty much the same thing. I just love to hear the jet noise, watch the performance and feel proud and patriotic....Show more →
Well, I've already put a reminder on my calendar for Stewart next year, is this an annual show? Never knew it was there. Only 3.5 hr drive for me, I can do that! I almost decided to go this year once you posted about it Douglas, but I just couldn't pull it together in time.
Would be great to meet you next year. As you know, we don't have many shows here in New England.
nickjohnson wrote:
Well hello! Many, many thanks to all for the wonderful images you all post. I know that some of what you planed did not work out in the way you intended. For my part, I have to say that to not succeed is not automatically to fail. It’s hard to remember that in our increasingly polarised world.
Over here on the UK south coast, things are kinda quiet. We just finished our last summer bank holiday and the wx is … err.... hot ! - well by our standards it is! I’m already missing the sound of the Boultbee twin seat Spit - apparently it’s gone off to Duxford for maintenance.
Right so what’s it to be – Colour, B&W, or forget it?
msalvetti wrote:
Well, I've already put a reminder on my calendar for Stewart next year, is this an annual show? Never knew it was there. Only 3.5 hr drive for me, I can do that! I almost decided to go this year once you posted about it Douglas, but I just couldn't pull it together in time.
Would be great to meet you next year. As you know, we don't have many shows here in New England.
Mark
Hi Mark, I think it's an annual show. Would love to meet up with folks from Fred Miranda. Next year they will have the Thunderbirds, too early to know the rest of the lineup. It was a great show. There was this one act where the 9 Red Arrows were coming straight down from inside some clouds and did the burst right when they became visible, it was an amazing sight but the lens (200-600mm) I had on my main camera was too long to capture the scene and it was too late to shoot with the other camera with a 24-105mm that I had with me.
The parking signs were confusing and inadequate, it took me and many others more than 45 minutes just to find the direction to get to the parking area. The state troopers didn't seem to know the direction either. As with many other airshows, it took me almost two hours just to get out of the parking area. Staying around for another hour after the show would have been a good idea.
The ticket was $40, general parking was $20. I think Rhode Island has big airshows occasionally. Jones Beach in Queens has a show every year too.
Thanks. Yes, I always plan to hang around after a show is over, even if I have to sit and read or nap in the car. I've done RI a few times, but this year it was cancelled. Also Westover has one on occasion, as does Pease.
What sounds really attractive about Stewart is you're not shooting into the sun.
Yeah boy, we had numerous discussions about what it was going to be like to navigate the ingress and egress at Stewart over the weekend. I am so used to the six lanes in every direction that we have around here, it takes a little adjustment when I travel to the northeast where many of the roads are two lanes and the landscape is dotted with villages and a zillion stop lights.
We stayed at the Marriott just off of the field and I'd probably stay there again if I go back next year. The organizer that Glenn works with for Stewart handles a number of big airshow events across the country and apparently has sizable pull when it comes to getting the near impossible accomplished, like the Hudson mission. Stewart is appealing because, as Mark pointed out, for once you are shooting in the right light all day and the backdrops are nice. I love Alliance but backdrops are pretty bad (getting worse) and the light requires masterful planning throughout the day. Wings over Dallas is much the same, actually maybe even worse on both counts.
Truthfully, I am coming to realize that I may be air showed out. Don't mean to sound spoiled (but I clearly am) unless there's something very unique going on like the formation over Manhattan or something, I'm starting to lean toward skipping an event. The factors we just discussed and the probability of a number of you guys being there might lure me back there for next year. The crowd line seemed exceptionally close and aligned very well, not sure how deep the bodies were during the actual show but it was great on Thursday for plinking around.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Yeah boy, we had numerous discussions about what it was going to be like to navigate the ingress and egress at Stewart over the weekend. I am so used to the six lanes in every direction that we have around here, it takes a little adjustment when I travel to the northeast where many of the roads are two lanes and the landscape is dotted with villages and a zillion stop lights.
We stayed at the Marriott just off of the field and I'd probably stay there again if I go back next year. The organizer that Glenn works with for Stewart handles a number of big airshow events across the country and apparently has sizable pull when it comes to getting the near impossible accomplished, like the Hudson mission. Stewart is appealing because, as Mark pointed out, for once you are shooting in the right light all day and the backdrops are nice. I love Alliance but backdrops are pretty bad (getting worse) and the light requires masterful planning throughout the day. Wings over Dallas is much the same, actually maybe even worse on both counts.
Truthfully, I am coming to realize that I may be air showed out. Don't mean to sound spoiled (but I clearly am) unless there's something very unique going on like the formation over Manhattan or something, I'm starting to lean toward skipping an event. The factors we just discussed and the probability of a number of you guys being there might lure me back there for next year. The crowd line seemed exceptionally close and aligned very well, not sure how deep the bodies were during the actual show but it was great on Thursday for plinking around....Show more →
Jim, the two areas reserved for folks who paid big bucks (not the general $40 general admission) were nowhere near the show center. They were somewhere near both ends of the runway. I think the best spot at Steward is that steep slope near the show center, you are looking at the flying planes pretty much at eye level. I was at the front of the show center and had to shoot at an angle higher than I preferred.
msalvetti wrote:
What sounds really attractive about Stewart is you're not shooting into the sun.
Mark
this is why if anyone can, airshow London, ON is a must see, such sweet lighting if the weatherman cooperates, and with friday evening, hour of power, which really is more 3 - 3 1/2 hours is perfect with the setting sun to your back, from the 2016 and 17 hour of power shows
2 Canadian F-18's along with 3 F-16 Stingers from Toledo, OH inbound as hour of power is about to start
hour of power heritage flight
couple of Top Hatters inbound during hour of power
a sunday evening departure after the airshow while waiting for the parking lot to empty
JWilsonphoto wrote:
. . . .Truthfully, I am coming to realize that I may be air showed out. Don't mean to sound spoiled (but I clearly am) unless there's something very unique going on like the formation over Manhattan or something, I'm starting to lean toward skipping an event. . . .
Same here. I look at what is scheduled for a show, and, if it is all a "been there, done that" (like Cleveland this weekend) I'll pass.
You've been a sleeper Douglas, you're excellent! I knew that I'd regret not staying to shoot the show and your images sure make me think that I made the wrong decision. We had the run of the field, the venue faced the right direction for once and it looks like the weather was aces. 
