Questions for our WIX photographers

[PeterA]

Ah! That aircraft looks similar to a Spitfire.

Allison engine?

PeterA

[Bill Greenwood]

Peter, at first I thought, oh no, not the yellow. But then I saw the logic, I saw the light as it were. Why not paint it that original color, then on a typical English weather day there will be at least one right yellow thing up in the sky over the Mother country.
We have today, for the first time in a few, bright blue sunny skies over glistening snow. It is perfect, and me stuck with a dentist appointment!

[Ztex]

I have been carrying a camera around for many years. Most of the time it has been something cheap. I thought I took a lot of photos in the past but now that I have digital ...I take a LOT of photos. I have a camera with me almost all the time.

As far as my photography goes...I'm like CAPflyer. I do the best I can with the equipment and the opportunities that I have.

I have yet to have a real opportunity to shoot A2A. That looks like it would be great fun!

Take care with your photos...get the subject close, watch the back ground, watch the light. Make it work for you.
Shoot a lot and only show your best stuff...and everyone will think your much better than you are

I too have thrown photos at airliners dot net...On one shot I got persistent... I had a scanned photo of an F-15 that I took in 1986 at the big show in Waco, TX. I resubmitted that thing 6 times...each time I tweaked it according to their "advice" I finally got it in...I won't mess with them again...the standards they hold seem ridiculous and there are clearly favorites that can do no wrong.

I put all of my aero pics on Airport-Data.com...they have no such standards. It is left up to the posters. and I post some here and on Fence Check.
That site brought me enough exposure that I was contacted about a subject and had one photo published! Woot! you never know what might happen!

[Mike]

I can only echo the advice that Eric gave - you'd almost think he's done this sort of thing once or twice before!!!! As with any other type of photography, the more you practice and experiment, the better your results will be.

I'm reliably told that it's all down to the photoplane pilot, and having a good one means that I can get good results even with my mediocre skills.

Last edited by Mike on Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mrhenniger]

What would be your dream (warbird) photo shoot? ....

I have had the good fortune to be on a few photo shoots now. I have not yet shot from a B-25, so I cross my fingers for an opportunity some day.

As for the subject, it really doesn't matter. A good platform and good light makes for a great day.

I'm afraid if you tried to shoot those warbirds from an SR-71, you would probably have nothing to show for it but a blur ...

Well wait a minute. I think he is onto something. How about photographing an SR-71 from an SR-71? ļ

And my last bit of advice for now is just shoot!
Shoot as often as you can. Digital media allows for almost never running out of space. The more you shoot, the more you will learn and find your "Style". If you know you camera well, you will know what it will let you do. And don't forget to experiment. Try something new and you might find something very special.

Excellent points! To extend that theme ensure part of the pre-flight briefing includes an estimation of the expected time in formation. Request the side of the aircraft you would like the aircraft on (dependent on lighting and your comfort position) but be prepared to take what ever you are given. Once formated get the shots you think you need first, then start experimenting. DON¡¦T STOP SHOOTING even if you think you already have it all. You never know what different lighting the next second might bring, or likewise aircraft positioning or a nice big grin of the face of the pilot in the target aircraft. Have a backup flash card ready to go into your camera in one pocket and backup batteries in another. Start with both fresh batteries and cards prior to the flight.

Mike

Mike, I love the CAF hellcat shot, would it be for sale? ... or could I borrow it for an avatar update? .... Very good job by all the posters in this thread. ... I'm truly enjoying all your input and LEARNING a tremendous amount about photography.

An additional discussion related to this thread would be just how difficult has it been, or would be, to publish your photographs? What publications and/or galaries are good to pursue and what one's should be avoided?. What warbird/vintage publications are considered the top of the list and what publications would welcome amature photographers work? ... I'm sure we have several great folks here in the business that could shed some insight.

M

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Last edited by Hellcat on Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[daveymac82c]

I figure this is as good a thread as any to ask a question about photography.

Sometimes I find it very hard to shot aircraft indoors. Often the hangar is lit with natural light from side windows or from the ceiling and if any window is in the picture it creates a huge glow. An example that I've had this problem is at the Flying Heritage Collection.

Other lighting issues I've had are when it's too freaking dark in the facility to get a good shot without a flash, but then the flash makes the shot look bad too. An example of this is the Australian War Memorial in Canberra (which is really really worth seeing).

I digress.... Can anyone suggest how to make the best of a bad situation when it comes to lighting? Are there settings on the camera that I could tweak to minimize the annoying glows or the really dark darks?

Cheers,

David

[T33driver]

Enroute to the Southern WI Airfest (Janesville/KJVL) to see the Snowbirds...all that canopy glass can give a photographer fits as far as glare, not to mention the angle of the sun in general. Glad all I had to do is fly




Flyby at the Quad Cities Air Show

[warbird1]

What publications and/or galaries are good to pursue and what one's should be avoided?. What warbird/vintage publications are considered the top of the list and what publications would welcome amature photographers work?

I hear Challenge publications is a good one.

[Nathan]

haha Gary....your camera looks alittle dusty and greasy! Nice shots.

Hellcat asked what is everyone's dream camera. I got my dream camera a Nikon D80. Im pretty proud to own it. Sure there are bigger more expensive camera's out there but I love my D80. I brag about it a lot so...

[Eric Presten]

While we are bragging, 14 of the pictures tha Mike posted above were taken out of my 1949 Piper Clipper photoship.

Last edited by Eric Presten on Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Nathan]

I can only echo the advice that Eric gave - you'd almost think he's done this sort of thing once or twice before!!!! As with any other type of photography, the more you practice and experiment, the better your results will be.

Dang, I might as well throw out my camera!

Freakin awesome shots dude!

[Jack Cook]

I have not yet shot from a B-25, so I cross my fingers for an opportunity some day.

Oh it's so-so

Yours truly

Bud

Lee Oman

Brian Adams

Crash Williams

Sam Richardson

Bud again

Renny Price

Jerry Janes & Crash

Rod Richardson

Bill Stein & Wayne Hadley

Jeff Wright & Steve Hill

Last edited by Jack Cook on Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chunks]

Hellcat wrote:
I'm afraid if you tried to shoot those warbirds from an SR-71, you would probably have nothing to show for it but a blur ...


Well wait a minute. I think he is onto something. How about photographing an SR-71 from an SR-71? ļ

Actually, I just wanted to ride in the SR-71. I gave little consideration to the quality of the pictures. To be honest, I doubt I would be able to raise a camera past the huge f*&#$@g smile I had on my face!

Chunks