Besides my camera gear, I also brought a small notebook to jot down my thoughts in an effort to bring you a behind the scenes look at the day's activities.  Here they are...

Around 10AM

Sean Tucker is in a new plane this year, the "Oracle Challenger 3".  While he flips through the air, the announcer mentions he has a Facebook page.  I think the announcement is funny, but also a telling sign of the times as social media is being used by everyone.  If you're interested in his page, you can check it out here. 

 

At 10:15ish, the Army's Golden Knights fly in the POW flag.  The conditions are just right, and they hit the bullseye landing spot after jumping from  around 12,000 feet!  I recall seeing the Golden Knights on previous years when they flew in the American flag to the National Anthem. Quite a special experience.

 

10:25 - They announce a 20 minute break before the Canadian CF18 arrives.  I've never seen this particular jet in flight, and am excited to photograph it.  Jack Johnson is piped through the speakers, and I kick back to watch the waves.

 

10:45 - Due to heavy clouds rolling in, a "low show" was just announced.  This means the CF-18 won't run through it's normal high altitude performance.  Nevertheless, it comes into show center with a loud boom.  The boardwalk shakes as the pilot throws on the afterburners.  I can feel the vibrations in my chest. 

 

11:00 - A lull in the show gives me time to dump the contents of a 4GB CF card to the Memory Kick Si.  Before formatting the card, I copy the contents to two of the devices.  I'm really pleased with how fast the data transfers.  4GB takes less than 2 minutes.  The full color screen lets me visually confirm that all of the files were saved.  From there I'm able to format the card with confidence as I know the images are safely stored. I have lunch and pull on a jacket as a cool wind starts to blow.

 

Around noon, the Geico Skytypers take to the air.  The team is made of six 1940 aircrafts.  I use the 70-200mm to capture the wide formation of their "fan pass."

 

I also use the 400mm to get in tight on some of the individual planes.

 

12:30ish - After having cancelled due to engine trouble, John Klatt gets his Staudacher S-300D started and pulls off some great manuevers to the delight of the spectators. I consider leaving my spot on the boardwalk and heading down to the sand but decide against it.  I'm in a prime location, just right to show center.   

 

Next up is the A-10 Thunderbolt 2.  The A10 has an amazing ability to take off on a very short runway.  It also has an incredible turning radius, making it quite formidable in battle conditions. Check out the paint scheme on the nose of the plane. 

 

1pm - Ed Hamill performs some high energy acrobatic stunts in his Biplane.  The control he has over his plane is simply remarkable.  For more info on Ed, his website is here.

 

1:15 and the Russian fighter plane, the L39 Albatross enters with it's camouflage paint scheme.  This high-performance jet trainer was developed in Czechoslovakia.  He only does a few quick passes before heading back to the airport.

 

1:30 - The P51 Mustang flies over the beach with a sailboat off in the distance.  The plane comes from the "Warbirds Over Long Island."  For more details on how this plane was used in World War II, check here.

 

Julie Clark helps to remind us what Memorial Day is all about as she waves the American flag while flying her Chevron T-34 Mentor.

 

At 2pm, Fat Albert rumbles above to start the Blue Angels performance.

 

Around 2:15 the Blue Angels enter with this heart pounding entrance.   I used the the Zoom H2 to record the sound. (requires Quicktime player)

My location off to center stage turned out the be the perfect place to track the incoming jets as the approached from the right.  The camera was on the tripod with a cable release attached.  I used the right hand to move the camera, trying to keep the center focusing sensor on the jets.  Meanwhile I squeezed the shutter on the release in my left hand.  At 6.5 frames per second, the rapid firing was an audible clickclickclickclickclickclick.  That and the sound of the jets was music to my ears.  I love photographing the precision, and daring maneuvers.  To see perfection like this makes me appreciate the dedication these pilots have.  They are under incredible physical strain from all of the gforces, and yet they make it look so easy.  

 

 All of the spectators hold their breath as these two jets approach each other at incredibly high speeds.  Once they safely pass each other there is an audible gasp of relief.  Photographically speaking, this is a difficult maneuver to capture as it happens faster then the blink of an eye.  This is where a fast burst rate comes in handy.  Even so, it's possible to miss it, as I've done many times.  This year, I timed it just right while holding focus on one jet, and simply blasting away.  

 

 

Inverted with landing gear out.

 

Another beautiful pass.

 

I was very pleased with this image of the Blue Angels stacked on top of one another.  To me, it is a symbol of their power and precision. 

 

For more photography tips, articles, and videos, join me on Facebook.

Subscribe to this blog for the very latest.

Julie Clark helps to remind us what Memorial Day is all about as she waves the American flag while flying her Chevron T-34 Mentor. 

While you're enjoying your holiday barbeques this weekend, please take a moment to honor the men and women who serve our country both at home and abroad. 

 

If you're having a parade in your area, here are some video tips for you.

 

For more photography tips, articles, and videos, join me on Facebook.

Subscribe to this blog for the very latest.

Here are ten images of the Blue Angels from Friday's practice Airshow at Jones Beach.  They put on an incredible performance.  As you'll see in the photos below, the precision they fly with is simply astounding.

I also recorded their heart pounding entrance with the Zoom H2. (requires Quicktime player)

 

Only 18 inches separates the four jets in the Diamond Pass.

 

Landing gear is down.

 

There are two Blue Angels here.  This is a very close pass at incredibly high speeds.

 

Inverted with landing gear out.

 

Another beautiful pass.

 

Precision at its best.

 

Blue Angel #6 breaks away from #5.

 

#1 and 4 are inverted while 2 and 3 remain upright.

 

"Fat Albert" is the Blue Angel support plane.

 

 

For airshow photography tips, check my article here.

 

For more photography tips, articles, and videos, join me on Facebook.

Subscribe to this blog for the very latest.

Every Memorial Day weekend I get amped up about the Jones Beach Air Show.  This year is no exception, especially considering the world's best flight performance team, the Blue Angels will take to the skies.  On Thursday evening I scoped out Republic Airport in Farmingdale and found where they park the jets.  I shot this image through the chain link fence with a wide aperture of f2.8.  The sky was rather bland, so I decided to create a composite image using a dramatic sky I photographed recently.  Putting the two photos together made a pretty big impact.  This image was not for a newspaper or press wire, so altering it with Photoshop is not an ethical issue.  Tomorrow the real fun begins as I photograph them in flight. More to come.

For airshow photography tips, check my article here.

 

For more photography tips, articles, and videos, join me on Facebook.

Subscribe to this blog for the very latest.

They'll be back at Jones Beach in 2011.

With the warm weather heading our way, I can’t help but to get excited about shooting the raw power and energy of the upcoming air shows. Every Memorial Day weekend, there are two big shows at Jones Beach in Long Island. I’ve also travelled to New Jersey and Staten Island to see some exciting performances. To find out if there is an air show coming to your area, check out www.airshowbuzz.com.

Day of the Show

It is recommended that you get to the show early in order to choose your shooting location. Air shows can be very crowded with numbers reaching into the hundreds of thousands. By arriving early, you may be able to get up front, and avoid people stepping in front your lens. Generally, the performers enter from the left and the right, with their stunts done in the center. A good viewing place is important, as it allows you to focus, and track the incoming jets. When possible, I try to pick a place that’s in the shade, with a full view of the performance area. However, many airports and military bases do not offer this luxury as they take place in a large airport or military base. To protect yourself from the elements, I urge you to bring sunscreen.

Lens Choices

When I photographed my first air show many years ago, I used a 28-135mm lens. Yet, unless the plane was flying directly above me, I found that much more reach was necessary. Today, I use a 70-200mm for overhead action, and a 400mm for tighter shooting. Many photographers feel that 300mm is also a very useful focal length for this purpose. Just remember, air shows are usually several hours in duration, and longer lenses can get quite heavy. A tripod will give your arms a break, and allow you to create sharp images consistently. While the majority of your shooting will likely be done with the longer lenses, you can also create some unique images with a wide angle lens. This is especially useful when a performance team spreads out in formation and flies towards you.

Shutter Speeds

Attempting to freeze the motion of something travelling around 500 miles per hour is no easy feat. In order to achieve this, using fast shutter speeds around 1/1000 is ideal. However, there is one exception in which a fast shutter speed is not advisable. With older planes, a shutter speed of 1/1000 will freeze the propellers. The effect actually reduces the appearance of motion, and gives the image an unnatural look. To show the movement of the propeller, a shutter speed of 1/125 is a good starting point. You may have to adjust slightly from there depending on the speed of the plane.

In Camera Metering

Even today’s sophisticated DSLR metering systems can be tricked by certain situations. When exposing a jet against a clear blue summer sky, the camera readings will often properly expose the sky, and leave you with an underexposed plane. To counter this, it is a good idea to use your histogram, and shoot slightly brighter than an 18% grey. One way of getting this extra light into the camera is to use a faster ISO. Don’t hesitate to utilize ISO 400-800, as noise levels on the newer bodies has improved a great deal. If grain is still a concern, you can always apply noise reduction in the digital darkroom after all the planes have landed.

Focus

For moving objects, most cameras feature continuous focusing, or an Al Servo mode. To use these settings successfully, keep your center focusing point over the aircraft with your cable release or shutter held halfway down. As you follow the plane through your viewfinder, the camera will automatically adjust the focus as the aircraft gets closer. When you are ready to make an image, simply press the shutter all the way down. Rather than trying to frame the perfect shot, I like to use a high speed burst mode and fire off many exposures for each pass. This technique increases the percentage of “keepers”. Following high speed objects this way takes some getting used to. Luckily, air show organizers often arrange “photo passes” where the pilot flies at a reduced speed. Don’t get too comfortable though, they return to full speed after a few slow turns.

Memory

With all of this high flying, fast paced action, you will likely go through many memory cards rapidly. I bring a portable hard drive with me, and download the contents of the card while continuing to shoot. Once I’m sure the images have been safely written to the drive, I format the card in camera and reuse it. I like to shoot in RAW format whenever possible. However, if you are short on memory cards, and don’t have a portable hard drive, you may want to consider shooting in the Large/Fine JPEG format. This will allow you to fit more images on the card than RAW.

What to Look For

Smoke trails and after burner effects are great additions to an aviation image. Be ready for them, as it happens quickly. The trails of white smoke are actually created by pumping oil into the exhaust pipe. This is particularly interesting when used by an entire formation of planes. The patterns of smoke can be used to make for a more artistic composition. In addition, it adds a bit of contrast to the otherwise plain blue sky. I also look to capture the interaction between two planes. When pilots are flying side by side with their wings nearly touching, a great deal of tension is introduced to the photo. By freezing this moment in time you are also showcasing the precision, and skill of the daring pilots.

The Need for Speed

Once you shoot your first airshow, you will likely catch the aviation bug as I have. After shooting many air shows over the past several years, I put together a presentation with some of my favorite moments. You can watch it here.

I've been working on this for a few weeks, and am very happy with the results. Special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for his song "Gearhead". The jet effects and pilot chatter were added by me as a separate track. I did the editing in GarageBand, and created the show with Soundslides. Check it out!