Blue Angel Echelon Pass

Ooh, isn't this exciting!!!!!

 

Why all the slagging off? I really like this image. I've never seen the blue angels, but have seen the Red Arrows (UK), Jordanian Falcons, Thunderbirds, and loads of other aerobatic teams many times. They bore me. Give me a propellor on a 60 year old warbird and I'm happy. But, I think this is a great shot of the Angels, with an interesting composition, shot with the difficulty of long lenses and uncontrollable lighting. I would be happy to take it. Is the original blurred, or the scan? something tells me that this isn't a 30mb file. I like this, and I like my uploaded stuff. You may not, (probably won't), so rate POW, but don't be so nasty about it. I get paid for my pictures, but that means nothing - it certainly does'nt mean i'm better or worse than anyone else. (incidentally, my airshow pics were taken in absolutely stinking conditions, wide open at 1/125 with a 500mm lens and none are good enough to go on the wall - they are their for a friend to see who couldn't make it to the show, and lives a long way away. No works of art in that folder.)

 

So Scott has gone. Well, IMO thats a real pity, as he always had very interesting comments on things, especially in the forums, but as someone said above, their are no identical photos uploaded, also, IMO this one is better. Why? The sky is more blue, the composition is tight, compressed, and the whole thing gives an impression of speed, while Scott's are, TO ME, lifeless.

Come back Scott, you are an asset to this site, as are the rest of us.

 

'Nuff Said, Mark.

Pawel, Philip already has a PhD and photo.net is not in the MIT network now (not unless MIT co-locates at Exodus).

This is a great photograph - well done! I would like to know how long a lens you used, as either these chaps fly like maniacs or there has been a good deal of foreshortening.

Jay:

 

Next time use the radio built into your camera to tell the pilots where to fly, what formation to be in, and what background you need. As soon as they get where you want them then they can push their hover buttons while you get out your lights and your ladders and light meter. After a few minutes of studying the composition then you can take the perfect exposure(one that conains imagination and heart and thought) instead of a picure of planes moving at several hundred miles an hour.

 

Just a little levity interjected for the complaints. I really like the shot, and it gives me the sense of Oh My God Their Flying So Close!

Good capture of what you had to work with and congrats on POW.

I like the shot. Slightly out of focus adds to the feeling of movement. This type of shot, so tightly framed, is not exactly a walk in the park.

Scott Eaton has been very critical of this photo and boastful of his own. Scott, I would expect we'll be seeing your comparable precision flying images on this site in the very near future?

I spoke too soon. I've just seen Scott's version of the Blue Angels. It's good. I like the composition. But, I don't feel it merits the condecending attitude. I put it on a par with Jay's image. I actually like the saturation in Jay's better

Ok, it's late Saturday night and my 15 minutes of fame is about up. Thank God! :) As they say in the stand up comedy biz: "This is a tough room..."

 

Thank you to Mr. Greenspun and the "elves" for giving me a weeks worth of far ranging emotions. Elation to grief and just about everything else in between.

 

To those who liked my shot: Thank you very much.

To those who didn't like it: That's ok too. (You might want to read my bio, learn who my photographic heros are, and then you might understand why I don't necessarily shoot "art.")

 

I shoot what I like and I like what I shoot. I'm sure (based on the ratings breakdown...) that some of the "artistes" out there just plain have a problem with any kind of military hardware. To give a rating of 1/1 means you would have liked to give it a 0/0...so why not just "walk on by?"

IMNSHO, it aint that bad a photo. But thanks for looking and offering an opinion.

 

I shoot with Canon FD gear and at the time I took this photo, I was using a T70 with a Tamron 60-300mm f3.8-5.4 zoom lens. Not exactly the cadillac of glass, but it isn't all that bad either. I scan with one of two devices which are inherently limiting. I have a Prime Film 1800 (1800dpi, duh!) or an HP flatbed with an active tranparency adapter (1200dpi optical.) Neither of these devices are world beaters. I work with what I can afford. The aircraft did not fill the frame and it is somewhat heavily cropped. I can assure you, I will be rescanning and re-tweaking this image once it's PoW status is done.

 

As far as "forshortening" goes...there isn't much going on in this shot. They fly closer together than any flight demonstration squadron/group going. Their usual separation is a mere 36" wingtip to wingtip. The most nerve wracking aspect of the Echelon Pass is the fact that Aircraft #1 cannot see 2/3/4...2 can't see 3/4 and 3 can't see 4. The Leader flys a sedate parabloa past the crowd line and trusts that 2/3/4 will hit their marks, suck it in tight, and make it look symetrical. That is the aspect of this photo that I like the best.

 

Kindest Regards to all...Now go shoot something!

 

NEXT!

 

PS...FWIW...My favorite photos (from my aviation folder...Krashburn T. Throttlebottom (becasue I have a terrible phobia about shooting people and this one worked)...The P51 Mustang "poster" (nothing short of a pro drum scan can do this image justice...projected, it's truly eye-poppingly beautiful) and the "Sunset Mustang"...closest thing to "art" I've ever captured.

Great timing! And framing, and subject, and compostion... Could have been a little sharper though.

 

I´ve just read your comments on the picture, everything considered, it´s a hell of a good job.

You've just got to love Naval aviation. The one draw back is that I'm an Tomcat fan...

 

Keep up the good work!

of your aviation series. I am amazed at this caprture- I have tried so many times, but dang they just move too fast. I only WISH this showed the condensation coming off the wings, but it does enough for me that I can feel the building shake. It is clear you LOVE aviation photography- are you a pilot? And if not, well then, get up there!

Having just shot the Thunderbirds today, I have an appreciation for what goes into getting a shot like this. Yes there are a lot of opportunities, but rarely are they realized as nicely as this! Ok, it's not perfectly sharp, maybe a little contrasty due to the time of day, but you gotta give it to him...long lens, fighter jets moving pretty quick, perfect timing. There's definitely more to it than just a snap shot! Good shootin'!! BTW, what type of film did you use?

I like the tight crop, but it lacks a bit of originality

While it's a great photo, it's certainly not original. There are literally hundreds of similar (not exact, mind you) photos of the Blue Angels flying in tight formation.

 

I might add, that there are many photos where all of the planes are actually *in* formation. In this one, as someone pointed out, Plane #3 is grossly out of position. Not that this is a problem of the photographer, but it's the photographer's job to wait until they're all in line before snapping the photo.

 

And I fly formation myself as well as take pictures of others, so I know whereof I speak...

gorgeous and creative work! ..