gnashings

Excellent composition - these naval aviation aircraft are wonderful for that, aren't they!? Such cmplex and unusual shapes with the wings folded away in all these creative ways!

I won't comment on the B&W conversion, as I am afraid I am terminally biased - but the rest of the shot is as expected from your other work: wonderful!

Thank you for the advice and your kind words, I have truly enjoyed your input on my stuff - and have definitely enjoyed your work!!! Sorry to use this space for such correspondance - this site does not seem to have a private message facility...

There is a MkIX in St. Catherines, Ont. - I saw it at an airshow in Oshawa, I am contemplating contacting the owner somehow to get some lens time with it - perhaps an owner of such a beautiful thing would be inclined to let me take some photos in exchange for prints? I suppose I'll never know if I don't try!

Unfortunately, while the camouflage is pretty well done, the squadron letters and serial number are woefully inaccurate on this fine, flying example... But I suppose its better than no Spitfire at all!

And Oshkosh is the Holy Grail of airshows, isn't it (especially for grass-roots enthusiasts, and not big business - althoug I know that is present as well) - it is definitely on my to do list, but it looks like it may have to wait a while. Oh well, perhaps it will taste all the more sweet!

You have to love fishermen - not a very movement intensive bunch, ehhehehe. Glad you enjoyed the picture!

Ah ha! I was going to suggest you go see Elisabeth's P51's - but I see you alreadyhave. Well, just like her work (but in a different fashion) this is a masterful image of this awesome bird! I am going to go and drool at some of your other photos now...

After reading your comments on some of my photos, I had to have a look-see at your shots... And now I have a complex :(

Jokes aside, this one struck me right away - I am Spitfirephile from an early age, I am afraid incurible, and I love this shot! I would love bump into you at an airshow and just foolow you around and see how you get these gorgeous images! My hat off to you, sir!

Again, thanks - you have gone through all my aviation related pictures it seems, and now I can't wait to get out there again and try to put some of your suggestions to work! Thank you! Regarding the composition... you are looking at artistic purity (Ha!) being compromised by the eye of an absolute airplane fanatic. I wish they could put these airplanes somewhere that would allow a more clear background, though...

Wow! A fellow aviation enthusiast, I see - not many people can name the plane, much less the prop! I really appreciate your suggestion, its a very good point - if I get to re-shoot it, I will definitely play around with that idea. They were putting the airplanes away, and I was shooting hand held, with yellow filter to get a little bit more out of what was a very "blah" sky, in quickly dimming light. I just grabbed the shot and frankly, didn't put enough thought into it besides getting the framing the way I wanted. Another keeper of an idea from you! I really, really appreciate you taking the time to give me these suggestions - I am sure my photos will bemuch better for them! And you are right, I have been having some dust-control problems in my "convertible" dark room. I have since taken to wiping every visible surface with a damp cloth - it seems to have helped a bit. Thanks again!

Thanks for the kind words - you brought a big smile to my face, as this was the effect I wanted! I also tried shooting the second bridge in motion, but my attempts were not to my liking - there is always next time, and now I have some tricks that I want to try!

August - you are absolutely right about the choice of B&W - I have C41's as well (I should have had some tranny with me!). The best time to shoot these on the ground is right before they put them away for the day - still, clutter is difficult to avoid. The interesting thing is that the floor in the hangar is very glossy, and either myself or a friend of mine (I can't recall right now) has a colour shot of the airplane in the hangar, with the brilliant paint scheme reflecting in the floor. Hope you make it to Hamilton, its really a nice little museum and the annual roll out is a great place to look at airplanes. Thanks for the input on the shot!

Great eye - the photo really exposes the unique shape of the Corsair to a good adventage! Even the single auxuliary fuel tank seems to balance out the radar pod of this Korean-era night fighter model! Top marks for composition. I am not crazy about the black and white, at least the way it shows on my screen, it looks somewhat artificial and lacks the depth and tonality that makes good B&W. Perhaps this one would look better in colour?

Very cool shot of some very 'applicable' nose art!

"Live and act as you see fit, but don't force others to live in your black and white world."

 

Well, I do - you live in a destaurated one. Have a nice day.

 

I find a couple bones of contention with the above. First off, most wildlife photographers I know, are nature lovers (often active in conservation, etc.) - I hardly see them as trampling habitats. Secondly, the average animal in their habitat is more akin to you or I in our backyards, or on the way to the store - not someone who is down and out. If I thought that an animal could feel hurt or exploited by a guy with a camera, I would agree - but I don't think that's the case - there is a bit of a difference there.

Also, even with a 200mm lens, on the street, I could get this framing(with no crops) from sufficiently far away that the subject would not know I am there. With a 300 or 400mm lens... well, you do the math.

This is a strong image, though - nicely composed, with an interesting use of depth of field amd movement. I just don't agree with the reasons behind taking it, no matter how many excuses one makes for them.

Of course it takes no courage to take photos like this, especially with a big zoom, from God knows where. I think the only justification for this type of photography is an attempt to document some social phenomenon, presumably with the aim of doing something to make a positive change.

I think that "donating" to "these people" is just a funny little trick of the mind, applied with those who have some guilt about shooting people with no defences, at their most vulnerable. Anyone who thinks that a couple of coins in the hat of that man is in any way compensation for using him is deluding themselves - its just a moral BandAid.

Sure, photographers have, and hopefully will always, document humanity at its best, worst, etc. But that is journalism, that is telling a story, that is raising awareness - that is what war photographers did and do, that is what journalists should be doing (and I believe for the most part they do). What does this image do (well done as it is) to further any positive change? Is it in an article exposing these people's suffering? Are you going to sell it and donate the proceits to the homeless? Or are you just playing with a toy that costs more than this man will likely have to spend on food in the next year, trying to be an artist? Here is an idea: get a 20mm lens, get up close, explain to your 'subjects' why and what you're doing... I think anyone shooting 'street' with a telephoto is a coward and poor excuse for a human being. Same goes for anyone who takes adventage of those less fortunate for no good reason, with no aim to help them.

Paolo, I can really appreciate what you describe here - I tried something like this with a friend driving and myself shooting, and I my results where NOWHERE near this quality. After a few tries I gave up (it was my friend's camera, so handed it back to him and blamed IT :) ). Good job to get this result.

I think this is a very effective, dramatic image - thanks for sharing it, I really enjoyed it.

Very dramatic shot - makes you feel like its coming right at you! Love the sensation of action.

I like this image a lot, it seems to have a intimacy about it. I know that the beautiful animal is making it hard to be objective for me - but I am trying to look past it, and I think this is a good portrait. There is something behind the eyes that speaks through the image - I love it.

Jokes aside, I love how you judged the exposure for a dark subject and mainly sky as background. There is all kinds of detial in Smokeys face and body, yet the sky is not blown out, and the big pasture out there looks so natural behind a horse!

Now, as to the belly scratching - I think he is onto something there, frankly, I can't blame him! :)

Why the long face? Sorry, bad joke - couldn't help myself.

It is a great shot - much, much better than my sense of humour...

Teresa, check out APUG.org - its all film, all the time! Great community for us film folk in this digital age! Either way, lovely pictures!

Well, Elisabeth, I have become somewhat of a fan of yours. After seeing the second of your P51 shots (the one with the reflections), I had to check out what else you had! And I have to say, I am very happy I did! What I meant by IR is infrared. With infrared film (Kodak HIE, ILford SFX, Maco IR, etc) you get that glowing quality from foliage. Anyways - you're on the 'interesting people' list for sure! :)

I really like this shot - it has a IR quality about it. Very interesting.

Crowds... yep - the bane of shooting at any type of show! But don't sell yourself short - this photo is wonderful. Even if I didn't like airplanes as much as I do, I would love this shot because of the great graphic quality! Lets see more!

Another beauty! Love the reflections! This is a lovely composition.