gnashings

Oh, I am not being critical - I was truly wondering, sensing that it was probably something like that. Come to think of it, its really a spiritual tribute to the Battle of Britain as well, seeing how the repair depots and ground crews were the unsung heros of that critical time! I am sure many a German aircraft met its end at the hands of a pilot flying something that once was more than one airplane! Of course, I am sure any of the Allied pilots would jump at the chance to fly something like this, with the more powerful engine, etc. :)

I don't find the airplane in the background to be objectionable - it certainly looks better than some ham-fisted photochop. Its a military aircraft in the background of a military aircraft. This is obviously shot where airplanes live - an airfield. No problems in my mind. Lovely reflections - the photo really conveys the gleam of metal bathed in sun. Certainly cought my eye!

Thanks Duncan - I am truly curious!

I don't know if I agree. I mean, granted - I may be partial since Alex has been allowing me to fix my Spit dependancy on so many occasions (with partners in crime, you know who you are!). I don't want to come across as biased, but I think this shot does an amazing job of conveying as much of this manouver as a STILL shot possibly can. It makes a great use of the contrails, and even the framing is such that it conveys very well the very specific angle of attack (if you can still call it that in this configuration!) that an aircraft travels in this very unique manouver. Overall, I think this is a great shot for the above reasons.

Nice shot - good to see the BoB paint scheme. On a bit of a tangent though... what did they cobble this airplane out of? The spinner is a little pointy.. nine-ish almost... individual exhaust stacks... it looks like a 40 series in there, is it not? The oil cooler is early, the wings are at least painted to look like an 8x303... Well - I could go on - bottom line is, I am just curious, as this bird seems to be a bit of a "collective effort":)

I think the crop certainly makes this a strong image (I assume what the full frame was). Personally, I don't find the light so displeasing. I think its a nice study of the aircraft.

Wow. I am almost speechless. This is gorgeous stuff - just perfect.

Pfft... Full circles are SO last year... :) Hehehehehe

Ah - I am not that familiar with USN paint schemes of this period. I am just glad that at least their training aircraft carried over some of the gorgeous schemes from the 1930's - even if this one was "creatively licensed"! :)

I keep coming back to this shot, too - simply lovely capture!

I think they rely more on the "really good" part of the above adages, don't you think? I wish I knew a darn thing about photoshop so I could suggest how togo about making it pop a bit more - perhaps one of our more adept pixelographer frineds could chime in?

Thank you, Razvan!

 

Jean Louis - I like TriX. I like Grain. This photo loses about half its tonality in scanning, as it is scanned from print, and the print is on warm tone paper, which seems to compound the problem. As I said above, for web display the version re-worked by the kind gentleman above is probably more apt.

HA! You bluff! (thank God!)... :)

Cala przyjemnosc po mojej stronie! :)

Thank you! Well, needless to say, I love it - 4x!

Aside from hitting the various triggers of the particulars of my Spitfire obsession, I think you did a great job to make these four photos work well as an image. I don't know if it was intentional, but the perfect MkIX flying in the opposite direction was just the right thing to make this a stronger visual. And its good to see a trop, rare as hen's teeth for me!

And I never tire of looking at them! :)

 

Especially ones as well done as this shot - I love these guys, and I haven't even met them! Lovely photo - but you have to remember I am hopelessly biased!

Please keep in mind that this is completely a matter of taste, but it doesn't work for me. If I didn't read your extensive description of how you arrived at this, my first impression was that one of your strobes failed to go off. After reading, I looked at it for a while trying to see what you were going for - but alas, I don't. Again, a matter of opinion, perhaps I simply have more proletarian tastes :)

It goes without saying that I don't doubt your abilities, as I love much of what you have in your portfolio - I suppose this one just doesn't do it for me.

Frankly I find your comment to be in very poor taste. Too bad, as it is a striking photo.

Hmmm... The image certainly cought my eye. It is beautiful. But I have been sitting here for the last little while wondering how I feel about the car. Would I notice the picture without it? Would I pass it as just another "pretty picture"? There is a part of me that just recoils at its presence, wants to scream "get it out of there!" - and there is a part that just can't get over the splash of vivid colour that anchors the image, provides so much visual AND thematic contrast...

Well, if art is supposed to make us examine and think, then I suppose this image is a success. And I think the fact that it made me think and argue within myself is probably a compliment. Good work. I think... :)

This is a wonderful image. I can't think of a single thing I don't like about it. It certainly hits very close to the heart - almost makes me wonder why, since I obviously don't know this person! I think that is the magic, though - isn't it? Great work!

Yeah, really, Pat - what were you thinking? :-)

Thanks, August - as always its a pleasure to hear from you, and a compliment from you always carries a lot of weight with me. Glad you enjoyed it.

You know what they say:

 

I'd rather be lucky than good - any day!

 

and also:

 

You have to be lucky to be good, and good tobe lucky!

 

So, don't be to hard on yourself - nice shot. I wonder if it would not benefit from some postprocessing, as at least on my monitor there is aslight greenish-yellow cast that prevents this picture from really "popping". Its very slight, and in any case, its just a suggestion.

Alex,

 

You mean we have the same "lighting guy" working for us? :)

Jokes aside, its really an outstanding catch in this shot, and Alex, you are being very modest - we've seen your portfolio, you know! :-)

Thank you Lana - this is an unusual picture for me, sunject wise, etc. But I just couldn't let this hopeful image disappear forever! I am glad you enjoyed the picture and the feeling it seems to stirr up!

Love it. Thanks for sharing another gorgeous Spit. Personally, I think that this shot is beautiful aside from the subject matter - I think the sky and the light give it a very painting-like flavor, and as such, should be appreciated even by people without my well documented obsessions! :)