Point Mugu Airshow (March 31st 2007)

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

Few pictures of F-22

The rest is here:
http://nik.smugmug.com/Events/302479

(A few more galleries are coming, including Thunderbirds and P-51, F-15 and F-22 trio)

 

[Asher Kelman]

Congratulations nicolas! This was with the 100-400 Canon pumper?

I'm impressed!

What's the story about the huge wall of fire? was that a stunt?

Asher

 

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

Asher,

Congratulations nicolas! This was with the 100-400 Canon pumper?

You betcha

I'm impressed!

Thanks!

What's the story about the huge wall of fire? was that a stunt?
Asher

This one?

Yeah, they do it over there almost every time...

And check this out:

It's a 4-shot pano, handheld, stitched in CS3 (new photomerge is a blessing).

Since it's was very dynamic scene I used "continuous drive" mode to take the shots. Came out pretty good, methinks...

 

[Asher Kelman]

I'm not sure Nikolai I like the longitudinal polluition, as Ray has remarked on!

However, the planes are works of art and your pictures really show them well! I am leased that you keep going out to shoot different subjects with the same lens. This is the way it becomes an extention of the way you see things. Swopping lenses ever minute is not a good idea for creativity!

A lesson in point; you did a wide angel pano with the same lens!

Asher

 

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

Asher,

...
I am pleased that you keep going out to shoot different subjects with the same lens. This is the way it becomes an extention of the way you see things. Swopping lenses ever minute is not a good idea for creativity!

A lesson in point; you did a wide angel pano with the same lens!

Asher

Well, it was 70-200 at 70mm. I have two 30Ds, so for the flying I hooked 70-200 and 100-400 (mostly using 100-400), while for the "display" I was using 10-22 and 70-200, mostly 10-22 (except for the B-52 and candids)
Still not wide enough (although better than 100) - all the individual shots in this gallery are taken with it, but I didn't want to change the lens and risk missing the shot.

Also, there is a funny story about that explosion thingy. I would definitely miss it on my own.
That red stunt jet was doing its tricks, I already got enough of it and was simply observing. All of a sudden an elderly gentleman with the volunteer hat on his head approached me and told me there gonna be "a wall of fire" on the next pass or so. He even told me exactly where it's gonna be. This gave me a chance to take another body and stay alert for the explosion. As you can see, I was able to catch the very first moments of it.
I have never seen the guy before or after.
Call it a fool's luck...

And yes, I keep liking making this panos with not-wide-enough lenses Definitely something I'm very glad I discovered and learned.

Cheers!

 

[John Harper]

Congratulations nicolas! This was with the 100-400 Canon pumper?

I'm impressed!

What's the story about the huge wall of fire? was that a stunt?

Asher

Nicolas

How do you find the 100-400mm for airshows? I have shot one last year here in England and was using a 300mm F4 +1.4TC. Do you find that you were at the 400mm end most of the time, and have you found it to be a little soft at 400mm @5.6.

I would like to know how you find using it for flying shots, were you on AI Servo or one shot on the AF?


John

 

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

John,

Nicolas

How do you find the 100-400mm for airshows? I have shot one last year here in England and was using a 300mm F4 +1.4TC. Do you find that you were at the 400mm end most of the time, and have you found it to be a little soft at 400mm @5.6.

I would like to know how you find using it for flying shots, were you on AI Servo or one shot on the AF?


John

It's *awesome*. Just what doctor's ordered. Gives you some reach if they fly far enough, but lets you open wider if they fly close. I was using both sides, plus some in the middle.

And yes, I was on AI Servo. 30D worked great, the number of OOFs was bare minimum.

Thanks for looking!

 

[John Harper]

It's *awesome*. Just what doctor's ordered. Gives you some reach if they fly far enough, but lets you open wider if they fly close. I was using both sides, plus some in the middle.

And yes, I was on AI Servo. 30D worked great, the number of OOFs was bare minimum.

Thanks for looking!

Nikolai

Thanks for the info, I post a couple of shots taken last year at the International Air Tattoo in Fairford in Gloucestershire. This is the major military airshow in the UK. I was using a 300mm F4 with the 1.4TC on it for some shots but it did slow down the AF.

I have recently purchased a 2nd hand 400mm F5.6L and i hope to give that a try in a couple of weeks at aircraft shots. I have used it for birds in flight shots and i was very pleased with it. I thought long and hard about the 100-400 but i have the 70-200 and the 300 and the prime was cheaper so i went with that one. Time will tell if it was a smart move.. or not.

Regards


John

 

[Nikolai Sklobovsky]

John,

I also have (and used) 70-200 (f/2.8 IS), but I found it limited for this particular environment. In most cases it's not "tele" enough..:-(

Nice shots!

 

[Ron Morse]

Beautiful shots both Nicolai and John.

Nicolai, I can't believe how small the P-51 look beside the jets. We have a transportation museum not to far from me. They have a P-51 and some Bi-planes that they fly every summer. Until I looked at your shots I had forgot all about it. I must try to get some shots this summer. If I do half as good as you did I will be happy.