Fleet Week San Diego

[Desert Rat]

Well, finally got to process some images from the Sea and Air Parade in San Diego for fleet week.

These were all shot from the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan..

It culminates with the Miramar Airshow this coming weekend featuring the Blue Angels...

here are a few shots

Rest of the gallery can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/desertrat99/2006_sea_and_air_parade_san_diego

Tech
D2x
200-400
ISO 320
All handheld...

Enjoy

The Deck of the USS Nimitz
http://www.pbase.com/image/68444552/original.jpg

The Flag
http://www.pbase.com/image/68444547/original.jpg

A few of the Ships
http://www.pbase.com/image/68444527/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/68444529/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/68444530/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/68444540/original.jpg

Few Flight Shots

In Flight Refueling
http://www.pbase.com/image/68444531/original.jpg

Quickly turned to vertical uncropped
http://www.pbase.com/desertrat99/image/68444542.jpg

Formation
http://www.pbase.com/image/68444544/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/68444543/original.jpg

[mdephoto]

Eric, great compostion on the vertical. And, once again I am reminded that there is no rule that is not meant to be broken -- normally I really like to see some separation in groups of things, but your next to last image breaks that rule and is all the stronger for that very reason -- the imapact of realizing just how close those aircraft are together is very impressive (and yes I know the telephoto is helping here somewhat). Nailed the focus on this one also - great job. Thanks for sharing these.

[JaredB]

Very nice images Eric - love looking at military equipment. You were lucky to have the deep blue sky as a backdrop for your jet shots. (Did you enhance the "blue" at all in those shots in post processing?) That first "formation" photo is very good to me as you can really get a good view of the pilots in that shot.

[Lisa]

Very nice, Eric! I didn't realize that they would actually let people on the flight deck of the ships. Will you be getting images from the NAS Miramar airshow this weekend? I always like going down to the ocean to watch the ships. Nice captures.

[Desert Rat]

Very nice, Eric! I didn't realize that they would actually let people on the flight deck of the ships. Will you be getting images from the NAS Miramar airshow this weekend? I always like going down to the ocean to watch the ships. Nice captures. Thanks Lisa... Well as you might recall from a previous post "A Very Large Ship" My GF Hang has a cousin in the Navy. His ship it the Reagan, so I got the nickel tour of the ship and was able to watch the show from the flight deck of the ship... That is how I got the shots of the Nimitz that was sailing in the parade right in front of us that day... The Reagan was docked....

Iu am going to try for shots from the Marine Airbase at Miramar.. Weather this year is not going to be all that great from what I can tell today, but it might change by Saturday... BTW Miramar is now a Marine Airbase not the Navy...

[Desert Rat]

Very nice images Eric - love looking at military equipment. You were lucky to have the deep blue sky as a backdrop for your jet shots. (Did you enhance the "blue" at all in those shots in post processing?) That first "formation" photo is very good to me as you can really get a good view of the pilots in that shot.
Thanks Jared.... The sky was slightly enhanced... I just added a 5%-10% saturation boost to the images and a contrast fix....

I really like that shot of the F-18 in tight formation myself.. you can even see the pilots helmets and the oxygen tube to the mask in the shots... I should post a much larger image for you to view of this shot...

[Ann]

Cool shots of the ship. It's HUGE! Great formation shots.

[Lisa]

BTW Miramar is now a Marine Airbase not the Navy...

Shows you how much has changed since I lived there. I suppose the Top Gun Flight school is no longer there, either:(

[Desert Rat]

Shows you how much has changed since I lived there. I suppose the Top Gun Flight school is no longer there, either:( You are correct Top Gun moved somewhere else.. Not sure where it went though...
Cool shots of the ship. It's HUGE! Great formation shots. Thanks Ann....

[Harv]

Great set, Eric. Lucky you. Not everyone gets the chance to see and photograph what you did. Thanks for sharing these.

[Jonathan]

Eric, I am really digging the last three! very nice

[Desert Rat]

Great set, Eric. Lucky you. Not everyone gets the chance to see and photograph what you did. Thanks for sharing these.
Thanks Harvey... I was just going to go where everyone else headed to this park on Coronado island, but then found out we could get on the ship instead.. Figured what the heck... works for me....
Eric, I am really digging the last three! very nice Thanks Jonathan.. Am seriously considering printing up that second to last shot...

[Desert Rat]

Eric, great compostion on the vertical. And, once again I am reminded that there is no rule that is not meant to be broken -- normally I really like to see some separation in groups of things, but your next to last image breaks that rule and is all the stronger for that very reason -- the imapact of realizing just how close those aircraft are together is very impressive (and yes I know the telephoto is helping here somewhat). Nailed the focus on this one also - great job. Thanks for sharing these. Thanks Mike.... I know what you mean about the rules broken.. Reminds me of Jess Lee and his "No Rules Road Trips".. I actually think the same way you do about that shot. I like the compressed less separation the aricraft appear to have in that shot...
I might have to break down and print up that shot unless i get something better this weekend at the airshow....

[JaredB]

you can even see the pilots helmets and the oxygen tube to the mask in the shots... I should post a much larger image for you to view of this shot...

Please do if you get a chance....would like to see it.