The Blue Angels....Updated

[Desert Rat]

Well , got back late from my trip to Miramar, CA and the Marince Corp Airbase airshow featuring the Blue Angels...
Arrived Saturday morning with the threat of rain and it did rain for about 30 minutes just after I parked the car.. Then it relatively cleared out most of the day.. If I was shooting landscapes this would be the dream day with puffy clouds, cirrus clouds, dark clouds with sunlit foregrounds..Just layers of clouds in the sky...

But alas I was shooting airplanes and it made for a very tricky day..

The Blue Angels are the feature of the show and they flew last.. During their show the two solo planes usually do these high speed passes head to head of each other.. One of the nemesis photos is catching the planes at the moment of crossing... Been there done that and missed the last two years.. Well, this year I scored about three times in catching the event...

Here is one of those shots I just had to process tonight...It may not be perfect, but it does look in focus....

Tech
D2x
200-400 at 240mm
Monopod
ISO 200
1/500
F/7.1

Additional info: Forgot to mention this is a uncropped image

http://www.pbase.com/image/68580207/original.jpg

[Rudi]

Congratulations! Great timing. :)

[Jonathan]

I have heard of such a shot eric. Talk about some great timing. I can imagine being pretty proud of that momentcool; Nice shot!

[Kevin]

I'm guessing you were panning since the right plane is more in focus than the left? Good timing.

[Robert]

Great mirror image! You had great timing with this one!!!:)

[Harv]

Great shot, Eric. I applaud you. Super timing and frankly, I love the streaked appearance of the one aircraft.

[Desert Rat]

Congratulations! Great timing. :)
Thanks Rudi..... Oh and forgot to mention this is a uncropped image....
I have heard of such a shot eric. Talk about some great timing. I can imagine being pretty proud of that momentcool; Nice shot!
Thanks Jonathan.....
It ended up being the "spray and pray" method.. picked up the one plane from the left to right and just pusshed the trigger.. hoped to catch them crossing.. Missed in a few times by cutting off the tail or nose or just missing it...
I'm guessing you were panning since the right plane is more in focus than the left? Good timing.
Thanks kevin.. Yep panning with the left to right airplane.... just had to keep enough room for both planes...
Great mirror image! You had great timing with this one!!!:) Thanks Robert....

[Desert Rat]

Great shot, Eric. I applaud you. Super timing and frankly, I love the streaked appearance of the one aircraft. Thanks Harvey....

[Ann]

That is one cool shot. Great timing. :wowzers:

[Desert Rat]

That is one cool shot. Great timing. :wowzers:
Thanks Anna Banana

[Lisa]

Well, Eric, I am now OFFICIALLY jealous! To me, the timing is perfect...I don't see how it could have been better. What's interesting about this is the blur because the plane is facing in the opposite direction of what I'm used to i.e. racing photos...when they are all going in the same direction.

What amazes me most of all, however, is the fact that it looks like you are RIGHT THERE next to them. How does that happen? Aren't you at an angle looking up?

I just love seeing Southern California through your eyes.....keep them coming!

[MGlennn]

Tooo cooool Eric....great timing :D :D :D

[Desert Rat]

Tooo cooool Eric....great timing :D :D :D
Thanks....

[Desert Rat]

Well, Eric, I am now OFFICIALLY jealous! To me, the timing is perfect...I don't see how it could have been better. What's interesting about this is the blur because the plane is facing in the opposite direction of what I'm used to i.e. racing photos...when they are all going in the same direction.
What amazes me most of all, however, is the fact that it looks like you are RIGHT THERE next to them. How does that happen? Aren't you at an angle looking up?
I just love seeing Southern California through your eyes.....keep them coming!

Hey Lisa, Thanks. You should come out next year for the airshow... There is one in Miramar and in 2 weeks one at Edwards AFB.....

They actually were flying the low show since the cloud deck was not the greatest that day... I would say they were only flying a few hundred feet off the ground. Also shooting with a telephoto compresses the subject making it look closer than it appears...

[Lisa]

Actually, Eric, I will be out that way next year. Got all sorts of relatives out there and it's time for a visit.

Thanks for all the info! You do such wonderful work!

[Desert Rat]

Actually, Eric, I will be out that way next year. Got all sorts of relatives out there and it's time for a visit.
Thanks for all the info! You do such wonderful work!
Sure no problem...

[gluwater]

Eric I am jealous. I was able to shoot the Chicago Air and Water show earlier this year and missed this shot. This is one of those occasions that frame rate really does help. Got any more from the show?

[Roger]

Good timming.

May I see the non-cropped version?

For learning :)

[Desert Rat]

Eric I am jealous. I was able to shoot the Chicago Air and Water show earlier this year and missed this shot. This is one of those occasions that frame rate really does help. Got any more from the show? THanks Nick.. I have missed this shot several times myself...
I have lots more to show, but have to get to editing them still...

Good timming.
May I see the non-cropped version?
For learning :)
Thanks Lundrog... BTW this is the uncropped image.....