Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Hello 2020 - and 2019 memories

2019 was a fun year for me.
For something new, I added horse events to my 'likes'.  What a neat world.  Lots of room to get more involved in 2020.  I now know some equine events and sites to look for dates of activity.  I also had a few shots of animals in captivity for the first time.  We'll see what happens in 2020 for these subjects.
For subjects missed in 2019, no lighthouses and no freighters.  Not sure what happened.  There needs to be more day trips in 2020.
On the improvement side, two words - prop blur.  That was the improvement goal for 2019, and it worked.  The prop driven aircraft pictures were so much better each subsequent time out, at least to me, than last year.  There were fewer shots overall, but much better quality.  Still lots of room to improve.  This 'art' is going to take time and practice.  The 2020 airshow schedule is coming together nicely.
The 2019 airshow schedule included MCAS Beaufort, Wings over Northern Michigan, Traverse City Air Show and the Reno Air Races.  The 2020 schedule will include the Charleston (SC) airshow, MCAS Cherry Point, Traverse City, Thunder over Michigan, London (Ontario) Airshow and the Reno shows.  That's a lot.  Fun.  The Thunder over Michigan event will include a Photographer's Package for the weekend.
I didn't get out to the Nature Reserve as much in 2019.  But the times I did get out I didn't leave empty handed.  I did get a few good photos of an Osprey on two trips.  That was fun.  I added some photos of local Pelicans this year, which was new.  And a few good Eagle shots.  The growing year for the Reserve was 2018.  However, I have a new ally to help with far off shots in 2020 - and that may change the perspective.
Although I added the D500 camera at the end of 2018 to the kit, I consider 2019 was the first year of use.  It did not disappoint.  The camera would handle a wider range of light that the D7200 or D90.  I used the 10 FPS at Reno.  Awesome performance.  The D7200 was still put to great use in most outings.  My usual day set up was the D500 with the 70-300 lens and the D7200 with the 18-200 lens.  For 2020 I added Nikon's 200-500 f/5/6 lens to the kit.  For air shows, there will be an additional challenge with this new lens.  At a fixed f/5.6 I will have to use light (ND) filtering to get the slow prop shots I want.  A three stop ND filter is on it's way.  For the jets though, this should be a lot of fun.  And the big lens will really help out at the Refuge.
And now:  The year in review, 2019:  The envelopes please....  (A lot of the judging is based on how it looks on PC 27 inch monitors.)
In no particular order other than the best of the year will be last, of course.

Aircraft:

Best Prop in flight:  This came from the Wings over Northern Michigan show, the Michigan based Yankee Lady B17.





The sky plays a big part on this shot.  It is not flat blue.  And to me that helps with an aluminum skin.  And the prop blur.  I'd like to have more blur, but the props might disappear all together?  The yellow tips are too far away to be seen on a consistent basis and the shutter speed would be so slow.  So the blur is where the blur is.  And I'm OK with that.  And the B17 outline is my favorite WWII bomber, not that this played a factor in my choice.  Sorry B24s.


Best Prop Blur:  This might be cheating, as the aircraft is on the ground so a much lower shutter speed can be used.  So the bar for blur is much higher on this category.







To me the prop blur is almost perfectly symmetrical.  You can see it has four props and the yellow tip.  This photo had some work done, as there were a few people here who didn't belong.  As an extra bonus, one blur shot that didn't make a post was a close up of Dreadnought.  At some point I'll write the story, but here is a pre-view:





Very cool tip colors.


Best Jet:  There were lots of good jet shots.  Just up the shutter speed and you have a good shot.  So, for this category there had to be something extra.  A sense of timing.  Sure, this one was luck.  Didn't know I had a good shot until I got home.  Yes, there was audible noise when I saw this one.






This was at the Wings over Northern Michigan show.  As much as a jet can, it snuck up from behind the stands.  Didn't hear it until it was right at my 10:00.  Camera up, hit the shutter and hoped for the best.  I didn't see the sonic cone until I got home.  The cone is a lot more visible when you're not perpendicular, but I wasn't going to throw it away for that small detail.  Plus, room to improve.


Best Thunderbird Shot:  This is from the Reno Air Races.  I got to see the T-Birds twice in 2019,  Once at Traverse City and once at Reno.  I got some awesome shots at Traverse City, but a lot were too far away.   And while they were good enough for screen savers, they didn't make it for the Best of series.  At Reno the show was much closer.  And again, many of the maneuvers were 'common', so I needed something to be unique.  And this is it.  Our seats at Reno are so good, show center as high as you can get and still be in the stands.  So this maneuver is coming right at us.  Only place you can get this shot.







This is right on and squares up neatly.  I like a bit more subject detail in my shots, but on the monitor this shows up nicely.


Best Blue Angles Shot:  No offense to the Air Force Paint scheme, but the colors of the Blue Angles are my favorite.  There actually is a name for this maneuver, the Fortus maneuver.







The blues, yellows, whites and even the tires are all good for me here.  The wings, tail and the landing gear all make this a favorite of mine.


Best Air Race:






Right place, right time.  This pass was right in front of our seats.  The #8 Dreadnought moving at just over 400 MPH and is lapping Speedball Alice by over 150 MPH difference.  Most passing in a bank doesn't happen near the stands - this was very cool moment.


Best Helicopter:

The most difficult subject to photograph at an air show - or out in the aero-wild is a helicopter.  The blades move so slow.  The aircraft moves.  Coming at you it is OK, but going directly across your field of view is tough.  I came away with two good, not technically excellent helicopter shots this year.  One is of two USCG units flying in formation.  Looks good on the small screen savers, but only OK on the big screen.  But the one I'm going with here has a bit more action.





This was coming in for a landing as part of a Marine Corps demonstration.  Fun to watch and just enough blur on the main and tail rotors to be believable.  And the lettering is sharp.  And it look good on the big monitors.


One last honorable mention - the most visited page.  I average maybe ten hits per post.  This post got over 200 hits, and on the UHH over 1700 visits.  The hits were for the subject, not the photos.  And I wish I didn't have to post my thoughts.  Earlier this year, the B17 Nine 'O Nine crashed with loss of life.  There were some survivors.  The aircraft was a total loss.   Very sad story.  I've been on the Nine 'O Nine when it visited Flint a few years ago, and this was the nose art.







A tragic loss all around.


Trains:

Best Model Train:






I was a bit off my game this year at the Detroit Model Railroad Club shoot.   I walked away with a few good shots, but not like numbers in previous years.  But this is a screen saver to me.  First, I like just about anything orange.  And orange and Black.  And a little yellow for detail.  This shot has some work in it, mostly layers to bring out the lights correctly,  Most of my shots at the DMRRC are focus stacked.  I don't have many with a depth of field element.  And for this the DOF is OK.  Good separation.


Best Train:







This choice was easy.   I was only out once to chase the #1225 this year,  We rode it twice!  But the day I was able to chase, there was a little snow on the ground.  I had to wait for the right moment on this one, had to get the steam release just prior to a move.  There is some electrical wires and poles that need 'relocation'.  Gone.  There is a full parking lot to the left and building on the right.  The steam release covers it all.  This morning shot features a blue sky.  Wonder what it would look like with total cloud cover.  Enhance the steam cloud a bit, eh?


Now for a bit of a break to the not so serious.  The best fun photo.







This was taken at the Genesee County Fair.  This was a traveling wrestling group.  What fun it was to watch.  It certainly helps to know the move is coming.  All those years of watching pro wrestling on TV was not wasted.  These guys, and gals, put on a great show.

I do need to get out more often.

Best Wildlife:

Bird (Eagle):  I have two favorites from the year, one a juvenile and one a mature.  So, I can post two here.   My Awards.....





Juvenile Eagle.  Again, lucky.  This was far away and aggressively cropped.  Lucky it survived.  I like the angle of the bank and the background.  The off color under wings is pretty good as well.  I like the feathers at the tip of the wing, and the odd symmetry they portray.  As a screen saver, this one is hard to beat.






Again, something different sets this apart.  This is aggressively cropped and shot at 1.3.  This was 45 minutes of watching this play out.  And wasn't easy to get to this place.  But it came out OK.  This one was squawking to its mate.  Probably discussing what was for dinner, fresh fish or fresh fish.


Best Bird Local (Non-Eagle)






This was an early morning sunrise shot. And that's what makes this one good to me.  The sunlight angle on the birds and the mist off the wetlands.  This was tough choice as I have one shot of an Osprey in flight that I really like.  But good Osprey photos involve some predatory action - and this one ain't it.  And this is about as exciting as Pelicans get.  This got the nod.


Best Bird (Non-Local):






This is a brown pelican from the Carolina coast.  I like this shot because the bird in the foreground is very sharp and DOF takes care of the rest.  Picture is easy to follow.


Best Critter:






This was a tough choice,  I had a few shots from the WNCNC to choose from.  The gray wolfs and the red pandas gave this one a run.  But in the end, this fox got me.  It was the clarity of the eye and the yellow an green background.  If the far eye was not covered by the fence, would be a 10.  Sharp.


Horse:

What fun I had with the horses this year.  This was a tough one to choose.  In the end, many of the my favorites were of a horse and rider doing the same thing.  Having fun.  Going back to what makes a shot unique.  With that filter applied, the choice was easy.  This shot tells the story.





The shots this day were challenging.  Low light, fast action, high ISO.  In the end, this picture tells more of a story than the others without the event banner.  Yea, I'd like the main subject to occupy more of the image, but the banner helps sell the image.


Best Paint Job:







I didn't do/post too many paint images this year.  I do like the paint program and effect, and if I were selling images I do believe there is a good market out there for genre.  My usual criteria is a good view, but for some reason the focus was't right (happens more than you would think) or it just isn't working.  neither was the case here, I saw this in paint when I took it.  Farmland.  Yellows and greens.  Trees. Character sky.


We're down to the best photo of the year.  This was a tough decision.  I had one shot that was a favorite from early April, then had a late entry at the end of the year.  These are two completely different subjects.  Since this is my award show, I say it is a tie.  The order was decided by a completely neutral coin flip.







This shot blew me away.  If I had more appreciation for the horses, this might be a clear cut Best of the Year winner.  But I'm new to this subject.  I know I'll have a better appreciation with more time.  But not only the horse drew my attention here, but the light from the window on the horse and in the stall.






For me, there is a lot going on here.  Get the right prop blur, lots of white lettering that might show any out of focus errors.  But it all worked.  And the clincher for me is the yellow prop blur coming across the top of the cowling.  Yea, I planned it.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

WNCNC - Black Bears

On my days visiting the Western North Carolina Nature Center, my first visit after passing through the barn yard entrance is the Bear pen.  There are two American Black Bears in residence, Uno and Ursa.  Both bears are in their upper teens.
I'm not a bear expert.  All observations are that of an ignorant observer.  
All that out of the way, I probably spent more time watching these two.  Not sure why exactly, maybe waiting for some bear stereo-typical action.  No jumping up and down, no standing on their hind legs.  Quite business-like and bear professional.  Although for sure, there was a lot of napping involved.
I don't have enough experience to know if the bear pen is large enough for two, but looks large enough to me.  I was lucky enough to see the bear feeding procedure.  I should say, I did see the procedure, the actual feeding takes place in an enclosed shelter that separates the occupants and probably keeps the keepers at a safe distance.  A learning experience for me.  The bears however had the process down pat.  As soon as the keeper, with pail in hand, started toward the feeding enclosure, they were on the move.
These are some shots of the Bears going through their morning.




Baby Bear Walk
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
262 mm, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800 (Auto)
EV +2, Manual Mode, Size DX

When I first saw what I'm calling the baby bear walk, I hear the baby elephant walk music.




Bear and Stump
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
150 mm, 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 500 (Auto)
EV +2, Manual Mode, Size DX

It seem like most of the Bear's day was keeping its body weight equally dispersed on the ground.




Bear Looking for Food
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
117 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (Auto)
EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX




Bear in Shelter
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
390 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (Auto)
EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

What does a bear do on a Monday?





Bear Nap
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
195 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (Auto)
EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

Look at those bear paws.  Awesome.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

#1225 Steam

It is the start of the Steam Railroading Institute's 2019 North Pole Express Season.  I told myself that I wouldn't chase every weekend, just those with blue sky and if there is fresh snow.  That lasted one weekend.  But the sky did start out blue yesterday.  And there was snow on the ground.  Not fresh, but it will do.
Prior to the day's activity, the #1225 is loaded with coal and water.  I caught some of this action last year, here.   After the fuel loading, the engine moves into position ahead of the passenger cars, separated by Washington St.  Yes, the railroad crossing bells/alarms go on.  Constantly.  If you are standing in line to get on, you hope the line moves quickly.



Not the most photographic environment.  Cars to the left, phone poles to the right. 
But there is a lot going on.  Apparently once these things get lit up, you need to keep it lit up.  There is always an Engineer in the seat, or at least in the cab.  Can't just leave the levels of heat, steam pressure or water un-attended.  And all those sight-seers.



I was around for almost an hour, and during that time I heard the automatic coal loader engage a few times.  You could feel the increased heat.  You could see the different colors of exhaust coming out of the front stack.  There are vents along the bottom of what I guess is the fire box to ram air into the fire once the engine is moving.  All very cool to see - while the engine is getting ready to depart.
I am used to maintenance hours per hour used figures.  My C5 aircraft required between 20 and 40 man hours per hour flown, depending on what source and what model you use for the estimates.  I'm going with the #1225 needs a lot of TCL as well.  When ever it is not moving, something is going on.



But for the day, I wanted one shot.  I wanted the front of the engine, as much as possible without the parking lot on the left and the building in the right.  And not have a wayward distraction with a camera walk by.  
When the engine moves, in any direction, from a standstill there is a large release of steam.  This much I know from a lot of hours watching.  So, I can be sure of a release prior to the engine moving rearward to hook up to the cars.  And I wasn't disappointed.




#1225 Steam
NIKON D7200 Ver.1.04/18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
20 mm, 1/500 Sec, f/9, ISO 200 (Auto)
EV -1, Manual Mode, Size DX

There was some touch up work required.  On the original, there were hints of phone poles and wires.  This has the snow and blue sky I was looking for in the day.  I think the angle is good, gives some depth on the engine.  At the time the picture was taken, is was slowly moving backward.  And that helped the effect.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

New Lens Focus Validation

AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
It's big and heavy.  Not a walk around lens.
Five (5) pounds to carry around.  And on the D500, and D7200, it acts like a 300 to 750 mm.
I was looking at this lens or the 80-400.  For what ever reason, the 80-400 cost a lot more but the reviews are insane (good insane).
I went with the 200-500 as it has great reviews when used with the D500 from a number of posts on the UHH.  The 200-500 is a pretty good compliment of what I have now.  A 300 to 400 jump wasn't as big a bang, and I would probably have to sell the 70-300.  Keeping the 70-300 will work, that is more of a walk around lens.  As I found out today, the 200-500 is a lot more event driven lens.  Not good for all occasions.
The only negative remarks I heard from the lens was a few people posted that the auto focus didn't match up with the camera.  When you see these types of posts you never know the entire story such as were the cameras altered in any way?  Most posts said they had to send the lens back two or three times before they could get a good focus.  Camera or user issue?  Nikon hater?  (They're out there)  All I take from this is I should really get a test/acceptance drive done as soon as possible.
That was today's mission.  The subject would be the first day of the #1225's Polar Express runs for the year.  It would have been better to get some birds at the Refuge, maybe next June?
For my tests today, there is no UV filter.  There is no software sharpening.  This shot is as bare bones as I can get.




#1225 Rolling - Lens Test
NIKON D500/200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6
480 mm, 1/2000 sec, F/5.6, ISO 640 (Auto)
EV 0, Manual Mode, Size DX

Looking at 100%, the image is very sharp.



Looking good at 200%.




On the lens barrel is it 320 mm.  Very close to the middle range.  I'm going to go with the auto focus on this lens is pretty good.  Think I'll keep it.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Grumman F8F Bearcat

One of the problems of learning history through watching WWII movies is you learn the 'cool' stuff, but can miss the 'really cool' stuff.  One of the Reno Air Race's performers is the Commemorative Air Force.  The CAF is an outfit in California that is a group of restored aircraft that tour the country.  Thankfully.
One of the aircraft that made its way out to Reno was the Grumman F8F Bearcat.  And because I don't know as much about WWII aircraft as I think I do, this is an interesting episode in my life.
In 2018 when I first saw the CA putting on its show, one of the aircraft really caught my attention.  During the show, there were three fighter type aircraft.  The Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the Grumman F8F Bearcat.  The Zero and Hellcat take off first.  Nice standard climb pattern.  Then the Bearcat.  The climb rate is incredible for a  prop driven aircraft.  And I say to myself as I often do when I see incredible air power, like bringing a gun to a knife fight.
I need to know more about this.  As I have read, the Bearcat took the best of the Hellcat, and then added some steroids.
Both the Hellcat and Bearcat were designed around the Pratt and Whitney R-2800.  The PW R-2800 was the most powerful engine at the time, generating a rated 2,000 HP.
The increased performance would have to come from design changes.  The net on this was compared to the Hellcat after the changes, the Bearcat was 20% lighter, had a 30% better rate of climb and was 50 mph (80 km/h) faster.  Blade versus the bullet.
In the world of ratings, for watching a prop driven aircraft climb, nothing is sweeter than the Bearcat showing off.  Number #1 in my book.




Grumman F8F Bearcat Engine Start
NIKON D500 Ver.1.15/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
202 mm, 1/100 sec, f/29, ISO 125
EV 0, Manual Mode, Size DX

At some point during my stay at Reno, for the prop planes I used a CPL to slow down the shutter speeds.  I usually don't like shooting above F/11.  F/20+ is not where I'd like to be.  F/14 is much better.




Grumman F8F Bearcat Taxi
NIKON D500 Ver.1.15/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
600 mm, 1/100 sec, f/14, ISO 250
EV 0, Manual Mode, Size DX

This was heavily cropped.  Could be better.  But good enough.




Grumman F8F Bearcat Inverted
NIKON D500 Ver.1.15/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
450 mm, 1/400 sec, f/14, ISO 560
EV 0, Manual Mode, Size DX

And because I'm new to the racing crowd, I missed seeing the Rare Bear fly.  Rumors as to why the aircraft no longer flies, or if it will ever fly again run rampant.
Rare Bear is a re-built, modified Bearcat.  It is powered by a Wright R-3350.  The re-build was completed in 1969.  It started racing in Reno in the unlimited class that same year under the name Able Cat.  From 1976 to 1980, the aircraft did not race due to restoration following a belly landing.  The the aircraft, now called Rare Bear from 1980 to present day has won eleven championships in the Unlimited Class.
I have come close to the greatness of Rare Bear, but didn't know it.  Just snapped another picture of another airplane in the pits.  But I have spent time with many of the veterans of the races and now know more of the lore.  The aircraft was at Reno in 2018, but did not fly.  May rumors as to that situation.  In 2019, it was not there.  In 2020, maybe I'll get another chance.

Rare Bear on display in 2018.




Rare Bear on Display in 2018
NIKON D90/18.0-200.0 mm f/3.5-5.6
20 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 200
EV -0.67, Aperture Priority, Size DX

Although winning speeds can vary a lot year to year due to the environment, Rare Bear can complete the laps at better than 480 MPH.  That's a big league speed.
Rare Bear has set many performance records for piston-driven aircraft, including the 3 km World Speed Record of 528.33 mph (850.26 km/h) set August 21, 1989, which still stands in this class, and a new time-to-climb record (3,000 meters in 91.9 seconds set in 1972 (9842.4 ft - 6,426 fpm), breaking a 1946 record set in a stock Bearcat).
Racing Royalty.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

WNCNC - Bobcat

On the two days I visited the Western North Carolina Nature Center, I made three rounds of the area each day.  I arrived as early as I could, opening time is 10:00 AM.  Number #1 through the gate.  It was either morning feeding time, or close to it.  By the time I'd finish up around 1:00 PM, it was generally nap time for the inhabitants.  It usually worked out that those who were 'slow' on my first round were generally more 'awake'  in round two.  Round three was for those who didn't get the memo that there were visitors at the gate.
There was one exception.  The Bobcat.  Missy.  Missy the Bobcat loves to nap, and nap in the sun.  In five of the six rounds, Missy was napping.  Only once did Missy see me.
Bobcats in the wild are very rarely seen.  You're on their ground.  If you see them in the wild, it might not be a good thing.  Bobcats are predators.  Its appetite covers small things and large things.  Excellent night vision.  My only survival defense is that I might not be fast enough to even get on its radar.
But it certainly is a cat, and I like cats.  Missy is cute, by my standards.  And like my cats, she has the 'stare'.  Missy is bred in captivity, but her DNA identified me as 'food'.



Bobcat Looking at Me
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
232 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)
EV +2, Manual Mode, Size DX

I recognize that look.  Even with my cats at 8 pounds, this might not end well.

And I recognize this look.  All is well with kitty dreams.




Bobcat Napping
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20/70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
262 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 (AUTO)
EV +1, Manual Mode, Size DX

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

WNCNC - Red Panda

I like learning.  Days go better when I lean something new.  And at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, I learned something.  And it was good.
I had no idea there was something called a Red Panda.  Cute doesn't begin to describe this critter.  And it was the most difficult to photograph.  Seriously.
As to the critter, and how it wound up in North Carolina it is a bit of a story.
Is it a panda?  Is it a raccoon?  No one knows for sure.  Currently it is in its own family.  But why is this an inhabitant of the WNCNC?  The center is residence to current Appalachian inhabitants.  Red pandas live in the mountains of Nepal and northern Myanmar (Burma), as well as in central China.   That's current.  A direct relative of the Red Panda, Bristol’s Panda, was found to live in the Appalachian mountains nearly 5 million years ago.  Learning.  The Red Panda should be represented in the nature center.
As I mentioned, these critters were hard to photograph.  Yes they move slow.  Yes, you can predict where they are going to move to and from.  No place to hide.  The issue is the fencing.  The chain link is about half the size of a 'normal' chain link.  Auto focus didn't work so well.  All manual focus.  Not complaining, just a fact.



Red Panda Looking
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
165 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 640 (AUTO)
EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX





Red Panda Walk
NIKON D500 Ver.1.20 /70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
165 mm, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 720 (AUTO)
EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Learning.  It's a good thing.