When I started going to airshows, I'd shoot enough shots, mostly in succession, to qualify to be a short (bad) film. I could sometimes get to that hypnotic state where the shutter noise triggered my shutter depressing finger to press harder. It happens.
I have great shots of formations going left to right, and right to left. I have the basics. At this point, I can start being more selective. I can start thinking about where I am in the pattern to get a more unique shot.
At most shows, the basic pattern is flying a line perpendicular to you. There are bends, but you plant you feet, and twist from the waist. That's 95% of the shots.
The other 5%. (From September 2019)
I don't see many airshow shots straight on. You have to be at the right place at the right time. And lucky. And when it all comes together the shot stands out. This is one of my favorite screen savers.
Today, I offer a different point of view for the line of sight flight path.
I was reasonably sure this flight path was going to happen. I had to be ready.
You don't hear them until a few seconds prior to a visual sighting. They are approaching from directly behind the stands. Then you hear sounds, not loud but unique. You look straight up, or close to straight up. You know you have 2-3 seconds to find the subject, get the camera ready to shoot and take the shot. Five seconds later, it's over. Aircraft out of photographic range.
Then, two seconds after you hear the first suspect noise, your ears are crushed.
Thunderbirds in AB
NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED
270 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400 (AUTO)
EV 0, MANUAL, Mode, Size DX
Non-aerobatic passes have a floor of 500' AGL over the crowd, This is FAA rule. There is no FAA rule for decibel ratings that I could find. I can safely say that being less than 500 feet away from four aircraft in full after burner is the most damage I have willfully inflicted on my ears over the years, ever. That was loud. The pressure waves of the aircraft passing overhead, although noticeable are not overpowering. Just interesting.
This pass is not part of the show. This pass was part of the recon flight over the area by the Diamond package. For every show, before the teams even practice, they will fly over the show area to get familiarized with the area and land marks. You will see maneuvers that are not part of the show package. Stay awake.
I like the color and pattern of the afterburners. The 'white' haze under the blue sky is forest fire smoke from the fires in California south of Lake Tahoe. A solid blue sky would have been real nice. Some possible improvement for next year.
Back to this year's show. At some point during the show, I knew there would probably be a pass from behind, over show center. And now I could tell when it was close. How could I tell? I cheated.
Show Center Spotter
NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED
200 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/4, ISO 220 (AUTO)
EV 0, MANUAL, Mode, Size FX
This must be something new. I saw the same function for the Blue Angles at Thunder Over Michigan. I'm guessing that this new position is a person with signal light at some fixed point in the pattern where the pilots can quickly orientate themselves in the show box. And I'm also guessing that this came out of the joint practice time that the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds shared. 'Cuz now both teams have this.
Shortly after I saw this, I knew what was next.
Thunderbirds Passing Overhead
NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED
200 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/4, ISO 180 (AUTO)
EV 0, MANUAL, Mode, Size FX
For the show, no AB. Only three. But there is a blue sky. That's about a two second reaction time.
This will be a good screen saver.
