Wings Over Houston 2008 (6 lrg pix)

Wings Over Houston 2008 (6 lrg pix) · 07:40 PM

Took these shots with the K20D and either the Bigma or the DA*300. I tried the extended dynamic range option and it does increase the noise, so I'll probably skip it in the future, unless someone can show me why it's beneficial.

First, the shots with the DA*300....

Next, shots taken with the Bigma...

rfortson · 10-29-2008, 02:46 PM

Thanks gang! That actually was smoke in the shots (I waited for the pyrotechnics). I got a "teaser" shot last year with a plane against the smoke backdrop, but it was a little blurry. So this year, I was waiting for the smoke to make a more dramatic sky.

As for the DA*300 vs the Bigma, yes you can see the difference pretty easily at full resolution, though my DA*300 shots were much closer, so I don't know how it would have compared at the same distance, but cropped.

The Bigma does well, though, for the range, and it's the perfect one-lens solution when you're carrying other cargo (especially precious cargo). Someone asked my to compare the two lenses, and I said the DA*300 killed the Bigma at 300mm, but the Bigma easily won the 50-299mm range AND the 301-500 range.

Andres · 10-29-2008, 03:56 PM

OH MY GOD!!! I want to see those B17 and B25 before I die!!!!!!!!!

Great work with all of them, but 4 and 5 are awesome!!!!

rfortson · 10-29-2008, 05:59 PM

Originally posted by Andres

OH MY GOD!!! I want to see those B17 and B25 before I die!!!!!!!!!

Great work with all of them, but 4 and 5 are awesome!!!!

Thanks! I agree, the old bombers are my favorite, too. I love to watch them flying over. I may cough up the money for a ride on one someday.

LaRee · 10-29-2008, 10:38 PM

Nice work Russ. It looks like you had a good time. You have some beautiful images here.
After shooting a few air shows of Blue Angles, Thunderbirds and Red Bull Air Shows, I think the Thunderbirds are the best jets to photograph. At least the one show I went to really showed how much improvement a high contrast jet can make in the focus.

timbo13 · 10-30-2008, 03:29 AM

all these shots are great, Russ, my favorites are the B17 and B25, the way those two
stand out against the smoky background is superb.

8540tomg · 10-30-2008, 04:04 AM

Beautiful shots Russ. Some of my favourite war birds are to be found in your work here.

Tom G

maxwell1295 · 10-30-2008, 05:22 AM

Great series! I also agree with the others about #4 and #5. Man, I'd love to see #4 in B&W...

Nowhere Matt · 10-30-2008, 12:41 PM

I also really like the Thunderbird F-16, the B-25 and B-17 bombers. Were the bombers simulating a raid? The black smoke makes me think of small oil drums ignited on the ground to create small explosions and low black smoke.
Really good stuff there for me.

**ChipB** · 10-30-2008, 09:01 PM

Love seeing the old bombers - the B-25 is special. Thanks for sharing the great shots.

David Glazebrook · 11-01-2008, 02:03 PM

2nd, 4th and 5th are my pics - 2nd for the clarity, 4th and 5th for the contrasting cloud behind the planes ... looks like a fun shoot

**Marc Langille** · 11-02-2008, 09:50 AM

Great captures, and I'd love to see those in the air!

One time in Ottawa (at the National Air Museum), they had a still-working Lancaster bomber getting ready for take-off at the airport. Needless to say, those four engines at full throttle is quite a sight/experience!

Cheers,
Marc

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11-02-2008, 09:50 AM	#26
Marc Langille Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NW Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,708	the WWII warbird shots Great captures, and I'd love to see those in the air! One time in Ottawa (at the National Air Museum), they had a still-working Lancaster bomber getting ready for take-off at the airport. Needless to say, those four engines at full throttle is quite a sight/experience! Cheers, Marc

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10-29-2008, 02:46 PM	#16
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129 Original Poster	Thanks gang! That actually was smoke in the shots (I waited for the pyrotechnics). I got a "teaser" shot last year with a plane against the smoke backdrop, but it was a little blurry. So this year, I was waiting for the smoke to make a more dramatic sky. As for the DA300 vs the Bigma, yes you can see the difference pretty easily at full resolution, though my DA300 shots were much closer, so I don't know how it would have compared at the same distance, but cropped. The Bigma does well, though, for the range, and it's the perfect one-lens solution when you're carrying other cargo (especially precious cargo). Someone asked my to compare the two lenses, and I said the DA*300 killed the Bigma at 300mm, but the Bigma easily won the 50-299mm range AND the 301-500 range.

10-29-2008, 03:56 PM	#17
Andres Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Buenos Aires Photos: Albums Posts: 240	OH MY GOD!!! I want to see those B17 and B25 before I die!!!!!!!!! Great work with all of them, but 4 and 5 are awesome!!!!

10-29-2008, 05:59 PM	#18
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129 Original Poster	Originally posted by Andres OH MY GOD!!! I want to see those B17 and B25 before I die!!!!!!!!! Great work with all of them, but 4 and 5 are awesome!!!! Thanks! I agree, the old bombers are my favorite, too. I love to watch them flying over. I may cough up the money for a ride on one someday.

10-29-2008, 10:38 PM	#19
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225	Nice work Russ. It looks like you had a good time. You have some beautiful images here. After shooting a few air shows of Blue Angles, Thunderbirds and Red Bull Air Shows, I think the Thunderbirds are the best jets to photograph. At least the one show I went to really showed how much improvement a high contrast jet can make in the focus.

10-30-2008, 03:29 AM	#20
timbo13 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northboro MA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,007	all these shots are great, Russ, my favorites are the B17 and B25, the way those two stand out against the smoky background is superb.

10-30-2008, 04:04 AM	#21
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Beautiful shots Russ. Some of my favourite war birds are to be found in your work here. Tom G

10-30-2008, 05:22 AM	#22
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703	Great series! I also agree with the others about #4 and #5. Man, I'd love to see #4 in B&W...

10-30-2008, 12:41 PM	#23
Nowhere Matt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,362	I also really like the Thunderbird F-16, the B-25 and B-17 bombers. Were the bombers simulating a raid? The black smoke makes me think of small oil drums ignited on the ground to create small explosions and low black smoke. Really good stuff there for me.

10-30-2008, 09:01 PM	#24
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,701	Love seeing the old bombers - the B-25 is special. Thanks for sharing the great shots.

11-01-2008, 02:03 PM	#25
David Glazebrook Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Blue Mountains, NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 217	2nd, 4th and 5th are my pics - 2nd for the clarity, 4th and 5th for the contrasting cloud behind the planes ... looks like a fun shoot

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