Went to the air show at Langley Air Force Base yesterday. I hit a new milestone for me. I shot over 1000 images. They are in RAW so I t will be a while before my gallery is complete. but here are a few I did last night.

I used 2 cameras. The K10D with the Sigma 70-200 f2.8 EX mounted, and my DS which is set up for MF with a Katz Eye screen, with the A*300 f4.0 mounted. I'd forgotten how delightful the DS is to handle, but compared to the K10, it is sloooow. I missed a few shots while it was writing to the SD card.

The K10 handled beautifully in this scenario. I used auto select focus, spot metering with a +1.3 EV SR was off (for panning). The focus worked great.

I was lucky with the weather. Mid 70's with big puffy clouds as a backdrop to shoot against.

Pentax K10D ,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF 1/1000s f/9.0 at 200.0mm iso400


Pentax K10D ,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF 1/1000s f/7.1 at 148.0mm iso320


Pentax K10D ,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF 1/500s f/10.0 at 200.0mm iso400


Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax smc P-A* 300mm f/4 1/1000s f/11.0 iso400


Pentax K10D ,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF 1/1000s f/10.0 at 200.0mm iso400


Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax smc P-A* 300mm f/4 1/800s f/10.0 iso400


Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax smc P-A* 300mm f/4 1/500s f/18.0 iso400

[Rolly]

You've done yourself proud, Alan.

I especially like that last one.

[roscot]

Thanks Rolly. It's going to take a while to get through them all, but I think I have a few more nuggets in there.

[vievetrick]

Great shots. Thanks for sharing them. All very sharp

[PeterAM]

Those are great! Love the shot of the Sabre.

[photo_mom]

Hi Alan!

What a fun day you had! I can't believe there was an air show at Langley and we didn't hear about it. Rats.

These are a set of photos to be really proud of and I can't wait to see more! It's tough to pick one of these as a favorite. They're all enough to make me grind my teeth that I missed the show!!

But how did that guy with the flag land without the flag touching the ground?

I feel the same way about the DS. It is amazing how nicely it handles but can't imagine how I used to get along with it being so slow! Still, it produces some lovely images!

[roscot]

Hi Tracy,

Hi Alan!

What a fun day you had! I can't believe there was an air show at Langley and we didn't hear about it. Rats.

Air shows are a pretty big deal down here, with all the military presence in the area. We get 2 a year, in the spring at Langley, and
in September at NAS Oceana.

These are a set of photos to be really proud of and I can't wait to see more! It's tough to pick one of these as a favorite. They're all enough to make me grind my teeth that I missed the show!!

I shot over 1000 photos. Last night I went through them at tagged about 160 that I want to process, so I will chip away at them, a few each night.

But how did that guy with the flag land without the flag touching the ground?

He landed in a crowd and they caught the flag.

I feel the same way about the DS. It is amazing how nicely it handles but can't imagine how I used to get along with it being so slow! Still, it produces some lovely images!

I think I'll be using it more as a "bring it along camera", because of it's size and weight, as well as a back up, and when I need 2 bodies.

[roscot]

Ever see a helicopter do this?

Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax smc P-A 300mm f/4 1/1000s f/8.0 iso400


Mike Goulian - National Aerobatics Champion. My dad used to fly with his dad.
Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax smc P-A 300mm f/4 1/1000s f/13.0 iso400


This will be one of the last shows for the F15 as they are being retired.
Pentax K10D ,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF 1/1000s f/5.6 at 200.0mm iso400


FA117 - The reolution and detail of the K10D and the Sigma Ex is pretty amazing. You can see a lot of cockpit and pilot detail in the full res copy of this image.
Pentax K10D ,Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF 1/1000s f/4.5 at 200.0mm iso400

[roentarre]

Alan, thanks for sharing these amazing images. The airshow seemed to be much better than the ones here in Avalon of Melbourne down under.

You captured these shots with great compositions. Not to even mention the colour and the motion of these aircrafts.

I really enjoy the photos of upside down helicopters. I kind of have a butterfly in my stomach by looking at the shot!

[roscot]

Thanks,
That guy was amazing. He was looping and rolling that thing like a fixed wing aircraft. I've never seen anything quite like it.

[HogRider]

Very nice series. I like the F86 shot the best!

[NaClH2O]

Great shots Alan. I used to go to the Rhienbeck antique airshow about 2 hours north of here but it has gotten so crowded in recent years that I've stopped. Your lovely photos are making me rethink my decision.

NaCl(airplanes bring out the boy in me)H2O

[Matthew Roberts]

You should come out to Midland, Texas the first weekend in Oct. for the FINA-CAF AIRSHO. Wouldn't be disappointed! Got such talent!