NCAP Spring Social & Shoot - Airshow, Andrews AFB, MD, 15-16 May

MRRiley · 03-30-2010, 06:01 AM

This is the announcement and interest query for a late Spring social for the National Capitol Area Pentaxians. My proposal is to shoot the DOD Joint Services Air Show at Andrews AFB, MD (just SE of DC) on the 15th and/or 16th of May.

This is always a great show and this year features the Navy's Blue Angels and the most awesome warbird on the planet, the F-22 Raptor (pictured below).

Also, if we get a couple of folks with DOD stickers on their cars (I have one so thats good for 4-5 folks) we can park on base (otherwise parking is at FedEx Field with a free shuttle service).

I will be going on Saturday for sure and propose we shoot for that day just in case it's rainy. That way we can fall back to Sunday if necessary.

Anyone interested?

Mike

Last edited by MRRiley; 03-30-2010 at 06:19 AM. Reason: added info

**dadipentak** · 03-30-2010, 06:19 AM

Let me think on this one, Mike. Airshows aren't really down my photographic alley but it might be an interesting outing for my daughter and grandsons.

Congratulations on your ascension to mod-dom, btw!

mel · 03-30-2010, 06:41 AM

I'm running the 5k portion of the MCMs Historic Half Marathon that Sunday. I wanted to just go and shoot in Fredericksburg while hubby ran but I got roped into the shorter race. Ugh.

MRRiley · 03-30-2010, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by dadipentak

Let me think on this one, Mike. Airshows aren't really down my photographic alley but it might be an interesting outing for my daughter and grandsons.

Congratulations on your ascension to mod-dom, btw!

Look at it as an opportunity for growth Dave!

And thanks...

Originally posted by mel

I'm running the 5k portion of the MCMs Historic Half Marathon that Sunday. I wanted to just go and shoot in Fredericksburg while hubby ran but I got roped into the shorter race. Ugh.

So shooting the Air Show on Saturday would be a good warm up... LOL

Mike

rt22306 · 03-30-2010, 04:48 PM

"I love the smell of AvGas in the morning! It's the smell of Freedom!"

Amazing, I checked the website this afternoon for info on the show, and forwarded the link to old colleagues that did their time in the USAF. I have a DoD pass also, but I prefer to take the Metro and bus in and get there by 9:30 if possible. You can have the old warbirds pretty much to yourself if you get there by 10-10:30, the crowds usually start pouring in by then.

**dadipentak** · 03-31-2010, 04:08 AM

I'm planning to attend with my son (also a pentaxian), daughter and two grandsons. We'll try to get there early but we'll be too big a herd to ride on anyone's pass so I'll need a meet-up time/location.

mel · 03-31-2010, 05:47 AM

Bringing the monsterlens Dave? It could be fun with planes and junk

I'm going to have to wait until it's closer to see what's going on. That's soccer season and although I only have one playing this season I still need to kind of wait and see what's going on and how the wind's blowing and stuff.

MRRiley · 03-31-2010, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by dadipentak

I'm planning to attend with my son (also a pentaxian), daughter and two grandsons. We'll try to get there early but we'll be too big a herd to ride on anyone's pass so I'll need a meet-up time/location.

We'll set up a time/place to meet. I'll be going as early as possible so will also give everyone my cellphone number.

Originally posted by mel

Bringing the monsterlens Dave? It could be fun with planes and junk

I'm going to have to wait until it's closer to see what's going on. That's soccer season and although I only have one playing this season I still need to kind of wait and see what's going on and how the wind's blowing and stuff.

I could just see Dave trying to use that big a$$ 1000mm beast to pan a Tomcat passing at 400mph. LOL And you could miss ONE soccer game out of what... 750 or so games.

Mike

**dadipentak** · 03-31-2010, 08:18 AM

Originally posted by mel

Bringing the monsterlens Dave? It could be fun with planes and junk

.

I'm thinking that might be a hassle what with crowds & grandkids in tow and would certainly depend on our transportation strategy. I was thinking the DA*300mm would be the ticket (with the 1.7x TC in the bag.)

MRRiley · 03-31-2010, 08:27 AM

Can't generally bring tripods in anyway Dave, and I can't see you hand-holding that 3' long lens. The 300mm will do nicely especially with the TC.

Mike

GatorPentax · 04-06-2010, 01:17 PM

is it difficult to shoot planes flying that fast? Im not sure if i'm equipped properly to do this. anyone have tips?

MRRiley · 04-06-2010, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by GatorPentax

is it difficult to shoot planes flying that fast? Im not sure if i'm equipped properly to do this. anyone have tips?

Difficult? Well I guess it depends on how limber you are. LOL... Frankly if I can twist at the waist (and I have more waist than I should) to pan, then anyone can. Other than that it's no more difficult than any other kind of photography, just different challenges. Until I got the BIGMA I shot these shows with a manual focus 300mm f5.6 Vivitar lens. Even with the BIGMA I normally use manual focus because for all practical purposes the aircraft are always far enough away that they hit the infinity focus point.

Mike

p.s. your Vivitar 70-210mm should be up to the task, particularly if it's a bright enough day to let you use your 2X TC.

shawnxji · 04-08-2010, 05:55 AM

I'd love to go, although I might not be able to really shoot, since my only "telephoto" is my 70mm, but it'd be fun to watch. I also plan to take the metro

Shawn

Eruditass · 04-08-2010, 06:04 AM

I'd love to go, and will probably just be watching as well unless an old 200mm prime w/o TC would take decent pictures (or a consumer 70-300mm)

**EsBee** · 04-10-2010, 08:27 AM

Mike, I'd love to go. If I can, hope it will be a bright day because my 55-300 needs a lot of light for high shutter speeds.

03-30-2010, 06:01 AM	#1
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275	NCAP Spring Social & Shoot - Airshow, Andrews AFB, MD, 15-16 May This is the announcement and interest query for a late Spring social for the National Capitol Area Pentaxians. My proposal is to shoot the DOD Joint Services Air Show at Andrews AFB, MD (just SE of DC) on the 15th and/or 16th of May. This is always a great show and this year features the Navy's Blue Angels and the most awesome warbird on the planet, the F-22 Raptor (pictured below). Also, if we get a couple of folks with DOD stickers on their cars (I have one so thats good for 4-5 folks) we can park on base (otherwise parking is at FedEx Field with a free shuttle service). I will be going on Saturday for sure and propose we shoot for that day just in case it's rainy. That way we can fall back to Sunday if necessary. Anyone interested? Mike Last edited by MRRiley; 03-30-2010 at 06:19 AM. Reason: added info

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03-30-2010, 06:19 AM	#2
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Let me think on this one, Mike. Airshows aren't really down my photographic alley but it might be an interesting outing for my daughter and grandsons. Congratulations on your ascension to mod-dom, btw!

03-30-2010, 06:41 AM	#3
mel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,531	I'm running the 5k portion of the MCMs Historic Half Marathon that Sunday. I wanted to just go and shoot in Fredericksburg while hubby ran but I got roped into the shorter race. Ugh.

03-30-2010, 06:50 AM	#4
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275 Original Poster	Originally posted by dadipentak Let me think on this one, Mike. Airshows aren't really down my photographic alley but it might be an interesting outing for my daughter and grandsons. Congratulations on your ascension to mod-dom, btw! Look at it as an opportunity for growth Dave! And thanks... Originally posted by mel I'm running the 5k portion of the MCMs Historic Half Marathon that Sunday. I wanted to just go and shoot in Fredericksburg while hubby ran but I got roped into the shorter race. Ugh. So shooting the Air Show on Saturday would be a good warm up... LOL Mike

03-30-2010, 04:48 PM	#5
rt22306 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 164	"I love the smell of AvGas in the morning! It's the smell of Freedom!" Amazing, I checked the website this afternoon for info on the show, and forwarded the link to old colleagues that did their time in the USAF. I have a DoD pass also, but I prefer to take the Metro and bus in and get there by 9:30 if possible. You can have the old warbirds pretty much to yourself if you get there by 10-10:30, the crowds usually start pouring in by then.

03-31-2010, 04:08 AM	#6
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	I'm planning to attend with my son (also a pentaxian), daughter and two grandsons. We'll try to get there early but we'll be too big a herd to ride on anyone's pass so I'll need a meet-up time/location.

03-31-2010, 05:47 AM	#7
mel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,531	Bringing the monsterlens Dave? It could be fun with planes and junk I'm going to have to wait until it's closer to see what's going on. That's soccer season and although I only have one playing this season I still need to kind of wait and see what's going on and how the wind's blowing and stuff.

03-31-2010, 08:07 AM	#8
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275 Original Poster	Originally posted by dadipentak I'm planning to attend with my son (also a pentaxian), daughter and two grandsons. We'll try to get there early but we'll be too big a herd to ride on anyone's pass so I'll need a meet-up time/location. We'll set up a time/place to meet. I'll be going as early as possible so will also give everyone my cellphone number. Originally posted by mel Bringing the monsterlens Dave? It could be fun with planes and junk I'm going to have to wait until it's closer to see what's going on. That's soccer season and although I only have one playing this season I still need to kind of wait and see what's going on and how the wind's blowing and stuff. I could just see Dave trying to use that big a$$ 1000mm beast to pan a Tomcat passing at 400mph. LOL And you could miss ONE soccer game out of what... 750 or so games. Mike

03-31-2010, 08:18 AM	#9
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by mel Bringing the monsterlens Dave? It could be fun with planes and junk . I'm thinking that might be a hassle what with crowds & grandkids in tow and would certainly depend on our transportation strategy. I was thinking the DA*300mm would be the ticket (with the 1.7x TC in the bag.)

03-31-2010, 08:27 AM	#10
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275 Original Poster	Can't generally bring tripods in anyway Dave, and I can't see you hand-holding that 3' long lens. The 300mm will do nicely especially with the TC. Mike

04-06-2010, 01:17 PM	#11
GatorPentax Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	is it difficult to shoot planes flying that fast? Im not sure if i'm equipped properly to do this. anyone have tips?

04-06-2010, 04:14 PM	#12
MRRiley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,275 Original Poster	Originally posted by GatorPentax is it difficult to shoot planes flying that fast? Im not sure if i'm equipped properly to do this. anyone have tips? Difficult? Well I guess it depends on how limber you are. LOL... Frankly if I can twist at the waist (and I have more waist than I should) to pan, then anyone can. Other than that it's no more difficult than any other kind of photography, just different challenges. Until I got the BIGMA I shot these shows with a manual focus 300mm f5.6 Vivitar lens. Even with the BIGMA I normally use manual focus because for all practical purposes the aircraft are always far enough away that they hit the infinity focus point. Mike p.s. your Vivitar 70-210mm should be up to the task, particularly if it's a bright enough day to let you use your 2X TC.

04-08-2010, 05:55 AM	#13
shawnxji Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: DC Metro, USA Posts: 212	I'd love to go, although I might not be able to really shoot, since my only "telephoto" is my 70mm, but it'd be fun to watch. I also plan to take the metro Shawn

04-08-2010, 06:04 AM	#14
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	I'd love to go, and will probably just be watching as well unless an old 200mm prime w/o TC would take decent pictures (or a consumer 70-300mm)

04-10-2010, 08:27 AM	#15
EsBee Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: National Capital Region Posts: 739	Mike, I'd love to go. If I can, hope it will be a bright day because my 55-300 needs a lot of light for high shutter speeds.