Many of my fellow Bay Area Photo Club members have posted some outstanding photos from this year’s Houston Air Show. I am not sure that I could ever post anything that would be as good as most of the shots that I have seen posted.
I went to the air show, but, thanks to a certain seven year old boy and four year old girl, I did not photograph too many of the airplanes. But, if you want some photos of two little ones riding the bucking mechanical bull or climbing a rock wall, then I am your photographer. Although I have been to the air show many times, I never noticed these two concessions. I also never noticed the Lego Land booth. Live and learn!
In this photo, I tried to combine two elements of the air show—the Blue Angles performing one of their precision moves and a youngster watching the action. I must admit this photo involved a little luck. I heard what the announcer said the Blue Angles were going to perform and then noticed this young girl sitting on her father’s shoulders. I immediately positioned myself behind them and hoped I would get a shot of a couple of the planes pulling-up into the sky. I got lucky to get all six of them.
Enjoy.
Camera settings: Nikon D3, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 at 70mm with polarizing filter attached, shot at ISO 200, f/8 and 1/180th.
Post Processing:
Lightroom—Set white and black points, added mid-tone contrast.
Being observant and always looking for a unique perspective on things is not luck. "Better lucky than good" is a popular quote. As I've become accustomed to, you have made your own luck. That tells me you are actually quite good at what you do.
ReplyDeleteGreat job capturing this perspective. Good use of depth of field to keep her in focus and get enough detail of the jets. I can imagine how exciting this was for the little girl to see. I was in my 20's the first time I remember seeing the Blue Angels at Ellington and was pretty excited at that age!
You cannot help yourself. You have to make even the air show into a portrait, even if it is of someone from the back. Much more interesting than your normal air show shot, at least for me.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I so agree with Debbie --- I love this shot! The planes all look the same to me, I don't know an angel from a thunderbird and this image captures the whole feel of the air SHOW, not just the planes. You caught the planes at such a perfect angle in the frame, with the smoke trails all making diagonals. And Doug is right, you make your own luck and you do it time after time.
ReplyDeleteNice composition Larry. Nice job of conveying that the show is more than just planes. However I wouldn't go as far as Cindy and Anne - any photo can benefit from more horsepower!! :)
ReplyDeleteMore power, less portraits. Photos of air shows are suppose to be about planes not kids.
ReplyDeleteCharles M