Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Karl and I met up at our usual campsite on Saturday, 21st September, in clear blue skies and hot sunshine, ready for the second day of the show on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the weather was not so good the next day, starting out marginal, with cloud, and then a short spell of warm sunshine, which eventually deteriorated as the day progressed, becoming dull and damp, with a torrential rainstorm at one point, before settling into a grey, damp and dull day as the flying continued. As a result, two slots were cancelled, including the T-33 and MiG 15, and some 'acts' were cut short due to visibility.
At one point, aircraft seemed to merge with the grey background, and photography ranged from tricky to nigh on impossible but, according to The Law of Sod, when the show ended, the skies cleared and the sun came out !!
Added to the difficult photographic conditions was some 'finger trouble' on my part , which resulted in a fairly high percentage of what could have been good shots being spoiled, although in some cases just about usable if adjusted for brightness and contrast. At some point, without realising it, I'd apparently changed the ISO setting on the D 3300 / 300mm lens down to 100 ISO, which lead to many images later in the day looking almost like B&W negatives !
I only discovered this after checking the camera on my return home, being puzzled at the results when seen on the computer screen, and can only assume the accidental adjustment was made whilst using the menu on my camera to show Karl how to adjust the various focus and metering options ; my stupid, stiff fingers must have got in the way !
As well as the above problems, in many cases our location on the field, very close to the Land Warfare Hall at the western end, certainly wasn't the best, as the aircraft were a fair distance away for the best action and angles. Oh well, better luck next time !
Anyway, I managed to 'save' some pics, and most of those from early in the show aren't too bad, if a little mundane, which at least allows a reasonable selection to be posted here.
This Battle of Britain airshow not only commemorated the Battle itself, but also the 50th anniversary of the BoB movie, much of which was filmed at Duxford in the summer of 1968, with the movie's premier on 15th September, 1969. Consequently, the show opened with a 'recreation' of the airfield attack sequence, when the 'Messerschmitts' strafed the Hurricanes on the airfield in France, shot at the south west corner of Duxford airfield, with the same Buchons being used for the airshow, albeit at a higher altitude than the film sequence, and with a camouflaged tent and flag as the 'target', rather than replica Hurricanes.
On with the pics, with more to follow once I've sorted, and hopefully improved, some more.
Pics 1 to 3. A Danish departure for another show elsewhere, taking off, with smoke, and banking away immediately after take off.
Pics 4 to 7. The Buchons take off to prepare for the airfield attack sequence.
Pics 8 to 10. Approaching and peeling off for the attack.
Unfortunately, the weather was not so good the next day, starting out marginal, with cloud, and then a short spell of warm sunshine, which eventually deteriorated as the day progressed, becoming dull and damp, with a torrential rainstorm at one point, before settling into a grey, damp and dull day as the flying continued. As a result, two slots were cancelled, including the T-33 and MiG 15, and some 'acts' were cut short due to visibility.
At one point, aircraft seemed to merge with the grey background, and photography ranged from tricky to nigh on impossible but, according to The Law of Sod, when the show ended, the skies cleared and the sun came out !!
Added to the difficult photographic conditions was some 'finger trouble' on my part , which resulted in a fairly high percentage of what could have been good shots being spoiled, although in some cases just about usable if adjusted for brightness and contrast. At some point, without realising it, I'd apparently changed the ISO setting on the D 3300 / 300mm lens down to 100 ISO, which lead to many images later in the day looking almost like B&W negatives !
I only discovered this after checking the camera on my return home, being puzzled at the results when seen on the computer screen, and can only assume the accidental adjustment was made whilst using the menu on my camera to show Karl how to adjust the various focus and metering options ; my stupid, stiff fingers must have got in the way !
As well as the above problems, in many cases our location on the field, very close to the Land Warfare Hall at the western end, certainly wasn't the best, as the aircraft were a fair distance away for the best action and angles. Oh well, better luck next time !
Anyway, I managed to 'save' some pics, and most of those from early in the show aren't too bad, if a little mundane, which at least allows a reasonable selection to be posted here.
This Battle of Britain airshow not only commemorated the Battle itself, but also the 50th anniversary of the BoB movie, much of which was filmed at Duxford in the summer of 1968, with the movie's premier on 15th September, 1969. Consequently, the show opened with a 'recreation' of the airfield attack sequence, when the 'Messerschmitts' strafed the Hurricanes on the airfield in France, shot at the south west corner of Duxford airfield, with the same Buchons being used for the airshow, albeit at a higher altitude than the film sequence, and with a camouflaged tent and flag as the 'target', rather than replica Hurricanes.
On with the pics, with more to follow once I've sorted, and hopefully improved, some more.
Pics 1 to 3. A Danish departure for another show elsewhere, taking off, with smoke, and banking away immediately after take off.
Pics 4 to 7. The Buchons take off to prepare for the airfield attack sequence.
Pics 8 to 10. Approaching and peeling off for the attack.