Evan's photography phun

[evangilder]

As most of you know, I picked up a Sigma 50-500 earlier this year. Today, I picked up the Nikon D80 body. This thing is a sweet shooter! The shots above were taken with the new D80 and the Nikkor 28-80 zoom of the D50. For comparison, the shots below are of my D80, taken with the same 28-80 lens on the D50. The lens on the D80 is the Sigma. Notice the difference in color representation. The D80 sensor is crisper.

 

[evangilder]

Long story, but yesterday, I set out to get some airplane pictures and didn't get any. So I shot these aerial objects instead.

 

[Lucky13]

Fantastic shots mate!!

 

[evangilder]

Cheers. I should be able to shoot some airplanes this weekend.

 

[evangilder]

Okay, for comparison purposes, the two shots below are the same subject taken mere moments apart. The first shot was with the Nikon D50. The second is with the Nikon D80. The color and crispness is definitely better on the D80. I only resized the images and didn't touch them up in photo shop to get a true comparison.

 

[evangilder]

Some fun stuff. One of my photos became the photo of the day from the Russian publication of Popular Mechanics!
Ãàëåðåÿ < Ïîïóëÿðíàÿ ìåõàíèêà

I have another photo that was turned into an aircraft jigsaw puzzle, my now well-known shot of the SNJ-4 "Sugarfoot"
Puzzle jp6039072

I also have 5 pictures that will be featured in an airshow performer's media kit for 2008! Some BIG stuff already being scheduled for next year, including a T-34 shoot with between 8 and 12 Mentors.

 

[DBII]

Great shots. I need to get a digital. It must be nice to have such good weather. There is a 90% chance that where ever I go it will be either overcast and raining. Must of the time I am standing in ankle deep water trying to get a shot.

DBII

 

[ccheese]

You devil ! You got the D80 ! I can see the difference in the two pic's
above. I know what my D70 cost, and the D80 ain't cheap !!

Good Show !

Charles

 

[evangilder]

Thanks guys. You take what you can get weather wise. Sometimes it's good, sometimes its crap. I wish we could get stellar weather just once at Chino.

 

[lesofprimus]

Nice stuff Eric....

 

[evangilder]

Thanks, Dan. If the weather cooperates, I should be able to do some more shooting this weekend.

 

[DBII]

I guess my 1984 Cannons cannot hang with the big dogs anymore. I am going to have to go digital.

DBII

 

[evangilder]

I used film for years. Once I switched to digital, I haven't looked back. I will never go back to film.

 

[DBII]

On my last trip to Thunder Over Michigain and Dayton. I shot 64 rolls of film. The trip through the airport was special. I am looking forward to not having to switch out rolls in the middle of a fly by or having to process all the film. I would like the ease of photo shot over processing the film. The price of the chemical and paper keeps going up. It is getting harder to find places that keeps the supplies on hand.


DBII

 

[evangilder]

You do still need to stop to swap memory cards once in a while, but it's not like changing film. Open the door, pop out the full card, put another in and you're shooting again. Plus not having to worry about processing/development is great. My "darkroom" is now my PC.

But the best part is that at the end of a shot series, you can look at the LCD on the back of the camera to check exposure, focus, etc. So you can change as needed after a couple of test shots.

 

[evangilder]

New stuff posted! I finally finished up the edits and page builds for the day at Santa Paula. Here is the banner for it, and the link. It's mostly GA stuff, but there are some classic ones, and a couple o' warbirds too. Enjoy!

Van Gilder Aviation Photography, Santa Paula Airport, 10/7/2007-

 

[DBII]

I would love to hit the airshows you attend. I am going to be hard press to post anything that you do not already have up. If you do not mind me asking, how much editing did you do on photo shop? The colors are strong. I have to fight the overcast and rain clouds no matter where I go. I swear the rain follows me around. I was at the War Museum in Korea trying to shot some birds and it started raining on me.

DBII

 

[evangilder]

I don't do much editing in Photoshop. If I have to spend more than 2 minutes on a shot, I typically throw it into a hold file for later looking, or delete it altogether. The Nikon has great color representation and clarity right out of the box. I do take a few settings out of default though to suit my own needs.

 

[DBII]

I have always have troubles getting the prop blur. Even on manual holding the shutter open with a mono pod, I cannot get a good blur. Any suggestions? I hate seeing the planes in the air without the blur.

DBII

 

[evangilder]

It all depends on the conditions and available light for prop blur. If they are in the air, nothing lower than 1/400 in shutter priority. 1/125 through 1/250 seems to be the sweet spot, but you really have to be steady (I shoot hand held at 500mm). Of course, you can go lower, but your good:bad shot ratio will be pretty low.

The key with low shutter speed shots and moving airplanes is to pan with the shot. Try and keep the airplane in the middle while it's moving as you press the shutter. It should be centered still when the mirror drops back down. It takes timing and practice.

One last thing, it's like shooting a gun, squeeze the shutter button. Don't "jerk the trigger" and you will have smoother motion.