New Jet Sprint Gallery Online

[defordphoto]

Enjoy!

http://www.rfmsports.com/USSBA/Photos/USSBAPhotos.html

[CyberDyneSystems]

Man that crash sequence is nuts!

Talk about getting the shots! Amazing !!!!!

[jduncan]

they look great
the 100-400 lens looks like it does really sharp photos.
is it good all the way through the range and apertures.

thanks
james

[defordphoto]

Thanks CyberDyne. A lot of times photography is a right-time right-place kinda thing eh?

jduncan: I don't get too picky testing lenses and cameras and such. I don't have the time and find it horribly boring and a waste of camera time. All I know is the lens produces the best pictures I have shot in my life and THAT is the only test that matters to me. You'd have to check sites or threads that get into testing every iota of the equipment to answer your question.

As with any lens or camera or anything else, some people love it, some hate it. I have had this lens for a little over a month and to say I am pleased with it is the understatement of the century. I am thrilled beyond belief with the 100-400L IS USM lens.

[NILOLIGIST]

RFMSports,

Great shots as usual. Do you use the Teleconverters 1.4 x or 2x? What mode do you usually shoot in? Action mode, AI Servo, one shot mode? I have upgraded my camera because of the shots I have seen you produce, I also plan on getting that lens, so I would like to know what mode you are using. I want results like you are getting and I don't want to waste a lot of time either. LOL

Thanks for posting, your shots are inspiring.

NiL,

[defordphoto]

Thanks, NILOLIGIST, I'll send canon my bill! ;)

I shot exlusively in AI Servo and vary between TV and P modes. I shot slower shutter speeds this time around and that makes a HUGE difference on the response of the camera. All the EXIF info is available on the photos, but you'll see I shot mostly about 200-350 or so.

The last time I shot the boats I was maxed out in Sports Mode at 1,000-2,500 speed and the camera responded MUCH faster as far as cycling for the next shot. At first I thought something was wrong with the camera, but then figured it the lag was due to the slower shutter speeds. But, once I got used to that then it was fine. And actually I wished I had shot even slower to blur some of the background. I shoot these boats again in two weeks, so more experimenting will be in store. The neat thing about this hobby/profession is that's an always-learning thing.

BTW: I did not use the IS mode in any of these shots and had very few OOF (out-of-focus)'s. Maybe the IS would have saved them I dunno, but I did find when I used the IS during the Champ Car shoot, it sucks battery power pretty hard when you're also using a micro-drive, and I have found that in most cases I do not need it. I'm getting this pan thing down pretty good.

I also have the 28-135IS and only use the IS when I need it. I don't believe in running it always-on like some people do if it's not needed.

And no, I do not use any teleconverters at this time, though I will be getting the 1.4 sometime soon. I have no use for the 2.0 with this lens.

[NILOLIGIST]

RFMSports,

Thanks so much for the info it is helpful. Yes, send Canon the bill...LOL...They should pay you, I think you do more for them than their ads in print.

Don't chat anymore, go do some shooting, I can't wait until you post again.

NiL,

[defordphoto]

Nil: My next big shoot will be the boats again on 8/16 and then a huge shoot as I shoot a weekend of the Jet Sprint World Series in Marsing, Idaho the weekend of 9/12-9-14. This is an international event for the UIM and there will be boats from New Zealand and Australia there.

The cool thing is I now know the owner of that track in Marsing and he's giving me carte blanc (sp?) there. I'll be able to shoot from just about anywhere I want.

And I'm getting a ride in a boat soon. If not at the next race, at Marsing for absolute sure. I'll be writing about the experience and my wife will be shooting the ride. Ought to be the thrill of a lifetime.

[NILOLIGIST]

RFMSports,

WOW, I want your life except being a man part. How did you get into that career? I am looking to change careers and wonder how I would go about getting a gig like the one you have.

NiL,

[defordphoto]

Career? I wish.

I have a day job and fit all that other stuff in my off time. Will be using vacation days in September for that race. The nice thing about coveringthe sprint boats is that they run in Idaho and Washington, so they never venture too far from my home. The problem with Champ Cars is that most of the time they are far from my home so I have neither the $$$ or the vacation time to really shoot the cars like I'd like to, so I just shoot them when they're in town to create a good shoot along with stock photos for use the rest of the year for articles and news items.

As for getting involved in all this, well it's my website, as a news service, that makes me eligible for media credentials at these events. If you don't have some source that will be using the photos, then you can't get the credentials.

So then it becomes a matter of knowing someone to become involved. I got into this back before the Internet was so freaking popular and helped create one of the first ChampCar (was IndyCar back then) websites on the net. We had our site online long before CART did. And then I got involved with the site I currently own and then ended up taking ownership of it about 2 years ago.

I have been doing this on and off for over 10 years, so my name's been out there for awhile and a lot of these folks that run the different series know us when we apply for credentials. It doesn't happen overnight and it's alot of being in the right place at the right time, like with the Sprint Boats. That is working out great and I'll probably work up something to start selling photos very soon...Guess it's finally time to get a business license.