Got my first media pass

[Longwatcher]

With a bit of amusement, I picked up my first media pass this afternoon.

In an effort to just take some pictures of airplanes during the airshow and on static display and knowing the rate I take pictures, I had to end up getting a media pass for this weekend's Langley AFB Airshow.

Misguided security forces changed policy from last year, which said that camera bags were okay, plus I got a letter from Public Affairs saying I could bring my camera bag in.

This year it changed to "small" camera bags, if you needed more lenses you could wear a photographer's vest with smaller lenses attached.

Well, I don't about you but with the desire to bring the following:
- Canon 1DsMkII
- Spare NP-E3 battery
- 70-200/2.8L IS
- 100-400L IS
- 16-35/2.8L
- 28-70/2.8L
- Wolverine 80GB flashpac
- Delkin Picture Pad and AA Battery pack (only because I don't trust Wolverine yet)
- 4 CF and 2 SD cards in card pouch (plus 1 each in camera)
- 1.4 and 2x extenders (although from last year's experience, I will probably not use them)
- Assorted filters
- Tripod

Carrying all that while following the rules and personally I think I will look more threatening then if they just let me put most of it in a large camera bag or my backpack.

I am also considering bringing my XL-2 one of the two days, Which is another large bag of stuff.

So I got a media pass.
The only disappointing thing was they would not let me shoot from the good side of the airfield (the side where the sun will be at my back). something about not wanting any movement of people on that side. Which of course completly ignores all of my co-workers who will live the building at 5pm to watch the air show and be milling about on the good side of the airfield.

On the good side, I get better parking....

Had to share,

[Longwatcher]

Forgot to add, I don't suppose there is anyway I can get my POTN strap by tomorrow?
:) 8) :)

[epeace]

nice . . . i got my press pass for Fashion Week of the Americas (http://www.fashionweekamericas.com) yesterday . . they have us all crammed onto this little stage area in front of the runway . . really have to be careful not to elbow someone in the head or bang into a tripod or something . . .
(http://www.fashionweekamericas.com)

[Longwatcher]

While I would much rather be at your runway, mine will be a lot bigger
:) 8) :)

Actually on second thought, I get to shoot models all the time, I don't get to shoot aircraft all that often. I will stick with mine.

[PacAce]

With a bit of amusement, I picked up my first media pass this afternoon.

In an effort to just take some pictures of airplanes during the airshow and on static display and knowing the rate I take pictures, I had to end up getting a media pass for this weekend's Langley AFB Airshow.

Misguided security forces changed policy from last year, which said that camera bags were okay, plus I got a letter from Public Affairs saying I could bring my camera bag in.

This year it changed to "small" camera bags, if you needed more lenses you could wear a photographer's vest with smaller lenses attached.

Well, I don't about you but with the desire to bring the following:
- Canon 1DsMkII
- Spare NP-E3 battery
- 70-200/2.8L IS
- 100-400L IS
- 16-35/2.8L
- 28-70/2.8L
- Wolverine 80GB flashpac
- Delkin Picture Pad and AA Battery pack (only because I don't trust Wolverine yet)
- 4 CF and 2 SD cards in card pouch (plus 1 each in camera)
- 1.4 and 2x extenders (although from last year's experience, I will probably not use them)
- Assorted filters
- Tripod

Carrying all that while following the rules and personally I think I will look more threatening then if they just let me put most of it in a large camera bag or my backpack.

I am also considering bringing my XL-2 one of the two days, Which is another large bag of stuff.

So I got a media pass.
The only disappointing thing was they would not let me shoot from the good side of the airfield (the side where the sun will be at my back). something about not wanting any movement of people on that side. Which of course completly ignores all of my co-workers who will live the building at 5pm to watch the air show and be milling about on the good side of the airfield.

On the good side, I get better parking....

Had to share,
You know, Tim, you can fit all those things you listed in a Domke photog vest...except for the 2 SD cards, that is. :mrgreen: :lol: :D

[epeace]

While I would much rather be at your runway, mine will be a lot bigger
:) 8) :)

Actually on second thought, I get to shoot models all the time, I don't get to shoot aircraft all that often. I will stick with mine.
ha very clever . . . heheh

and . . i do too . . and i never get tired of it :cool:

[Longwatcher]

You know, Tim, you can fit all those things you listed in a Domke photog vest...except for the 2 SD cards, that is. :mrgreen: :lol: :D

Shoosh, Don't tell Public Affairs.
They gave me a media pass.

Also, are you serious that it will handle the two long lenses with reasonable access?
The two I saw didn't look like they would work at all well.

Lastly,
Anybody have any suggestions given that the weather will be be high-overcast clouds this afternoon. I shoot airshows once a year.

[Longwatcher]

First day:
I just love scattered clouds (not)

I do love media passes though, they gave me golf cart ride back to car to drop off something (XL-2 and tripod) and brought me back expedited like when I decided my XL-2 was just not quite working as good as I wanted it to.

My 1DsMkII on the other hand dusted everyone else there today, including the other Canon and Noink users. there were even a couple of Kodak SLR/n users, they were the only ones close as far as I was concerned. Okay in fairness there was a 20D owner with a 400mm prime, that impressed me a bit.

in stupid news, My new Wolverine drive dropped out of my bag when I had to readjust everything and I could not find it for awhile, but luckily lost and found acquired it and I got it back just in time as I was running out of CF cards when my battery pack died for my Picture pad (Okay techically I was running out before the battery died, but at least I got a couple back before it died). So far mixed feelings for Wolverine 80GB flashpac. It is faster then my Delkin Picture pad, but it still can't keep up with me. Also the battery did not quite last as long as I was told to expect it to, but the testing had been done on 512MB abd 1 GB cards not 2GB cards, so that may have had an effect.

In a few moments I will find out if it otherwise worked like it was supposed to, right after I finish dumping the full CF cards to the computer.

Oh one last bit of potentially good news, I may get a ride in the Golden Knights airplane tomorrow, I am really trying to avoid a ride with the Golden Knights. 20 years of Air Force training says thou shalt not exit a perfectly good aircraft. Primary reason I may get it is the media rep had forgotten to send out my media package to me, so I had needed to go pick it up in person from Public Affairs yesterday, so she is going to try to make it up to me. I did tell her to consider me lower priority then a major crew since I am just freelancing this show for the fun of it.

Anyway that is todays report. With luck will have some pictures up by Sunday if there are any good ones.

Did I mention I hate scattered clouds...

[intechpcx]

Here's a dumb question for you, what was the process you had to go through to get the media pass? I've never attempted this before but have a couple events in mind where I'd like to give a go at getting credentials. I realize it will very greatly by venue and event but I'm just curious what hoops you had to jump through.

[Belmondo]

Sounds like fun, Tim. Looking forward to seeing those 16mp pictures, regardless of where the sun is.

[Longwatcher]

Just barely arrived when I was supposed to 10am, No other media wanted to take the Golden Knights flight. I got the good seat. I will put up at least one or two of those images tomorrow unless I am in the hospital.

Lesson #1: No matter how sunny and warm the day is wear long johns and a bring a coat and gloves. They gave me a jacket and some gloves to wear. It helped but not enough.
(The sad part is I should have known better, but I had not actually expected to get a seat)

Lesson #2: A 1DsMkII is not fast enough, a 20D is not fast enough, a 1DMkII is probably cutting it close. Their were 5 other guests flying with us (all military incentive flights) and the best one of them did was 2 shots per jump with a P&S.

Lesson #3: A metal camera and lens gets really cold at 13000 feet with a 120kt windchill (I don't actually think it was 120kt at my seat, but it was rather breezy)

Lesson #4: Next Time I need a 24-70 instead of my 28-70, a 16-35 would have been a bit too wide,but I needed just a touch more width then my 28-70 offered.

Lesson #5: I have discovered that while the autofocus works real good for objects rapidly approaching it is not so good for objects rapidly receeding (or at least so it seemed to day)

Lesson #6: There really is a reason for that there continuous mode function on my 1DsMkII, which I completely forgot about for the first two of 4 jumps. I never need it for doing model shoots for some reason, but darn it came in handy today (along with the portrait grip button, something also usually left in the off position)

Lesson #7: Remember that after the jumpers have left and they close the doors, your lens is going to fog up fairly quickly.

And lastly Lesson #8: Get the name and order of the jumpers BEFORE the plane takes off
:)

Thus my lessons for today.
I technically have one more lesson but it deserves another thread which will be titled, "bad thoughts to have"

[Longwatcher]

Below are some of the results, as mentioned in another thread, these are, by exception, as shot only resized and converted to jpeg, so sensor dust spots are showing up. I will fix when I have much more time.

http://www.longwatcher.com/event_p_04.html
http://www.longwatcher.com/event_p_04B.html
http://www.longwatcher.com/event_p_04C.html (this one is my favorite -can't touch this)
http://www.longwatcher.com/event_p_04D.html