US Coast Guard at work

I was out shooting trains by the water yesterday when I noticed a tanker coming up the straight. Not a big deal until I noticed a CG Dolphin hovering overhead, than saw two armed Zodiacs zipping about. I have seen this ship plenty of times and it has never had this kind of attention. Made for an interesting show. Forgive these, they were shot with my Sigma 150-500 handheld. Trying to get a slow enough shutter speed to get helo prop blur with that cannon of a lens was a bit challenging! Forgive any sensor dust I missed. I was stopped down to F22, which I almost never do.

Tanker with Zodiac speeing ahead

I'd say you did VERY well considering the size & weight of that lens. Nice rotor blur & still sharp enough for me.

Nice captures. Not used to seeing the uscg with guns. Strictly buoy tending and search and rescue around here.

Well done, these were fun to look at. Cool to see the firepower!

-Most people may not know this, but one of the Suv's in the presidents motorcade contains a GE Minigun mounted on a 360° turret that is quickly deployed out of the roof. Not much getting near that thing

Nice shots, wonder what they were doing

Good catch. Was there anything on the news about it?

Wow when I think of coast guard I think SAR... nice captures!

StaticMedia wrote in post #14468346
Most people may not know this, but one of the Suv's in the presidents motorcade contains a GE Minigun mounted on a 360° turret that is quickly deployed out of the roof. Not much getting near that thing

I had to look it up, just wow...

http://www.wired.com …a/2009/01/motor​cade-suvs/

Itsed65 wrote in post #14466149
I was out shooting trains by the water yesterday when I noticed a tanker coming up the straight. Not a big deal until I noticed a CG Dolphin hovering overhead, than saw two armed Zodiacs zipping about. I have seen this ship plenty of times and it has never had this kind of attention. Made for an interesting show. Forgive these, they were shot with my Sigma 150-500 handheld. Trying to get a slow enough shutter speed to get helo prop blur with that cannon of a lens was a bit challenging! Forgive any sensor dust I missed. I was stopped down to F22, which I almost never do.

Tanker with Zodiac speeing ahead

Was a nice afternoon to be on the water!

AHHHHH So you were the guy!!! I Saw you shooting the train and was shooting it too. I turned to see the boat stuff going on and got a shot of you shooting the action

http://www.foto-biz.com …es/misc/sigma-200-500.jpg

Right place, right time. Nice set of action shots.

Thanks guys. I looked all over, but found no mention of anything in the news about it, so I have no idea what was going on. It was pretty cool to watch though. I wish I had some better glass with me, but as the saying goes, the best lens is the one you have.

If it was a regular ship from the area, it would not surprise me if a) it was a routine search, or b) a drill/practice intercept (most likely). They get permission from the vessel captain, owner, etc, to use the ship departing on its normal run as a chance to simulate a situation that they want to practice. Shortly after the "intercept" the boat moves along on its normal route.

Very nice shots love "Coasties"

Great set....I love those "right time" shots....

sigma pi wrote in post #14474577
AHHHHH So you were the guy!!! I Saw you shooting the train and was shooting it too. I turned to see the boat stuff going on and got a shot of you shooting the action

http://www.foto-biz.com …es/misc/sigma-200-500.jpg

Sheesh, he's lucky the coasties didn't think it was a weapon lol.