To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee (60 years) Cunard arranged for all three of their ocean liners to arrive and later leave together in Southampton, UK. I thought I'd have a go at getting some shots of both events, but it meant a long day. To be in position ahead of their arrival I had to get there before 0400, an hour before sunrise. I chose a spot that would give me a 6-mile clear view down the approach channel, hoping to be able to frame all three of them in perspective in a single shot. As usual it didn't quite work out, as they were widely separated.
First, here is Queen Mary 2, followed by Queen Victoria. QV is about a mile behind QM2, but as QM2 is about three miles away, the difference in apparent size is not so great. This was taken at 560mm (100-400L + 1.4x) on a 7D, 1/6s, f/8, ISO 1250. There is a mirage effect going on over such a long light path over the water, that makes the ships look taller than they are.
Later Queen Elizabeth came round the bend, and I got a shot of QV, with QE behind.
I only had one opportunity to get all three in a shot from this position, as QM2 was almost alongside me by the time QE could be seen. This was taken at 32mm on 5DII. You can see QM2 and QV quite easily; QE is left of QV and right of the post. As I said, it didn't really work.
About 0500 the sun came up behind me and painted QM2 in a gorgeous light (this is the light from the sunrise clouds, not direct sunlight - I was still only at 1/30s f/5.6, ISO 1600).
I then went to Mayfair Park in Southampton, close to where the three ships were scheduled to manoeuvre together for a photo opportunity (the press were in helicopters). Even though it was still only 0600, hundreds of people had turned out to see, and I had to struggle to get these shots, between heads and over shoulders. QM2 is on the left, QE nearest on the right, and QV behind.
They had draped a giant flag with a personal message for Her Majesty over the port side name plate.
In the evening, now having embarked all their passengers and stores for the next cruises, the three ships again came together for a firework display and then to depart. Unfortunately the British weather had closed in. Rain and low cloud had already forced the cancellation of a planned air display earlier in the day. The rain cleared slowly for me, now watching from the other side of the river. You can see the haze around the lights.
I was all set for the fireworks (at 2220, a long time since getting out of bed!), the rain had stopped, I'd got the framing I wanted... And the fireworks disappeared off into the cloud!
