Air to Air

Just wanted to share with you the gallery I bumped into.

Some outstanding work by this Polish photographer.

Enjoy!


http://www.hesja.pl/fo​to,101,air-2-air.html

Cool to look at but that kind of stuff isn't that impressive. Any average photographer could take those if they could find them selves in that position

Not very creative...

Thanks for sharing

He has some nice stuff. Thanks!

PJmak wrote in post #18096136
Cool to look at but that kind of stuff isn't that impressive. Any average photographer could take those if they could find them selves in that position
Not very creative...

"F/8 and be there!"

LOL

Is it really that easy?

PJmak wrote in post #18096136
Cool to look at but that kind of stuff isn't that impressive. Any average photographer could take those if they could find them selves in that position

Not very creative...

Thanks for sharing

That's so true for much of photography in general. Some is photographer skill, some equipment but a huge part is subject. Got to get to the right place at the right time and get the camera pointed in the right direction.

Fantastic images!

I've always thought air to air was the ultimate in aviation photography.
Some thing I dream about, but most likely will never fulfill.

Same here. As an Ex Navy Air Traffic Controller, I can tell you that the odds of most people ever seeing another aircraft close enough to photograph from the aircraft they're in is extremely slim.

It should be impressive to anyone that someone was able to even get off ONE shot of ONE aircraft. Much less MULTIPLE shots of MULTIPLE aircraft.

lvph2 wrote in post #18099969
Same here. As an Ex Navy Air Traffic Controller, I can tell you that the odds of most people ever seeing another aircraft close enough to photograph from the aircraft they're in is extremely slim.

It should be impressive to anyone that someone was able to even get off ONE shot of ONE aircraft. Much less MULTIPLE shots of MULTIPLE aircraft.

They are most likely planned and staged shoots and not random occurrences.

smyke wrote in post #18096153
LOL

Is it really that easy?

No, it ain't. But everyone's an (envious sometimes) expert nowadays.

He's got some really nice work in his aviation section; thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing these, very nice work !

Alveric wrote in post #18099985
No, it ain't. But everyone's an (envious sometimes) expert nowadays.

He's got some really nice work in his aviation section; thanks for sharing.

Whats so hard about it??

He obviously is using natural light. Its not like hes hanging out of the plane with artificial lighting.


Basic understanding of shutter speed, aperture, composition....point and shoot

Air to Air is something I am very interested in. Would love to get into that realm.

Sure it's 'easy' but in most cases you need to be a photographer AND a salesman.

What's so hard about it? Well we could start with what it takes to accomplish an air to air safely. Two or more aircraft flying within yards of each other at speeds ranging from 100 knots to three or four hundred knots. A formation trained pilot in the photo ship, a safety pilot in there with him to watch for conflicting traffic, keep an eye on radio communications, engine gauges, the photographer, and the subject aircraft.

Briefing in detail so everyone knows speeds, positioning the photographer desires, re-join procedures to to get safely back in formation after a particular maneuver is performed, "knock it off" emergency signals and procedures, radio communications between the photographer and his crew and the subject pilot/crew. Hand signals to keep radio communications to a minimum but get the subject aircraft where it needs to be. Making sure that nothing, no lens caps, untethered glasses, headsets. filters, hats, lens cloths, nothing can depart the photo platform and get sucked through a jet engine or a prop.

Shooting propellor driven aircraft requires shutter speeds at 1/80th or below to achieve a beautiful "full disc", that in air that isn't always velvety, is a technique all it's own. Making sure that the background is beautiful, not a cluttered mess of whatever, composing flattering angles in an environment that is constantly changing, while in the back of your mind knowing full well that the difference between success and tragedy lies in each persons ability to stay focused an do their job perfectly. Yup, just an every day walk in the park, nuthin' challenging here.

Incredible work...thanks for sharing!

JWilson7 wrote in post #18101430
What's so hard about it? Well we could start with what it takes to accomplish an air to air safely. Two or more aircraft flying within yards of each other at speeds ranging from 100 knots to three or four hundred knots. A formation trained pilot in the photo ship, a safety pilot in there with him to watch for conflicting traffic, keep an eye on radio communications, engine gauges, the photographer, and the subject aircraft.

Briefing in detail so everyone knows speeds, positioning the photographer desires, re-join procedures to to get safely back in formation after a particular maneuver is performed, "knock it off" emergency signals and procedures, radio communications between the photographer and his crew and the subject pilot/crew. Hand signals to keep radio communications to a minimum but get the subject aircraft where it needs to be. Making sure that nothing, no lens caps, untethered glasses, headsets. filters, hats, lens cloths, nothing can depart the photo platform and get sucked through a jet engine or a prop.

Shooting propellor driven aircraft requires shutter speeds at 1/80th or below to achieve a beautiful "full disc", that in air that isn't always velvety, is a technique all it's own. Making sure that the background is beautiful, not a cluttered mess of whatever, composing flattering angles in an environment that is constantly changing, while in the back of your mind knowing full well that the difference between success and tragedy lies in each persons ability to stay focused an do their job perfectly. Yup, just an every day walk in the park, nuthin' challenging here.

As stated here, it's not just as simple as hopping in a plane and shooting other aircraft. Our local chapter of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) has been discussing doing this for a couple of seasons. The guys that are going to fly in formation actually went for specific training to do so. The photog (me) has to be a member of the EAA for insurance purposes. We experimented on the group with different aircraft that we can take the doors off of so I can shoot unobstructed, but I'll be in a harness with my cameras strapped in to, which is very limiting for movement.

And we are just shooting small time aircraft here, not jets for high speed prop driven stuff.

Also, to add to getting the full disc prop blur, the lighting has to be just right as well as shutter speed, so there is alot of in air coordination that has to happen to place the subject in the right spot.

Really looking forward to it, we are supposed to fly a couple photo missions next month.