Blue Angels set- seeking feedback

Looking for critiques and/or advice on where/how to improve, both the individual shots and the set as a whole.

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Great shots, I like them.
Did you sneak around the front a bit more in number 2 and take one of the lined up noses?

The shots look great. Just next time, whenever shooting a prop plane like the C130 in the first shot, use a slower shutter speed.

Good effort. I think you probably could have opened up a half stop or so on ground to air formation shots. The lineup with the canopies up is very nice but I agree with the other mention regarding getting a shot down the line of noses (but I also understand about the limitations imposed when shooting from behind barricades and other heads...)

You do have some mondo dust bunnies though. Definately time to get the ol' sensor cleaned...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #5261623
You do have some mondo dust bunnies though. Definately time to get the ol' sensor cleaned...

Yes this is a big battle for me, had one BAD one with the camera new, sent it off to be cleaned, it came back with many small ones. I let it sit for a year afraid to clean it myself, I've tried the "dry" methods (sticky pad and a charged brush) with minimal effectiveness, the debate really has become attempt a "wet" cleaning or update the body to a newer model that happens to be clean. Needless to say, all the dust keeps me @ f/4.0 and my ISO tends to dictate the shutter speed. I was glad to get any prop blur on the C-130 as a result of being wide open all day, but had I remembered my ND filter I think that could have been even better.

The layout was unusual compared to my past experience at other shows, the Blues were lined up near but off of show center and at 90deg to not facing the crowd. I was more worried about getting prime location for the flying part of the show.

Thank you for the input thus far, I am hoping to catch them again this summer and will make an attempt at the "nose shot"

I think the first two would look better if you had been able to fill the frame with the whole plane. Other than that, maybe add some exposure compensation and use slower shutter speeds with the prop's. I'll tell you...that prop thing isn't easy. I tried it some last year and failed miserably. I'll be back this year again to try again.

How could you cut off FatAlbert's tail! I know that the C130 is a big aircraft but he does have a tail

But seriously, I love #6, you have nailed the timing on that one just right. Were you shooting into the sun? Other than that some nice sharp shots. I won't mention prop blur as others already have.

The lineup shot is ruined by the van in the pic. Everybody covered everything else.

adamsti wrote in post #5263034
The lineup shot is ruined by the van in the pic. Everybody covered everything else.

+1, but I have to admit, the Blues seemed to do that (meaning put them in bad spots for photos) more than the TBirds. In fact last year the Thunderbirds asked if their cars were in the way and moved them when they got the chance

I agree with what others said and I do like the pictures. I got to see the blue angels last year but here at the Indy Air Show we do not get to see the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds on the ground. They take off and land at another airport but we do get to see Fat Albert takeoff and land. We get the F22 this year and wonder what it will do.