Air to Air shot

Did some shooting for a client a while ago and this was just an extra that came out well with the exception of the dumb dumb photographer cutting off the tail. Other than that I like the pic. C&C always welcomed.

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Wow love it! Love the amazing blue hue gradient, I'm a huge fan of blue sky gradients

Glad you like it. Sometime times the blue gradient works, sometimes it doesn't. There was actually a lot of blue in the pic so I just enhanced what was there.

Nice!

PhotosGuy wrote in post #5748250
Nice!

Thanks, always appreciated.

man, that would be a SUPER nice pic if it had the whole plane in it!

that is a really nice pic. A friend of mine wants me to do some air to air shots. I would be in a cessna 172, about 1500 feet up. what space do you have between plane to plane, and do you shoot with the doors off. That is fun, but it sure does blow like mad and I do not think the owner wants to take the door off. So what would be a good lens and what time of day.

would have been MONEY if the tail wasn't cut off... DOH!
-GP-

Aucomo wrote in post #5749881
that is a really nice pic. A friend of mine wants me to do some air to air shots. I would be in a cessna 172, about 1500 feet up. what space do you have between plane to plane, and do you shoot with the doors off. That is fun, but it sure does blow like mad and I do not think the owner wants to take the door off. So what would be a good lens and what time of day.

I have a few pilots that I deal with and each has a window that opens or a small hole in the window to shoot from. If they door is off there is much more wind. I prefer the door on just in case I accidently drop something.

For air to air I use 24-105, 70-200, or my 100-300. Each will shoot a bit differently and it depends on what you are looking for. I like them atleast 100ft away from me and this is just for my own safety.

1G2BNVD wrote in post #5750417
would have been MONEY if the tail wasn't cut off... DOH!
-GP-

DOH is right. It happened so fast and this was the only shot of 4 that was in focus. I think I will try a tighter crop to cover up my mistake.

I have done some air-to-air using a 172 as the camera ship. On a Cessna you can remove the screw from the window stop which will allow it to swing all the way open. In flight you can push the window all the way up and it will stay open due to aerodynamics.

As for the lens, I have gotten some good shots with a 24-105 without the need to crop but would never, let me repeat that never, Never, NEVER EVER let an "unknown" pilot fly that close to any plane I was in. I would definitely use a longer lens if you have it (IS helps) or plan to crop. Smooth air is a huge help also. It not only makes the photographers life easier but reduced the workload of the pilots too.

-- Safety Rant Starts Now --

Remember, the #2 pilot may be the hottest stick in the state but if he doesn't have much formation experience (thus fitting my definition of "unknown") it can go bad very quickly. I will leave it at that except to say that if you ever feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable call off the shoot! No questions or hesitations, call it off. My evaluation of this would start by watching the pilots preflight briefing.

such a shame the tail got cut off. You should try it again and get it right

Good tip. I've shot from a Skymaster & that worked well.

About 35-40 years ago did some air to air pics from a j3 and a taylorcraft. They are not speeders at around 85mph. But at 6'4 280 I do not fit "well" in a cub. I have a 70-200 2.8 is, 1.4x, 100-300 and a 17-85 kit lens on a 40d. Take the 70-200 and the kit or just the 70-200. also how about air to ground shots. In the 80's just had an A-1 with a 50mm. and before that and old kodak. The tips have been very helpful. thanks

Really nice aviation shot. I take aviation shots, albeit slightly different to yours! Hope you like

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thebeatnut wrote in post #5754821
Really nice aviation shot. I take aviation shots, albeit slightly different to yours! Hope you like

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I always enjoy those types of shot. Keep them coming. Stay safe and keep shooting with that camera.