NASA STS-132 Launch - May 14th 2:20pm

Who's going and what equipment are you taking? Enjoy the last flight of Atlantis!

I'll post shots when I'm back from Florida, hope everyone else does the same.

what day is it and time?

RadAL wrote in post #10142266
what day is it and time?

Wha?

I live in Jax, may try and make it down there. Where do you go to see/photograph it?
edit: if I go I'll have my 70-200is with 2x TC on my 5d2. somehow I don't think I'll be needing a flash.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #10142729
I live in Jax, may try and make it down there. Where do you go to see/photograph it?
edit: if I go I'll have my 70-200is with 2x TC on my 5d2. somehow I don't think I'll be needing a flash.

Unless you can get a press or vip pass the Causway is best: 28.509 N, 80.605 W

An alternative is space view park in Titusville:
28.614N, 80.804W

I'm going to give up on shooting from my driveway (25 miles north) and try just past the drawbridge at KSC or that area.

I'll be there for the launch. We're in Disney on vacation next week so My brother-in-law and I are renting a car for the day and meeting his friend who works at nasa. Causeway passes...

I'm going to use my 55-250 IS and post some pics if I get any good ones. Honestly, I'm going to enjoy the launch first; take pics second since this is my first and only chance to see a shuttle launch in person.

strat94 wrote in post #10143820
I'll be there for the launch. We're in Disney on vacation next week so My brother-in-law and I are renting a car for the day and meeting his friend who works at nasa. Causeway passes...

I'm going to use my 55-250 IS and post some pics if I get any good ones. Honestly, I'm going to enjoy the launch first; take pics second since this is my first and only chance to see a shuttle launch in person.

You will not regret going - it is a tremendous experience.
You may find that your 50-250 might be a bit short.

I used a 70-300 and it needed fairly severe cropping down to enable decent viewing. An example of 300mm focal length is here
If I were to go back (no chance now unfortunately), I would probably try to rent a 500 or something similar.

I'll be taking the 400 2.8 for my 5D MKii and the 70-200 + 2x for my 50D. I may switch bodies around though depending on what everything looks like when I set up. Will also be at the press site so I'm hoping I don't need any extenders for the 400 but will have an extra 1.4x with me just in case.

Getting excited, never seen a launch in person before.

i will be at space view park (early) will be bringing (2) 40d (1) 7d 1.4 tele 2x tele 70-200 f2.8 300mm f2.8 to use with the 2x tele and an asortment of other lenses and such to entertain me before the launch

Great thing about Launch day passes is you get an extra day free! One for launch and one to see the rest of the things you missed (the shuttle experiece is great!)

Just a word of warning though - take sunscreen, some shade and a hat. If you have your camera set up outside of the "tents", you will get burned by launch time (I was done to a nice lobster red by the time a 2 pm launch came around!). Also water if possible - it is available on the causeway but pretty expensive with long queues.

Tim13 wrote in post #10143296
Unless you can get a press or vip pass the Causway is best: 28.509 N, 80.605 W

The Causeway is the best option, for those that do have not have access to the Press Area or Banana River.

strat94 wrote in post #10143820
I'll be there for the launch. I'm going to use my 55-250 IS and post some pics if I get any good ones. Honestly, I'm going to enjoy the launch first; take pics second since this is my first and only chance to see a shuttle launch in person.

Enjoy the launch, first & foremost. Don't worry about shooting pixs with the 55-250, from the Causeway. You'll be too far away, with that short of a focal length, to really capture anything decent.

neilwood32 wrote in post #10153255
You will not regret going - it is a tremendous experience.
You may find that your 55-250 might be a bit short.

If I were to go back (no chance now unfortunately), I would probably try to rent a 500 or something similar.

From the Causeway the 500L +1.4X TC, would be great, but the 500 + 2X TC would be even better.

milleker wrote in post #10153449
I'll be taking the 400 2.8 for my 5D MKii and the 70-200 + 2x for my 50D. Will also be at the press site so I'm hoping I don't need any extenders for the 400 but will have an extra 1.4x with me just in case.

Just an FYI, the press site is approx. 3 miles to Pad 39A. Also you will not see the shuttle till after it clears the tree-line. That is the downside about the Press Area. Your 400 + 1.4X + 5D2 should be the perfect focal range/ IQ match.

Personally, I wouldn't bother using the 70-200 + 2X. Instead keep the 2X handy, if you need/want the reach with the 400.

Here is a view, though not exactly sure, where Ben was located, from the Press Area, as shot by Ben Cooper (launchphotography.com​/ NASA Employee)
http://www.launchphoto​graphy.com/STS-107.html

aaronhentges wrote in post #10158136
i will be at space view park (early) will be bringing (2) 40d (1) 7d 1.4 tele 2x tele 70-200 f2.8 300mm f2.8 to use with the 2x tele

From Space View Park, I would suggest, shooting with the 300 + 2X + 7D, and hope for the best. SVP is 12 miles from 39A.

neilwood32 wrote in post #10166437
Great thing about Launch day passes is you get an extra day free! One for launch and one to see the rest of the things you missed (the shuttle experiece is great!)

But, if the launch is scrubbed, then you must buy another launch ticket.

neilwood32 wrote in post #10166437
Just a word of warning though - take sunscreen, some shade and a hat. Also water if possible - it is available on the causeway but pretty expensive with long queues.

The Following is Excellent ADVICE!!! Avoid buying anything, as its not cheap. Bring copious amounts of fluids, some snacks, and some folding chairs. Most of all, take in the experience, and enjoy watching the launch.

Lastly, here are some images from the Atlantis Launch "16 Nov. 2009", I shot from the NW end of the Causeway, which is 6.5 miles due south of Pad 39A. All were shot with 300/2.8 IS + 2X II + 1.4X II on a 1DMKIIN:

What an event, thanks for the tips James but I didn't get a chance to read them until I came back. I shot 5D MKii with 400mm 1.4x and it was way too tight. The show stopper was the 50D with 70-200mm (No Extender). This image below was picked for the Flickr blog post yesterday and so far has nearly 11,000 views and 800 favorites. This is from the press area by the waterline to the right of the clock.

Nice one. Great shot.

Its an awesome experience isn't it?

WOW!!! John, GREAT shot!!! Great spot to shoot from too!

I was in Titusville, a block or two to the south of Space View Park. What's that? About 12 - 13 miles?
It was a little hazy looking across the water but I thought I had a couple good shots ... until I saw yours!

NICE!!!!

These were taken with my 7D & 100-400 L IS. I had the 2X extender but decided to take it off as it made it even worse ... closer but even more hazy looking.

Here are a few pics I managed to take from the west end of the causeway.

http://picasaweb.googl​e.com/rrancani/Shuttle​Launch#

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