Miramar - I messed up

I DREAD ME wrote in post #11061102
What would be the optimal shutter speed for the prop blur while still photographing a jet @ 500mph?

Well, you still use the settings for the prop plane. They're both traveling at the same speed, it's not like the jet is overtaking the prop plane at some very high speed.

In order to get "some" prop blur, you'll need 1/250s. 1/200s mostly acceptable. If you're able to do 1/100-1/160s (you're getting pretty good). And under 1/100s, you're in "panning God" territory.

It can be done. Your success will depend on the angle at which you're shooting and also how good you are at panning.

jwcdds wrote in post #11061367
Well, you still use the settings for the prop plane. They're both traveling at the same speed, it's not like the jet is overtaking the prop plane at some very high speed.

In order to get "some" prop blur, you'll need 1/250s. 1/200s mostly acceptable. If you're able to do 1/100-1/160s (you're getting pretty good). And under 1/100s, you're in "panning God" territory.

It can be done. Your success will depend on the angle at which you're shooting and also how good you are at panning.

Thanks for the info. I will use that at next years airshow. Is there any way to add prop blur to that 1st picture in photoshop?

Thanks again

Yes - make a selection of the prop, and make a new layer and then blur it with the radial blur filter, or create a mask over it and do the same thing. might not be perfect, but you only need a tad more.

Man, you're right - horrible - you should've taken the extender off...

jwcdds wrote in post #11061367
"panning God" at 700mm!

My shoulder hurts just thinking about it

Seriously, about two years ago I shot an event at the Beacon Theatre, handholding a 400mm f2.8 from the loge - about 2000 photos over 2 hours. Photos came out great... the next day my shoulder was in serious pain. To this day, I feel some slight pain in that arm / shoulder area, like I stretched a muscle and it never healed right.

KurtGoss wrote in post #11099927
My shoulder hurts just thinking about it

Seriously, about two years ago I shot an event at the Beacon Theatre, handholding a 400mm f2.8 from the loge - about 2000 photos over 2 hours. Photos came out great... the next day my shoulder was in serious pain. To this day, I feel some slight pain in that arm / shoulder area, like I stretched a muscle and it never healed right.

But I'll bet you got some memorable photos! So what if you've got torn ligaments and lifelong arthritis to cope with for your efforts. I guess that's why they're upgrading the 400/2.8, shaving some 30% off its weight.

These are some amazing shots. Contrast looks great, especially for Miramar, where you're facing almost due south and there's a lot of glare from the sky. I tried a 2x TC there a few year ago and swore never to do it again -- but you've pulled it off just fine!