Project 52: Week 36, Scottish International Airshow

[billtils]

Before I post some images from the day, grateful thanks to everyone who responded to my request for advice. I managed to last a whole day without shooting anything in Aperture Priority , with about 60% of the images taken using manual and the rest with Shutter Priority - I think I got away with the former but felt more comfortable after moving to the latter.

Overall impression - it was my first Airshow and was a totally brilliant day, and I'll be happy to go again (with camera of course). The results were OK, but the prop motion blur needs some more practice, with the panning turning out to be harder than expected and certainly more difficult than when shooting feathered birds.

To kick off, here is the best of the bunch in regard to prop motion. It is a pair of RAF trainers, a Chipmunk and a Bulldog.




It's not too bad in this one of the DC3 and one of the Beech 18s from the Swiss Classic Formation:




The fast jets were easier!

An RAF Typhon with its afterburners lit up:




and a Swiss Air Force F/A18 dashing through the moist air (there was a mid-show rain break)




There were some amazing aerobatic displays where I was happy to forget about "prop motion blur" and enjoy the show:

The Extra 300 Aerobatic



and the Pitts Special



The show closed with the absolutely stunning Red Arrows













Did I enjoy the day! Yes and I'd even go back without a camera .

[Geoff F]

Difficult subjects but these have worked well.

[Donald]

Good set of images.

[billtils]

Thanks Geoff and Donald.

[skitterbug]

Excellent photos. It is hard to catch them - I've been trying on those slower crop dusters we have here - for a few years now! LOL So I know you are spot on with your shots. My favorites - the ones with colour in their contrails of course! Did you have a tripod or were these all handheld?

Definitely looks like fun!

[billtils]

Thanks Sandy - all handheld. The Nikon 300PF is so light it was no problem shooting all day with it.

[FootLoose]

Nice set, Bill. I especially like the 3rd last with the circles.