I love Jet-A in the morning!

I’m writing this at the airport, not Stead home of the Reno Air Races, but from Reno as we’re flying to ME for DLWS. Every morning this week, I’ve received an email from my aviation mentor Richard who’s not here. I get my crit of my images and corrections to my plane nomenclature. Great way to start the day

Actually, this was the way to start. I decided that if we arrived and the Blue Angels crew was out, I would try to make a shot with them in action. The light wasn’t exactly romantic, but it worked for the action. I tried a couple of shutter speeds to get the right blur, I settled on 1/20. I kinda like it

Then I spied Lady Jo was pulled out, she was going on an early morning flight. The killer volunteer staff who cart us around the airport were on hand, so I hitched a ride to the other end of the ramp to photograph her. First I went with the reflected light. I think I like that better so I spent time waiting for it to happen.

Then once it did, I switched to the other side and did the 5 frame HDR. While a valid technique, I’m tired of it. I’m on the hunt for a better solution, it will probably take some time. In this application, the shadow detail which shouldn’t be present is. I just need that solid black. Gotta play with that.

For a platform, I unscrew the head of my tripod and rest it right on the ground. The left hand is pushing it down on the ground while the right hand operates the camera.

We’ll miss the last two days of the races but Jake & Brent are there so I know I’ll be seeing it in their images. This is a great event that I’m so happy Nikon sponsors because we all get in by working for them. So thanks Scott, Bill, Bill & Mike, it was a great time! A super BIG thanks to all our friends and fellow photographers, Dave, Erv, Kevin, Naomi, Neil, Jerry and the rest for taking such good care of us! Richard, by the time you read this, you’ll be a dad. Congrats bud!

Photos captured by D3x, 200-400VR / 24PC-E on Lexar UDMA digital film