Evan's photography phun

evangilder · 02-15-2007, 09:42 AM

Here is the latest video slideshow. This is from the Cable Airshow back in January. I changed it a bit to make the pictures bigger and less compressed, so the file is a bit bigger too.

trackend · 02-15-2007, 11:04 AM

Really nice shots Eric thanks for sharing them
I love the shots with the soft fore grounds really gives the images depth and movement.
Are you still running the Nikon if so what long focus lens are you kitted out with the make would be helpful as well. Im still on the hunt for a good lens as I dont go a bundle on the Tamaron 200-400 I have at the moment as it lacks real bite.

evangilder · 02-15-2007, 03:08 PM

Thanks Lee. I am still using the Nikkor 70-300 ED lens. It sells here for about $300. I am looking at the 80-400 VR lens, but am putting away money for that one as it's about $1,400! I'm still using the D50, and have up to now shot about 13,000 pictures with it. This season looks even busier and I will probably roll the counter at least 1 more time. I am hoping for even better sales this year to be able to get the nicer lens and I may upgrade to the D200 or D2X, but we'll see.

trackend · 02-16-2007, 11:37 AM

Thanks for the info Eric I may well import one from the states as the exchange rate is really good at the moment for us. I bought a Golite tent a few weeks ago and even paying import duty and air mail saved nearly £80 over UK suppliers.

As for your pictures I am not pissing about when I say I really like them I would stand your shots against any aviation images I have seen. Getting impressive shots from a shadow plane is one heck of a lot easier than when ground bound, but you can turn out super pictures where ever you are, that is a rare skill I admire very much and shows your thorough knowledge of the subject matter.

Oh bit of a PS, did you decide to get back into employment or are you still a man of lesiure

Glider · 02-16-2007, 12:17 PM

There is no doubt about it, the man knows how to take a decent shot. Sometimes I get one like this but the hit rate is pitifull compared to this, and that is what seperated the man from the boys.

Keep up the good work

evangilder · 02-16-2007, 03:05 PM

Thanks guys. My goal is to make sure that every time I shoot, I do a little better than last time. Keep doing that and things just get better and better. In between, I also do some experiments to see what works and what doesn't.

The best way to improve your shots is situational awareness and knowing the limits of your lens. Pick the shot and make it count. If you visualize what you want to see, then the shot is simple. And you need to make sure that what you are visualizing is not beyond the reach of your lens. Watch the lighting, most importantly. If the lighting doesn't look right to your eye, then it likely will look worse through the sensor.

And Lee, I have fortunately been working now for a few months again. The best part is that I am a stone's throw from the airport, and added bonus!

Here is a shot that I have turned into a "poster type print".

trackend · 02-17-2007, 12:52 AM

Love it Eric super duper shot. I think my problem is I get carried away with the planes and forget to treat them as just another subject matter so through the view finder I tend to look at the aircraft rather than the composition. Thanks for the tips I'll give it my best shot (no pun intended) next time and hopefully you could run a critical eye over them as I know you would be honest and if there crap you would tell me and give some advice.

I'm pleased you found work OK, I've just start a retirement plan so been making some big (well for me) investments with one of my pension payouts If all goes well I hope to pack in work in 6 years cant bloody wait I really have got fed up with my job and I'm too long in the tooth to start all over with a new career.

Anyway back on subject I think that Texan is one of the best ones I've seen when ever you post a picture of them its this one that catches my eye

evangilder · 02-17-2007, 08:50 AM

Thanks again, Lee. There is something about that picture that I like, and it seems quite a few other people do as well. You should see what it looks like printed. While it's not the clearest shot I have, the angle and the lighting are what make it interesting. Believe it or not, I turned my head in time to see it, and capture it. One more second and the glare on the canopy would have ruined the shot. What's fun about that one is the reactions that I have seen to that one picture.

I hung it up on the "Wall of talent" at work, where other photographers have theirs posted and it was interesting to see the reactions. I got the usual "Wow", "Niiiice", etc. But the fun one was one woman took a look, looked away rubbing her eyes and said "That made me dizzy".

You have the right idea with what you want to do. "I think my problem is I get carried away with the planes and forget to treat them as just another subject matter so through the view finder I tend to look at the aircraft rather than the composition" You are thinking to hard about it. You know how it is when you see something and you are trying to describe it to someone? That is what you want to do through your photographs. A dear friend and one of my biggest fans says that I 'show her the world through my eyes'. Use the camera as an extension of your own eyes and shoot what YOU want to see. It's nice to accolades for your photos, but if you don't like the shot, chances are, no one else will see them because YOU think they are crap. I had some of those that I unearthed from the archive of 20+ years of photography. My wife loved them, I didn;t see the value or merit of them. That is why it's important to take what you see and to make it what you like. I hope that made sense.

One more thing, screw the rules. What makes a great photo? Uniqueness. There are "rules" about centering, levelness, etc. When shooting aviation subjects, throw away the rulebook. Why? Because thousands of people take photos of airplanes and most of them follow the "rules". Zzzzz, boring!

That photo above was rejected on airliners.net because it wasn't level. Well no sh*t! I was in a banking, climbing turn in the back of a cramped T-6! In that second of time, if I had taken time to level it out and make it by the rules, it would just be a memory! The shot isn't level, the lower wing covers a big chunk of the fuselage, and the focus is a slight bit soft. But still, you can't take your eye off it, can you? That is what I mean by making the camera an extension of your eye. Always watch things at a show with the shutter eye. Keep the camera on and the lenscap off so you can catch something fast if you need too.

I spent that entire time in the air during that December shoot with my eye in the viewfinder, watching, waiting in some cases, and taking some experimental shots. The only time my camera was not against my face was during landing. I am kinda surprised the front of my nose isn't flat!

Good to hear about your retirement plans Lee. I need to start planning more than I have been for that too. Any plans for travel during retirement?

Add preparedness to the situational awareness. I saw these guys coming, thinking they would take the long way around and approach from my right. They turned directly toward us. I sacrificed half a bottle of water to catch this shot. I dropped the bottle to raise the camera. Looks like it paid off.

trackend · 02-17-2007, 12:41 PM

Another hum dinger of a shot Eric I love it when they show transition from an old timer too the latest.
I must say you really hit the nail on the head about composition rules, when I was in the local photographic club all the judges ever kept on about was thirds and (as I worked in monochrome) full tonal range from black to white
I always thought then what a load of old bollocks that was, if it has'nt got a full black or a pure white in the neg why try and bloody print them and if the subject looks better skewed in the corner of the print why sod it about trying
to meet what is their accepted norm.

That photo above was rejected on airliners.net because it wasn't level
Well I wont reject it Eric If I took it I would be chuffed to bits.

As for travel I am determined to get over the pond and see a show before I retire as I won't have much spare change afterwards, I fancy Chino but you never know I may show my boat race at one of your shin digs

evangilder · 02-19-2007, 03:08 PM

Exactly. I don't care what the rules are if it works. I sometimes think those photography courses try to curb creativity. I guess it depends on the instructor.

And I am perfectly happy with the picture, screw anet.

Hey, it would be cool if you could make it out to Chino. You wouldn't regret it.

Here is my latest one, this one tok some doing, 185 pictures from the edwards show!

Glider · 02-19-2007, 06:18 PM

I am unworthy of such shots

lesofprimus · 02-19-2007, 08:45 PM

They really are top notch...

evangilder · 02-19-2007, 09:59 PM

Thanks guys, you are too kind.

There are a couple of great shows coming up that I am prepping for. Riverside and Point Mugu shows back to back, March 31 and April 1! The Thunderbirds will be at Mugu. I am really looking forward to Chino too!

trackend · 02-20-2007, 10:30 AM

Yummy Eric, very tasty stuff .
I may even have a bash copying you and do a slide show my self if I get anything worth posting.
Knowing me though I will be so short of decent shots I'll have to use Spike Jones for the background tune.

evangilder · 02-22-2007, 09:09 AM

Just keep shooting and get comfortable with it. If you set the goal to have better pictures each time you shoot, you will see improvements as you go.

I had a special request from one of my best customers for a T-28 calendar. So here is the preview screen for the calendar that will be up on my calendar site by the weekend.