A few days out shooting UK Low Level in July & August

[Sullivan]

Well August has the nett sum of one visit to the hills, so you'll have to settle for a few days out in July and that one occassion.

First up was 10th July, pre-RIAT, with some international friends calling in for a flying visit:

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Best C-130 pass I've ever witnessed through CAD, the below shot is taken from the top of East, shooting down at my feet as he knife edged through that low that the squiggly line above the fuselage is actually the path up to CAD West.....

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The a bit of jet action:

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Then due to the wx forecast we opted to stay at RIAT departures rather than chase optimistic French visitors in LFA7, oh well, you take your chances... so a couple of arty farty RIAT shots for you....

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Then a day in the Loop again 9th August....

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And finally trying to capture the BBMF low level over Lancashire, placed ourselves at 650ft for 500ft flypast, then they turn up and do it at 800ft.... again you've got to be in it to win it ......

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As ever comments, criticism and tips always welcomed......

Cheers,

Kelvin

[SquAdmin]

Wow, very impressive! What I'm always wondering about: how do you get sharp images while using low shutter speeds if a C-130 or A400 is heading straight at ya?

[Sullivan]

Wow, very impressive! What I'm always wondering about: how do you get sharp images while using low shutter speeds if a C-130 or A400 is heading straight at ya?

It's just about selecting the shutter speed most suitable to the prop speed and aircraft type, for example 1/100th for a C130, then watching the line of the aircraft until it turns into you head on. Once it is in-line and the fuselage motion is directly at you simply snap away. As long as there is no lateral movement of the airframe as it travels longitudinally towards you, the fuselage should be sharp and the props blurred to about full disc.

As soon as it begins to transition into a pass, i.e turns from head on to a right to left pass , then just pan with the aircraft at the same shutter speed.

A400 is quicker than the C130 but 1/100 will still get you a full disc, then only thing is with it being a quicker aircraft its head on for a lesser time so you have to be on your toes.