I had been planning this shoot for almost a year. It dawned on me last September that Ballard Down, which overlooks the town of Swanage, Dorset, would make an good vantage point to photograph the RAF Red Arrows display team during the town's Regatta and Carnival week.
On this occasion I want to use two lenses: a standard zoom and a long telephoto and opt to use two camera bodies instead of fumbling about changing lenses and missing shots - but it presents a problem...a weight problem. Not only that but the backpack I need to transport the chosen gear will prove too cumbersome when riding a bike, especially over rough ground and uphill (raising my centre of gravity and all that - causes balance problems, you see). I finally cobble two bags together, making a much more manageable rig, but it still weighs in at 18lbs (8.2 kg) - something you begin to notice during a twenty five mile round trip.
The Met Office weather forecast predicts "sunny intervals" but there is a good deal of grey cloud by the time I get into position. It doesn't look too promising, but the cloud breaks shortly before showtime and the Red Arrows do their stuff like no others.
Top: 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/7.1. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 200
Below: 300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor (VR off). 1/3200 second at f/6.3. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 320
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