The air show that won't quit...

The recent Bournemouth Air Festival was due for a visit from the last two remaining airworthy Avro Lancaster bombers in the world, but because of an engine problem on the Canada-based aircraft the display was cancelled. Disappointing at the time, but the Lancaster's successor - the Avro Vulcan - more than made up for it with an extra showing - and I resigned myself not to being able to see these two aircraft fly together.

Until Friday morning of last week, that is, when it was announced on my local BBC online news page that the two Lancasters were arriving that morning at my local airport, and would remain there until Sunday. A real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I packed my longest lens and got on my bike. They were using the airport as a base for the weekend appearances, so I would get at least three opportunities to get some photographs.

Although shooting such large aircraft is relatively easy the weekend was not without its problems, and both aircraft were delayed from leaving on the Saturday afternoon by over four hours because of another engine problem with the Canadian plane, albeit a different one than the one that caused it to be grounded two weeks earlier. As a result I stood at the end of the runway for over eight hours, patiently waiting for their eventual departure. The things we go through to get a shot, eh?

All in all it was a great experience to see such old aircraft still flying together, and something unlikely to ever be repeated, despite the mechanical issues that both had, but the sound of four Rolls Royce Merlin engines roaring low, and directly over your head, is quite unforgettable.

Photos taken on 12th, 13th and 14th September.


Top: Thumper III - the UK-based City of Lincoln Lancaster
Second and third: The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Vera taxing off of the runway
Bottom: Thumper III -  airborne, with Vera rotating in the distance, departing for the last time.



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14E converter. Tripod



© 2014

Low tide walker...

12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/8. - 0.67 EV compensation. ISO 200


© 2014

Scary, or what?...

I'm not the biggest fan of these creatures, but when you get in close you can see just how elegant nature can be. Taken in my back garden, I had to wait a considerable time before the wind dropped sufficiently to get a sharp, focused image of the garden spider (Creepyus crawlyicus*).



105mm f/2.8D Sigma macro lens. 1/160 second at f/11. ISO 400. Tripod


*Joke



© 2014

A one trick pony?...

At the recent air show I had a discussion with photographer about the wisdom of buying pro-spec super-telephoto lenses. Such optics are always large, in both size and apertures, and nearly always prime lenses (with one or two exceptions). In other words: they are not zooms. They are also expensive. He went on to suggest that taking into consideration the inconvenience of bulk and weight, they were one-trick ponies; only suitable for pulling in distant objects.

I pointed out that that I have used mine to shoot landscapes and portraits; even the occasional panorama when needs pressed, but there is also the close-up image to be had. I like using lenses for something other than what they were designed for, and today I used mine for just that.



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/400 second at f/5.6. ISO 200. Tripod.



© 2014

Morning coffee...

24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2000 second at f/5.6. ISO 400



© 2014

The Bournemouth Air Festival, Days 1 - 4...

It's that time of year again, where the town was taken over by an estimated 1.2 million visitors - plus a coastguard-confirmed figure of 1000 boats viewing from the sea - over four days for the local air extravaganza. Now in its seventh year, it has become firmly established on the air display calendar, and gets better every time it is staged. I had Nic stay with my for the first two days, but sadly she couldn't stay for the two weekend displays. Next year, eh?

One of the highlights of the festival was to be the flight of the world's last two airworthy Avro Lancasters; one having flown from Canada for a two month visit to the UK, but unfortunately the day before is was due the latter experienced an engine problem and was consequently grounded.

However, the  good news was that the local towns people had a (considerable) whip-round, and financed an unscheduled second display of the Avro Vulcan. This iconic Cold War aircraft is always a crowd pleaser, but is rumoured to have only one more year of flying before it remains forever grounded. Already heavily modified beyond its design specification to keep it in the air, the problem of maintenance and spare parts is beginning to work against it. See it while you still can, folks. 

Some of the aircraft that flew in the festival are featured below:

Top three: The Red Arrows
RAF BBMF Dakota C-47
RAF BBMF Memorial Flight comprising the Avro Lancaster and two Spitfires
B-17 Sally-B Flying Fortress
3 images of the Avro Vulcan
2 images of the RAF Typhoon FGR4
The Royal Navy Black Cats helicopter display team
Two parachutists of The Tigers Freefall Team
Sea Vixen
Heritage Flypast, comprising a Hunter Jet (Miss Demeanour), Canberra and Sea Vixen
Royal Marines Commando Assault



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter



© 2014

Nothing to it, really...

What I like about firework photography is that they make their own picture. I just open and close the shutter.

24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 2½ seconds at f/11. ISO 200. Tripod and remote release.

© 2014

3 years on...

Three years ago today I met Nic, and it was all through the tragic accident that killed Jon "Eggman" Egging - Red 4 - of the Red Arrows. To mark the anniversary I make an impromptu visit to the memorial to the RAF pilot that is situated on the East Cliffs of Bournemouth. 

Initially, I had intended to take just a few snaps and then leave, but whilst waiting for some decent light I was advised that the mayor of the town was due to make an appearance at 2 pm to lay a wreath in memory of the pilot (above). An unannounced ceremony, there were but a handful of passers-by to witness it, plus a representative from the local newspaper. In just over a week the cliff tops will be packed for the Bournemouth Air Festival; the seventh such event.

24-70 f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 

© 2014

Jellyfish...

It has been a decent summer in the southern part of the UK, and it continues to be so, but now there are the first hints of autumn approaching with cooler mornings and leaves turning on the horse chestnut. In spite of that once it does warm-up the days - and evenings - are still pleasantly warm. Not so this time last week, when we received the tail-end of ex-hurricane Bertha, and the constant threat of rain and strong, gusting winds. Although largely a spent force by the time it reached us, it was enough to keep me away from shooting the local fireworks display - something I try to do each Friday night during the season. It still went ahead despite the conditions (I heard it), but not with me in attendance.

Tonight was different: calm, warm and clear, so I set up on a local beach to start shooting. This kind of photography is always hit-or-miss. Sometimes I come away with any number of successful images, but on this occasion I only managed the one (above). I include it here as it is different to the hundreds of other firework shots that reside on my hard drives, and that, to be honest, is the challenge: to get something different each time. It reminds me of a jellyfish.



70-200mm f/2.8 EX Apo Sigma lens. 4 seconds at f/11. ISO 200. Tripod and remote release.



© 2014

Perigee moon...

Supermoon: not as rare as you might think. In fact it occurs, on average, every 13 months when the perigee moon, as it is known, makes its closest approach to Earth. However, we have three such moons this year, which is rare. The last one was in July and the next will be on 9th September. Despite the name the moon only appears about 14% bigger than usual.



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/40th second at f/6.3.  - 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400. tripod and remote release. Mirror lock-up.



© 2014

Stompin' on the Quomps...

It was short notice, and the weather not only held but improved, so I made the short trip to Christchurch Quay, Dorset, this afternoon, to photograph a friend's jazz and blues band: Zoë Schwarz Blue Commotion, performing a late afternoon set at Stompin' on the Quomps. I have photographed the band on stage before, but for this shoot I restricted myself to using a super-telephoto lens, purely for the pictorial effect such optics produce.

From top to bottom:

Zoë Schwarz - vocals
Si Genaro - harmonica
Rob Koral - guitar
Pete Whittaker - keyboards
Paul Robinson - drums



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor.  - 0.7 EV compensation. ISO 400. Monopod



© 2014

The first display of my season...

This time last week everything was ready for a night shoot: bag packed; camera pre-set so I don't have to fumble too much in the dark, and the location chosen... but no matter where I looked, I couldn't find my bike lights. As a result, the shoot was called-off and I watched something on TV, instead. Frustrating as it was at the time, I try to be philosophical about such set-backs, and resolved to buy a new set of lights later in the week. I had half expected for the errant lights to suddenly turn up, having bought replacements, but at the time of writing they are still nowhere to be seen.

I could, perhaps, have driven, or even walked, to my chosen spot, but the local summer firework displays are very popular, and finding a parking space is nigh on impossible unless you arrive hours before blast-off. I rule out going on foot for no other reason that the time it would take for me to get there and back.

This week everything on the checklist is present and correct, so shortly after 9 pm I set off in the deepening gloom; (new) lights blazing. The weather forecast does warn of showers, but I'm optimistic. Even the wind remains light. I fire off 45 frames in the ten minutes it takes for the display to run its course and the rain starts.

Same again next week, weather permitting.


80-200mm f/2.8 Apo EX Sigma lens. Bulb setting. f/11. ISO 200. Tripod and remote release



© 2014

Old tricks...

I don't know why I have left it until the heat is at the levels it is in the south west - 27º C, today - but when the urge strikes there is not much point in fighting it, and I'm back to the river for another shoot. A favourite location for many years now, Throop Mill on the Dorset Stour can be both peaceful and photogenic. The mill itself has been out of action since the early 1970s - although all the milling gear apparently is still in situ - but the millpond is still there; host to any number of waterfowl at any time of year.

Unfortunately, the only thing of interest - a grey heron - is some forty yards off and feeding behind a bank of reeds in the late afternoon sunshine - so I have to make do with a couple of mute swans as a subject. To make things more interesting, I want to use the reflection of the mill's red brick walls to add colour to the shot, and simply wait until one floats into the right spot. This trick of using reflections that are not necessarily to be found in nature has been part of my technique for some years now. Simple, yet effective, and had I not given the game away the viewer would have been none the wiser.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/800 second at f/6.3.  - 0.67 EV compensation. Monopod

© 2014

Down by the river side...

I've not done much in the way of photography over the past few months, as this blog will testify. Similar, I guess, to writers block, I simply haven't had the creative itch to get out there with my camera. I've been through this sort of thing before, and know from experience that given enough time it does pass. The trouble is you don't know how long it will last.

So out of the blue, this afternoon, I decided to pack my bag and get out there to see what summer has to offer. Not my favourite time of year for shooting, but good images can be found if I put the effort in. It is very warm in parts of the UK at the moment, and the inside temperature touched 27º C today, so I thought a trip to the local river would suit me both subject and temperature wise.

There is usually something of interest along the river bank at any time of year, and although the rough open ground near the water's edge is a riot of summer-flower colour at the moment, I choose the poppies for a subject.



300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/2000 second at f/5.6. ISO 400. Monopod



© 2014

The twin towers of Reculver...

An imposing landmark on the north Kent coast, the 12th century towers of St Mary's church at Reculver stand on the site of a Roman fort. It is somewhere I had wanted to visit for a long time, although I had no idea about the ruins until the morning that Nic and I decided it would be a good place to visit. My interests were for the connections with the Second World War, and the various tests of the prototype bouncing bomb.

After a stroll along the beach we repaired to the local cafe for coffee and ice cream. An excellent day out as the temperature begins to rise...



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/400 second at f/11. ISO 320



© 2014

Sea Wall, Folkestone...

I think I can put down part of my current photography drought to the fact that for some time now I have been visiting the same places. Theoretically there is an inexhaustible variety of images to be had from a given location, what with different lighting at different times of the day, as well as the different seasons, but there is nothing better than visiting a different part of the country to stir things up a little.

I didn't take that many shots as Nic and I strolled the seafront at Folkestone, Kent, this afternoon, but the ideas did begin to flow again as I made a few exposures of the colourful beach huts and details of the sea defences. I had every intention to keep the former colourful, but with the latter (above), I was thinking monochrome before I fired the shutter.

24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/250 second at f/11. ISO 400

© 2014

Doughnut leaves...

The characteristic doughnut-shaped out-of-focus highlights of the catadioptric lens are the elements that make up today's image. Also know to photographers as a mirror lens, the design enables long focal length lenses to be built that are very small and light, and were popular as a cheap alternative during the 1980s. The main drawback was the slow, fixed aperture, and the almost inevitable poor performance in most cases of the optics themselves.

The one I used is no exception: a budget model to start with, I bought it for next to nothing - and second-hand - from a local camera shop many years ago just to experiment with. It had little use since then and I had considered condemning the lens due to the advancement of a fungal growth that was taking hold on the glass, but before I did I decided to see if I could dismantle the basic design and have a go at cleaning it. Much to my surprise I managed to do just that (and got it back together), so on went the T-Mount and I started pointing it at various subjects. 

The lens is basically a piece of junk by modern standards, but I think it might still have a bit of life left in it for some creative shooting, as with the photo of sunlight bouncing off of the leaves of a tree at the bottom of my garden.

Centon 500mm f/8 Catadioptric lens. Manual exposure and defocused to create the effect.

© 2014 

It's been a long time...

 The Red Arrows

 Hawker Hurricane (above)













The Muscle Biplane

The Breitling Wing Walkers (above)

Trig (left and below)

Sea King Helicopter - Search and rescue

Supermarine Spitfire

"It's been a long time", sang Robert Plant in 1971, and it has. During the past few months I have concentrated my energies into music, and although I have taken the occasional photograph the activity itself has taken something of a back seat. Time to start to redress the balance, I think.

The highlight of the past two months has undoubtedly been the Folkestone Air Show, Kent, on 7th June, where Nic and I spent a day in sunshine photographing whatever flew above our heads. Shamefully, it has taken until today to upload the images to my main computer, but eventually got around to adding a selection of what was flying, here.  

No more words: just pictures.


300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14E II converter, and a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 Apo zoom.




© 2014