Luke AFB air show pics

[Robinhood4x4]

This last weekend was the airshow at Luke Air Force Base which gave me a chance to try out the newish T2i DSLR. It was a good show, the estimated 100,000 people per day crowds weren't bad at all, and the weather was nice, but overcast and hazy.

The show started out with the Army's Golden Knight sky divers:
[img width=800 height=580]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_4824m.jpg[/img]
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_4851m.jpg[/img]

Then the A-10 took to the air:
[img width=800 height=580]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5048m.jpg[/img]

After that, the F-18 buzzed around for a while:
[img width=571 height=800]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5164m.jpg[/img]

Followed by the Red Bull skydivers and aerobatic plane:
[img width=571 height=800]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5266m.jpg[/img]

and the Red Bull aerobatic helicopter:
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5328m.jpg[/img]

[Robinhood4x4]

More Red Bull:
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5345m.jpg[/img]

And then the biplanes came out to play:
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5446m.jpg[/img]

Followed by the F4 Phantom
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5505m.jpg[/img]

And then one of the stars of the show came out, the F-22 Raptor
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5591m.jpg[/img]
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5578m.jpg[/img]

To throw in some nostalgia, the Heritage flight did a few laps. These 4 planes represent aircraft from 4 generations, WWII, Vietnam, Gulf War, and present day.
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5662m.jpg[/img]
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5688m.jpg[/img]

Another Acrobatic plane took to the air:
[img width=571 height=800]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5769m.jpg[/img]

[Robinhood4x4]

In this sequence, one of the Golden Knights simulated a parachute malfunction by reaching up and disconnecting one side of his parachute.
[img width=571 height=800]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5872m.jpg[/img]

After tumbling for a few seconds he completely detached himself and free fell for a little bit
[img width=571 height=800]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5878m.jpg[/img]

Then deployed his backup parachute
[img width=571 height=800]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5881m.jpg[/img]

This one is an aerobatic corporate plane from a bygone era.
[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_5962m.jpg[/img]

And finally, the final act, the Thunderbirds:
[img width=800 height=241]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_6025m.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_6095m.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_6170m.jpg[/img]

[Robinhood4x4]

[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_6184m.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_6190m.jpg[/img]

[img width=800 height=571]http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/IMG_6306m.jpg[/img]

Here's a link to the rest of the photos:

http://s1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff380/antinode4x4/

By the way, for all you photographers out there, please critique my photos. What can I do to improve my shots. Keep in mind, these shots were made with the kit 55mm-250mm lens, so some of the shots are a little soft.

[4x4mike]

I miss air shows. We still have them locally but I haven't been to one since I was a kid. My family knew a couple of Air Force pilots so we would go to them all the time.

The photos look good. I imagine some of the planes were hard to shoot because of their speed. Place on top of that contrast of a bright ski it makes it hard to make something pop out and be very clear. Thanks for sharing.

[corax]

No kidding, good pics

I'm just not sure I would wanna hook knife a perfectly good chute and rely on the reserve to deploy . . . I wonder if he had a spare reserve?

[Robinhood4x4]

Well, it took me a little bit to figure out how best to use the autofocus because if I didn't track the planes continuously, it would loose the subject and then try to refocus. By then, the plane was gone. I ended up zooming out, focusing, then zooming in and refocusing well before the plane got into range.

After I figure that out, my success rate went up, and I would just hold down the button and take continuous pictures until the buffer ran out of room. I ended up taking 1800 pictures and almost filling up my 32gig card. Needless to say, a lot of pictures from which to choose the best. This is my first DSLR and I only got it in December. In that regard, I am very happy that the majority of the pictures were decent and not complete junk.

I've been told most of the pictures have a yellow tinge to them.

The sky diver did have 3 parachutes for that jump.

[4x4mike]

I noticed the yellow tinge. In certain light you'll get things like that. Sometimes it's easier to leave them that way then try to fix them in post processing. White balance adjustments on the camera could have helped but it's hard to tell. I have a polarized filter that I use if it's really bright. It has the effect of adding some saturation but with a yellow ski it might have made things worse.

[fenrisx]

Cool pictures... I've never been to an air show before, but I bet it'd be fun to go one day.

[DHC6twinotter]

Cool pictures! That looks like a great airshow. I love airshows. The Golden Knights are headquarted down here, and they have a really nice complex. My co-worker's late husband used to be part of the team.

Those A-10s are awesome. They can take a lot of abuse. They used to fly over my house, but none are stationed here at Pope anymore. I miss seeing them.

That Twin Beach aerobatic act is really cool. Amazing to see what a plane that size can do!

I've never seen a real F-22. Very cool plane, and that heritage flight looks very cool.

Great pictures! I've been eyeing those Canon T2i cameras.