General

[Kermit]

And yeah CD, the only EF-S lens I currently have is my old kit lens

[chopper duke]

If that be the case, don't take the 70-300.

[Kermit]

Packed up my bag a few minutes ago. Good on that.

Any suggestions for actually shooting?

[Falcon16]

for large formation type stunts so say a wide formation loop with smoke I try shooting good and wide so you see all the planes contrasted against the sky and then the smoke trailing them. For fast shots like a high speed crossing pass I try and shoot so the front plane is in focus and the back plane is blurred giving it that sense of speed. Then for the "photo passes" I just try and get a good tight shot of the plane with maybe a little background for context and nothing more. If you get a chance after the show is done try getting pictures of the planes parked on the ground side on shooting down the line it can make things really interesting. Another neat photog opportunity if they let you is pics of inside the cockpit. I know when I went to see the USAF Thunderbirds at Batavia NY a few years ago they let me take my camera sit down in one of the F16's and closed the canopy I got some wild shots perspective type shots where I was looking out back over my shoulder by just turning my head like you would if you were actually strapped in.

Hope some of those suggestions are useful. as for shooting your EF-S kit lens, assuming it's a nice bright non cloudy day the 18-55 would make for super nice wide shots to really show the formation off as I said in the big wide type formation loops or just formation flybys. for tighter formations like a diamond slot tighten up and shoot the 70-200 for those.

[Luckless]

Before getting all super kitted up, check the airshow's policy on gear bags, etc. I've read that some can be very strict on issues like backpacks.

And remember to watch your exposure settings and sky brightness. Better to blow the sky a little and keep detail in the jets.

Originally Posted by Falcon16

good point chopper duke I forgot about the fact that EF-S lenses are made for use on a APS-C body and thus produce true to focal length FOV whereas an EF lens is designed to cover a full 35mm so it gets parts of the lens that are in effect clipped by the sensor leaving the center of the lens to render the image to the sensor.

with that said

Canon EF-S lens mount - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

if you look at that wiki article it points out that no L series lenses which I'm sure that's what Josh's 2.8 is are EF-S mount in fact the selection of true EF-S lenses appears relatively small.

Focal length is focal length. Field of View is based on focal length and sensor size. EF-S is merely a mounting and projection spec, allowing for a slightly deeper in set to the body and producing a smaller image circle. 50mm in EF lens on a crop body produces the same FOV as using 50mm in EF-S on the crop body.

EF-S is merely a way to make lenses cheaper, as they only project enough usable light onto the smaller crop sensor. It means they don't have to worry about getting full coverage in the corners, keeping the far edges/corners sharp, etc.

[sparky]

My best tip of the day.... Post the results when your done

[Kermit]

Got back from shooting about an hour ago. 8-4 and I'm sunburnt REALL bad

Oh well, it was worth it. Editing my stuff right now, I'll post shortly.

And yeah, I wish I would've thought about my gear bag. I ended up carrying a prime lens in my pocket and my 70-200 on camera because they wouldn't allow backpacks.

[Kermit]

Here's two.......website is down so ignore the Facebook quality.

[Luckless]

And now you know why people invest in those goofy looking photographer's vests. You might think you look like an idiot in them, but just think of how much worse off you look trying to carry a bunch of stuff without one or a gear bag.

Scrolled down quickly, and at first I thought those two photos were a single one in formation.


Snow Birds need to fly with the Blue Angels more often. Would love to see them do a fully joint show some time. Snowbirds' old jets might be slow and small, but they manage to do a lot of interesting things, and the extra jets make for a very smooth transitions.

[Kermit]

Thoughts?
Blue Angels Homecoming 2012 - Josh Unruh Photography