Apache
Jul, 2015Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Aviation Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Large Machines Photo Contest
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
![IMG_3080[1]](https://cdnpt01.viewbug.com/media/mediafiles/2014/10/19/35471421_widepreview400.webp)
Behind The Lens
Location
After many years i finally returned to one of most prestigious air shows in the UK, Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford. It was a good chance to further develop my aviation photography as I recently purchased a bigger zoom lens and was eager to put it to the test.Time
As with any air show there is a particular order in which aircraft display and this time it was very hazy due to the level of the sun. With the angel of the sun it provided the best natural light for left hand side of the aircraft with contrast of the black and grey explosion smoke behind made the Apache stand out the way it does.Lighting
I think anyone can take a picture of a flying aircraft and i have personally loads of them which unless you can somehow make them stand out a bit more. A fast jet may have vapor trails for instance or exhaust haze. With helicopters its a bit more difficult to make a picture stand out from the norm and when they said they were doing simulated explosions it seemed a great opportunity to try and capture something different.Equipment
This was shot with a Canon 70D using a Canon 100-400mm L series lens at f/7.1.Inspiration
I'm always looking to make a photo stand out and be different if possible. After many years taking photos they always seemed to come out the same as the displays are limited in what they can do and become repetitive year on year. Had seen at another airshow the fake explosions highlighting but unfortunately i was located in the wrong area to make the most of it. This time i happened to be in the right location and couldn't let this opportunity go to waste.Editing
Yes, there was a little bit of processing, mainly to bring out the shadows so you can see the rocket pods on the either side of the Apache giving the photo a bit more depth.In my camera bag
I always make sure there is a spare battery and memory cards for my Canon 70D, and apart from that i have by default two lenses stored away in my bag. Firstly the standard lens that came with the camera a Canon 18-135mm lens while, it's not an outstanding lens its the only one that gives me a wider angel of view if needed. Second lens i carry a standard fixed 50mm lens as its a good basic lens for a relatively small price and takes little space in my bag. I only have 5 lenses in total so as with many photographs I would always like to have the best body available and an array of lenses for every photo opportunity to give us the best results. Further to those two lenses i might take a third or fourth lens with me depending on what i might be photographing that day.Feedback
For many of us the only opportunity to capture aircraft such as this is at air shows. Therefore going to an event as this its always best to find the best place to try an capture the shot you are after. For instance you might want to capture more of the aircraft moving slowly and in situations of landing and taking off so might want to situate yourself towards the edges of the run way. Or in the case of slower aircraft their display might be situated to more of middle of the runway for middle of the crowd. With faster aircraft like jets then you not necessary need to be at the front of the crowd or in the middle as their displays are normally spread over a vast area. This might sound obvious but every air show is different as they need to display within certain safety restrictions and then it also comes down to what lenses you carry in your bag will determine your field of view.
