THOR of Scandinavian Airshow
Pilot: Jacob Holländer
Pilot: Jacob Holländer
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Jun, 2018Views
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Awards
Zenith Award
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Contest Finalist in Image Of The Month Photo Contest Vol 34
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Behind The Lens
Location
It is always a treat to watch true professionals at work. This photo was taken at Västerås in Sweden at an open house at their airport. The pro pilot in this case is Jacob Holländer, who always gives the audience something extra, this time with smoke on!Time
This picture was taken at about 4.30 pm.Lighting
As usual it is almost always worth waiting until the end (and beyond) at airshows. That is the time when the light gets softer and the pilots bolder. This is the moment I was waiting for, when the pilot came flying straight at me, just beginning to sweep to the side so I could catch the plane in this great plume of smoke.Equipment
I used my Canon 1DX, since its autofocus is rather fast and frame rate is sufficient. On it I had mounted a Canon 300mm F2.8L EF IS USM lens plus a 2x extender to get close.Inspiration
When at places where people who love what they are doing I feel their enthusiasm and I just go with the flow - and hopefully with the right camera settings so I don't come home with a card full of frozen propellers or "artistic blur".Editing
This picture was shot in color, but I thought I would have a look at it in bw so I used a bw-layer in Photoshop and put some contrast on, and made this version.In my camera bag
When at airshows most photographers like to have as big lenses as they can carry and afford. I am no exception. I also use to have a second camera with a wide angle lens mounted if the show contains multiple planes and/or if the pilot/s/ use smoke. That way I can catch both close ups and for example big splits or nice smoke trails if I am lucky and fast enough.Feedback
Having two cameras is good for three reasons. The first is obviously that you have a chance to get a greater variety of motives. The second is that you minimize the risk of getting dirt in your camera since you don't have to change lenses in midst of fumes. The third is that if one of your cameras go on strike the other one hopefully still works so you don't miss everything. Talking about minimizing risks - bring extra (and emptied!) memory cards and loaded batteries. Catching a picture like this is, at least for me, usually 80% luck and 20% planning. The 20% I can plan is equipment, shutter speed (I never go higher than 320 when taking pictures of props - if I feel courageous I go lower, but this day I felt a bit rusty not shooting for so long so I chickened out and choose 320) and position. Often I find it good to find higher ground to get somewhat closer and a better angle to the flying plane. Sometimes I can boost the 20 to a 30 if I know the pilot and get a chance to ask what he or she is planning to do and where and when. Or just know the pilots usual routine very well. But in the case of Jacob Holländer you never know what he will do. He often surprises you with something unexpected. Be prepared and shoot.
