The Story Behind an Image, Part 10

Ever since 2004, I’ve had a passionate love affair with photography. And come to discover that I have a fondness for photos that come with a story. Over the years, I have shot a few of them. Here’s the next installment in “The Story Behind an Image” series.

Part 10: The Space Needle

After my two epic helicopter flights over LAX, I was hooked and wanted to do one over Seattle. I had envisioned a shot of the Space Needle with the Seattle skyline in the background from high above. The flight was booked via Seattle helicopter tours and was what they called an “Instagram Photo flight”. Which was an hour-long sightseeing flight with my choice of subjects. I scheduled mine for 5pm so I could take advantage of the afternoon light. I arrived in Seattle at about 2pm, giving me plenty of time to get my rental car and do some sightseeing downtown.

I remember being excited about once again navigating through a city that I had never been to before. And I jumped right in, heading straight to Pike Place Market for some street photography, which I came to thoroughly enjoy. I then made my way to my hotel and had a late lunch before heading to Auburn Municipal Airport for my flight. It’s a good time to mention that I live in Michigan where we are 3 hours ahead. And after a long travel day, I could feel the fatigue slowly creeping in.

I arrived 30 minutes early to meet up with Craig, the pilot of my flight. After a safety briefing and a brief description of our flight path, we started our photo flight in a Robison R22 with the doors off for better visibility. Our flight was to take us north to Seattle to orbit the major landmarks, including the T-Mobile Park, the headquarters of Starbucks, and the Space Needle. Then we were to head over to Union Lake and Gas Work Park, Husky stadium followed by Snoqualmie Falls then back to Auburn Municipal Airport to complete the flight.

As we made our way to Seattle, we flew over Blue Origin headquarters and Boeing field which was littered with various brand-new aircraft. As we got closer to the downtown area, we were informed that a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) was about to go into effect over the downtown area due to a Mariners baseball game. Meaning, that once the TFR goes into effect, we cannot enter the affected area which includes the T-Mobile Park and the Space Needle. Fortunately for us, we were allowed to enter the area before the TFR took effect, but we were told to hurry up though. With little time over the downtown area, my priority was to try to capture the envisioned shot that sparked this whole photo mission, the Space Needle with the Seattle skyline. Not being a sports fan, I wasn’t really interested in seeing the stadium. But we did do one quick orbit of the stadium then hauled ass over to the Space Needle.

With the TFR about to start, we made it to the Space Needle just in time. We managed to do two super close and energetic orbits. To put into perspective how close we were, I was using my 18-135mm lens and at 18mm was just barely wide enough to show the whole needle from its base to the top. With the shutter blasting away at its maximum frame rate, I was caught up in the excitement of photographing from a helicopter with the doors off, the brisk pace of the orbits, along with being tired from the time difference, I felt that I had missed my shot I had envisioned. The rest of the flight was incredible but still felt unsure about my results and bummed about the rushed timing above the Space Needle. And I wasn’t going to review my photos in flight and miss any photo opportunities because I was chimping. Safely back at Auburn Municipal, Craig and I talked for a bit, thanking him for the photo flight before I left.

It wasn’t until I was back in my hotel looking at my photos, that I did indeed capture the shot I was after. I was so intensely focused on the Space Needle and trying to squeeze it into the frame that I never saw the Seattle skyline in the background. Man, talk about target fixation!

Gear used:

Canon 90D

EF-S 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS ST

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< The Story behind an Image part 9

“It’s Not About the Gear… Until It Is”

Canon or Nikon? DSLR or mirrorless? Full frame or cropped sensor? Prime or Zoom? New or used? How about if you are trying to capture a full-frame, tack-sharp photo of the Moon with your cellphone camera? Or walking around a major city doing street photography with a 600mm prime! How much and when does “Gear” really matter? Along with are you using your gear within its limits? I know having the latest and greatest gear does very, very little when it comes to taking better photos. Then there’s the aspect of using one’s gear the wrong way.  I can think of only two scenarios in which gear matters. The first is when one has substandard or inadequate gear that inhibits their ability to capture an image that they envision. And the other is there is something about your gear that you dislike so much, it discourages you from using it.

Gear doesn’t matter but the wrong gear does because it hampers your abilities. It would be like having Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton drive a Tesla Model S Plaid at the Grand Prix of Monaco. Yeah, it’s a fast car but it is not the proper car for a Formula One race. And the same goes for you and your photography. Having the wrong or inadequate equipment can be very detrimental to your growth as a photographer. If as a photographer who has an understanding of not only exposure and light but a working knowledge of the elements of the arts, and if you are using gear that is preventing you from reaching your creative potential then it is bad for you and your ability to create images. It could be gear that doesn’t allow you to change lenses, or manipulate various settings, or you do have enough focal length.

Back in 2004, I was shooting aviation events with my Digital Rebel. And was using a function that still is necessary for aviation photography today (if you’re a Canon shooter) is AI Servo. This auto-focus mode is for tracking fast-moving subjects. When you half depress the shutter button, with your AF point on a moving subject, the camera will continue to keep the subject in focus. The only downside is that on the Digital Rebel, you could only access AI Servos in Sport mode which prevents you from selecting your aperture and shutter speed as well as locking the ISO at 400. Back then 400 was super noisy due to the tiny 6.3-megapixel sensor. But it wasn’t an issue when I was shooting jets because the camera maintained a fast enough shutter speed to capture them. But my love was for WWII warbirds, which requires control of the shutter to prevent freezing the props and get what is known as prop blur. Because of this lack of control, which was hindering my ability to photograph what I love, I chose to upgrade to the Canon 20D which allowed me to select AI Servos in any mode without locking the ISO.

Gear that you’re so dissatisfied with it, that you no longer want to use it matters as well. It should be noted that a lack of understanding of how to use your gear properly and misusing it does not count here. It would be similar to a painter who dislikes a certain brand of paint or a sketch artist who doesn’t like a type of marker or pencil. When it comes to your gear, it could be a lens that just doesn’t perform well, a tripod that can’t support your setup or you just hate the way your camera body feels in your hands. As a photographer, your tools are your gear. And being hampered by one’s tools can destroy one’s confidence along with enthusiasm to continue to capture images. There has to be a good level of comfort along with enjoyment with your gear that keeps you excited about photography.

Years ago, I purchased both the Canon 100-400mm zoom (the push-pull mark 1) and the 400mm F/5.6 prime. Both were L series lenses that “promise of professional quality in image reproduction performance, operability and reliability.” I intended to use the prime as my main lens and the versatility of the zoom as my secondary. But the images from the 100-400 were constantly soft. And when the images were in focus, the clarity was nowhere near the 400mm prime which was always tack sharp. I used it at multiple airshows but was never able to get results that I was happy with. Because of its soft focusing and how inconsistent it was, I didn’t want to shoot with it. I was so disappointed with the fact that it was supposed to be of professional performance. In the end, I lost all enthusiasm for that lens, and I eventually sold it.

The art form of photography is not about the gear but rather the images that we create and share. The camera, lenses, light meters, and tripods… are all just tools that allow you to capture photos. And about 98% of the time, it doesn’t matter. I’m willing to bet that a large portion of your audience doesn’t care about what gear you use. But if your gear is harming your growth, by either obstructing your development and abilities or is causing you to lose enthusiasm and confidence in your ability to create images, that’s when gear matters.

How do you feel about gear? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thanks for stopping by,

S.Lewis

Gear Used:

iPhone 6

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Philosophy about Photography Part Eight: “The Art of Spotting: Techniques to Improve Your Aviation Photography”

“The Art of Spotting: Techniques to Improve Your Aviation Photography”

The nature of photographing aircraft is far different from other genres of photography. And require a different approach and skill set to master. Having to handhold a large telephoto lens and steadily aim it at aircraft flying at speeds well over 600 miles per hour in a brightly lit sky is challenging, to say the least. Then there is the struggle of getting the right amount of rotor blur while photographing helicopters. There are many hurdles that one must overcome in Aviation photography. You too can better your results with a little bit of time and practice. So, how does one learn these techniques and knowledge? Spotting. That’s right, Spotting offers a wide array of opportunities to help you rise above the obstacles in a predictable and repetitive manner.

During peak hours, depending on how large the airport is, you’ll have a constant supply of subjects to test your abilities on. This is a wonderful chance for you to learn more about your gear and discover what settings work best for you. Does that mean you prefer shutter or aperture priority? At what F-Stop is your lens the sharpest? What autofocus mode do you prefer? What ISO do you like? When should you over or under-compensate for your exposure? The more time you spend experimenting and learning about your gear, the more knowledge you’ll have about getting the results you’re looking for and you will understand your gear’s limitations. It is crucial that you develop muscle memory when it comes to changing your settings quickly and effortlessly so that you’re not missing shots in the heat of the moment. Spotting gives us the luxury of try, fail, learn, and repeat with little to no worries.

Another helpful aspect of spotting is that it allows you to practice and learn new techniques in a predictable and repetitive environment before you go to your next aviation event. Such as trying to get better at panning airplanes at take-off or landing. It could be that you want to practice framing aircraft better. Or maybe you’re trying your hand at getting better prop blur. Perhaps you want to work on and feel more comfortable with your shooting stance. Before I went to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) last year, I knew I had to get comfortable with shooting while seated. The package I got came with a grandstand seat which you can’t shoot while standing. So, I spent as many hours as possible spotting while sitting on my tailgate just so that when I got to RIAT, I would be more comfortable with shooting from the grandstands. And I’m glad that I spent that time beforehand, and I can see it in My Results.

Due to the predictable pacing, spotting gives you a chance to test new gear. See how features and functions can help or hurt your shooting skills. As well as trying out new gear in different lighting conditions because Mother Nature is not always going to be nice to us when we are out photographing something that we have been waiting to see. The more lighting conditions you familiarize yourself with, the greater the understanding you will have of how your camera exposes aircraft in those conditions.

My experiences while spotting helped me not only develop my knowledge and skills but also to continue to nurture them. Spotting offers an incredible opportunity to hone your skills in a predictable environment, allowing you to experiment, learn, and grow as an Aviation photographer. With each outing, you not only gain a deeper understanding of your gear and technique but also develop the confidence to tackle more dynamic and challenging ones.

Happy Spotting,

S.Lewis

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Philosophy about Photography Part Seven: Choosing Light over Available Subjects

I Love…

As a consequence of my continuing spiritual journey, I feel compelled to question the things I love. Hopefully, this series will unearth some of the mysteries of my love affairs with a few simple questions. 

Part One: Aviation

Why Do You Love Aviation?

The saying “You can’t explain what’ love is. But you feel it clearly, completely and deeply when you are”, best describes my feelings for aviation. I maintain a child-like enthusiasm and passionate desire for all things aviation-related. It is one of a few things that fulfill me intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and lovingly. Asking me to give up Aviation would be no different than asking me to cut off an appendage. Aviation is a part of who I am and my love for it has never wavered. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love it. And am always delighted by new aspects of aviation that I have never experienced. Such as my current infatuation with seaplanes and helicopters. 

When and why did it start? 

My first memory of my love for aviation started when I was very young, I was maybe 6 or 7. My dad was in the Navy, and we were stationed at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico. One day, my dad took me to an area where he works and there was a room that the ceiling was covered with model airplanes. Which was something I’d never seen before, but I remember being absolutely fascinated by all the different types and wanted to know each of their names. It was about that time I also noticed that our house was parallel to the flight path to the air base. There were no ships based in Roosevelt Roads but when a aircraft carrier was in the area, its air wing would visit the base. It was the coolest place to grow up, seeing Tomcats, Intruders, A-7s, and S-3s enter the pattern, break information, and then drop gear on the downwind leg. It is the cause of me being easily distracted by flying airplanes. I remember it came to a point where could tell what type of plane it was just by its sound. After 3 or 4 years, we moved to the Tidewater area of Virginia. And being in the vicinity of numerous airbases, there was no shortage of military aircraft flying overhead for me to identify. 

How does aviation make you feel? 

Aviation has always been a constant source of wonder and thrill in my life, and it has never once let me down. The passion I felt when I first fell in love with aviation is still just as vigorous today, filling me with the same level of uninhibited joy and excitement. Over the years, my connection to various aspects of aviation has deepened, evoking a variety of emotions depending on the context. For instance, vintage warbirds often stir up a sense of nostalgia, of a time when these iconic aircraft were built and flown by hand and not by a computer. Helicopters, on the other hand, ignite my adventurous spirit, with their unique ability to hover and access remote locations. Meanwhile, a window seat of an airliner brings me an unequal sense of peace and calm, as I gaze out over the endless expanse of sky and watch the world pass below.

What do you do to maintain and nurture your Love for Aviation?

Like with anything I love, the maintenance and nurturing are done effortlessly and enthusiastically. From attending aviation events, visiting museums, plane spotting, and watching spotting channels on YouTube (yes, it’s a thing) to planning trips to explore and experience various new aviation events. (Cough) My trip to England 🙂 Yeah, my aviation checklist from that trip. Got to fly on an Airbus A330-200, did my first air-to-air photoshoot with WWII Warbirds over the English countryside, countless spotting trips to London-Heathrow drove 2 and a half hours to see TSR.2, did a helicopter flight over London, then spent 5 days at the world’s largest military airshow. I will shoehorn aviation into any conversation whenever possible along with spending countless hours on Flightradar 24. Driving around any airport with airplanes taking off or landing in view is troublesome for me. The need to see and identify what’s taxing to the runway, taking off, or landing is way too distracting.

What do you love about it most? And why

Whether it is in an airliner, helicopter, or hanging out the back of a Skyvan, for me going flying is by far the most enjoyable way to experience aviation. The thrill and power of takeoff always gives me chill bumps. There is something not only liberating and peaceful about glaring out the window, watching the world and clouds pass by.

Until next post,

S.Lewis