nice images mate. Could they not be made a little more interesting by panning? I always find aerial shots hard due to lighting, especially on sunny days.
Indeed they could and panning did cross my mind but for some reason I didn't try. There were a couple of reasons though. In peak times Manchester use two runways, now my spotting location is pretty much as close as you can get to the departure runway, where you see the American 757. And is right at the beginning of the runway where the aircraft are turning onto it so there low speed isn't ideal for pan shots. However on my next visit I could go to a spot that is a little further down the runway and try there.
The second problem is when they start using just a single runway for landing and departure they use the one that is further inside the airfield, the Virgin A330 shot for example, this then makes it a whole lot harder to get the aircraft sharp because of the distance to the object and the heat haze aswell on the day. However it is something I will work on as you are right it does make them more interesting.
I have done a few a panning shots in the past:
Heres one I took when I bagged a £5 flight from Leeds to Dublin.
Hmm now to try answer some questions and aviation and plane spotting. Its hard to describe why and this may sound a little odd but I actually find flying quite boring. When im on a plane as soon as the take off is over with (everyone loves that part right?) then I just whack on my headphones and go to sleep.
But plane spotting is different. Like I said earlier my grandad used to have a PPL and took me to the airport all the time when I was a kid. There is just something about getting as close as you can to the action (obviously without climbing over the security fence) and watching such beasts take to the skies with a roar or alternatively watching them settle back onto the ground after hours of flight. Sometimes I don't always stand there taking photos but its nice sometime to take a camping chair and relax and watch the action in the sun.
As said before though, its a hobby and other people enjoy different hobbies. Could you compare to a car show for example where somebody takes a picture of a LY 182 and then a picture of an Inferno 182, they are the same car right? That would be like me taking a picture of an American 757 and a Thomas Cook 757?
Aviation photography has changed of the years quite dramatically though, It's all about finding the best places, the best times, the best angles and so much more to compose a unique shot and some people dedicate a lot of time to it. I am very much just an amateur though, working full time. However I do aspire to use my equipment for what it capable of and eventually get out there and explore photography more with some landscape shots etc. Now I have a car and can find some exciting places.
Anyway the point of my thread was to find out if we had any more plane spotters here and for them to share their photos
but its always nice to have a debate.
Chris.
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