May 26, 2013 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Airports, Aviation, Daily Image 2013, Nikon 1 V1
Lake City Fly-in Today marked the 51st Dawn Patrol Fly-in Breakfast at Home Acres Airport, “Y91”, in Lake City , Michigan. Actually, since last year had really bad weather and was all but rained out, the advertising flyers say “50th Anniversary Do-Over”. Breakfast is served from 7am to 11am. Y91 sports two intersecting grass runways with beautiful backgrounds for the aviation photographer. The fly-in attracts a variety of airplanes, floatplanes, warbirds, bi-planes, homebuilts, and even an occasional helicopter. On a given year, 60 to 100 planes make their way to the fly-in. This year a couple of Stearman’s including the one above attended.
Then, this beautiful Cessna 185 on floats from Northwoods Aviation showed us how it’s done.
Looks like it’s a family fly-in. And the C-185 is just the right size.
What are those tail feathers below? Yeah, it’s a Navion in fantastic condition.
This fly-in was the first time I really used the Nikon 1 V1 to capture images at an aviation event. With good technique, high quality images can be captured. Continuous autofocus does not work for lenses attached through the FT-1 adapter. So, in order to get good takeoff and landing images, I found it necessary to pre-focus and shoot at that spot as the aircraft passes. One or two images will be in focus. Then, it seems that since the autofocus is really fast, it’s possible to use it to get a shot as long as its close to focus when you depress the shutter. Certainly, some practice will likely be necessary. It’s makes you appreciate the Continuous Auto-focus on a DSLR.
May 3, 2013 | AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Airports, Aviation, Daily Image 2013, Nikon 1 V1
Thirsty Pilot After hanging around the airport awhile and hangar flying with some pilots, this guy, a pilot, just gets up, goes out to his plane, fires it up, and takes off headed straight for a Coke. Perhaps, he was just thirsty.
Apr 20, 2013 | AF-S PC-E 24mm f/3.5D ED, Airports, Aviation, Bonanza, Daily Image 2013, GA Aircraft, Nikon D3x
Storm Coming Spring rain means storms. This storm blew up very quickly. I grabbed the closest camera and used the lens on it. It was spitting rain as I captured this image; 90 seconds later, it was pouring. By the way, the airplane is a Beech Bonanza. The owner got pretty wet putting it into the hangar.
Feb 26, 2013 | AF-S 50mm f1.4G, Airports, Aviation, Daily Image 2013, Nikon D300
Let’s Stay in the Hangar! And, we continued to get more snow over the top of partially melted snow drifts. This view looks down toward the tower about a quarter mile away.
Feb 19, 2013 | AF-S 50mm f1.4G, Airports, Aviation, Daily Image 2013, Nikon D300
You want to go where? What a difference a day makes! Hey, we have snow, lots of snow. This image was captured between heavy snow squalls. Along with a pretty good breeze, the airport was actually below IFR minimums.
Jan 30, 2013 | AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8G ED, Airports, Aviation, Daily Image 2013, Nikon D300
Taxiing in Snow After the snow yesterday and today, we are greeted with a snowy ramp and taxiways. Winter can help a good pilot get better by providing challenges from the walk around to the shutdown. The ramp, taxiway, and runway can be slippery. The wind tends to be stronger in winter and the skies less sunny. And, of course, a late afternoon arrival is made in the dark.
