United4everDEN From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2437 times:
I was curious as to how everyone gets their big hitter shots. Photographers either have;
-Luck, where your only shots on airliners.net are big hitters. This applies to people who have 1, 2, maybe even 3 shots with a few thousand hits or to people who get lucky shooting something like a 747 showing up at their airport wearing a new scheme, unexpectedly.
-Opportunity, where you have had the once in a lifetime shot, but you knew the plane was going to be there. You planned to take the shot in a specific way. This applies to you if you travel alot and get great air to air shots because you travel so frequently, thus opportunity.
-Skill, where you can take any plane, even a BA 320 at LHR, and turn it into something special using your photographic skills.
My pictures that are big hitters are luck. I don't fly enough to be in the opportunity category, but when I do, I seem to pull off great window shots of airport overviews.
JeffM From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3266 posts, RR: 53 Reply 1, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2375 times:
Maiznblu_757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5112 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2357 times:
Planning.
My experience with planning in the air to air arena is all based on what the recieving crews are going to give you. For example,you can plan plan plan and plan, but it actually happening is another story. We had a 4 ship of 117's that were supposed to meet up with us but, they had some timing issues and wanted us to go around their schedule which just wasnt possible at the time because our tanker was to land back at RIV and take off 15 minutes later to refuel a KC10 in NORCAL. So the planner did an excellent job and scrambled to get us a 2 ship of 117's and to everyones surprise, the crews were very willing to stick around for some formation photos after they filled up.
The F-4's were all about the photos from the getgo. Before we went up, we knew what we were going to get with them.
I just hope on the next flight, the crews are as flexible as these guys were.
United4everDEN From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2326 times:
I kinda figured planning went into the opportunity area, as I said "but you knew the plane was going to be there" Keyword, knew. But then again, planning could be another category, so anyone can go ahead and use it.
Maiznblu_757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5112 posts, RR: 51 Reply 5, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2296 times:
That's how a nice shot becomes a big-hitter.
I guess you are right because if it wasnt plugged, I wouldnt have seen the small version. DOH!
Interpaul From Germany, joined Jul 2004, 409 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2284 times:
A poor photographer like me running around with a camera and taking a picture of a weird, freshly painted, pink aircraft which just rolled out of the hangar. Luck I guess.
KC7MMI From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 854 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2180 times:
Luck + Opportunity + The Little Skill I Have = My Favorite Shots
Clickhappy From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 9459 posts, RR: 72 Reply 8, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 2137 times:
JetAv8r From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 284 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2114 times:
A little luck and opportunity in that shot. It may even make the shot of the day if it keep going at the rate it's going at. I didn't think my cheap little camera (only cost $180) would ever get a picture with that many views.
Rotor1 From Tajikistan, joined Mar 2003, 230 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2100 times:
The biggest factor in getting a big hitter photo is luck of timing. Get a solid shot accepted at the right hour and you'll see it on the front page. Get an absolutely BRILLIANT shot accepted at the wrong hour, and it'll dissapear on page 3 of the 24/48 hour most popular.
As for getting the really awesome shots, with no regard for hits... then its the same with most everything else in life -- it's all about having the right connections. Networking. Knowing the people that get you the oppurtunities... from there, it just takes a little luck/skill/equipment combo to take the advantage and have the stuff that you friends will drool over.
-Mike
P.S. the last paragraph there was actually pulled from Dating101.com with the word 'girls' changed to 'shots'.
The best aviation photo I've ever taken was rejected by Airliners.net
Spencer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 1624 posts, RR: 19 Reply 14, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2015 times:
And if you're happy in getting an awesome shot of said Transavia and you seem to be creating your own luck, then what's the deal with speed skating Wietse??
Spencer.
EOS1D4, 7D, 30D, 100-400/4.5-5.6 L IS USM, 70-200/2.8 L IS2 USM, 17-40 f4 L USM, 24-105 f4 L IS USM, 85 f1.8 USM
Saxdiva From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 2382 posts, RR: 46 Reply 16, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1974 times:
An-225 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 3950 posts, RR: 44 Reply 19, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1833 times:
Clickhappy From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 9459 posts, RR: 72 Reply 20, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1830 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW PHOTO SCREENER
dude.
How is taking a picture of a UA 763 in crap weather luck
and plugging the same shot twice, in the same thread? Haha rad.
That Ted shot is sweet, you cant beat a Sony 707 or 717 for static night shooting, the colors are surreal.
An-225 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 3950 posts, RR: 44 Reply 22, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1748 times:
Royal,
The caption explains it. Of course, it would have looked better if the sun was out and I was on the ramp, instead of a plane, but hey, I guess it me the standards.
Alex.
Money does not bring you happiness. But it's better to cry in your own private limo than on a cold bus stop.
Capntoo From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1707 times:
I agree, it's a combination of everything...planning, skill, timing, luck. Photography has been my hobby/passion for 30 years, with aviation photos a relatively new interest in the last 5 years. I've just uploaded my 1st photo to A.net, which I'm sure will be rejected (most 1st timers are so I hear) and that's fine. Having them posted isn't a priority. What is a priority is that I have fun, enjoy myself, meet new people, make friends and have airliner shots that please me and a collection of slides, prints and digitals, with the documentation, that I can look back on, remember the day and circumstances of the photo and relive a great day and a photo that pleases ME and that I'm proud of. To me, that's what aviation photography is..... (Just an A.net noobies observation)
Mirage From Portugal, joined May 1999, 3120 posts, RR: 16 Reply 24, posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1698 times:
There are people who seem to have more luck than others, why? because of their dedication and being constantly observant.
So what people call "luck", not always is just "luck".
Luis
25 Alberto Riva: Sitting on the correct side of the plane helps too. People seem to like airport overviews for some reason I will never understand, so on a fairly sunn
26 Christian: For me it's "Right time, right place, right equipment." or luck as other says.[Edited 2004-08-01 10:39:50]
27 Erwin972: Planning: what time of day, what is the direction of sunlight, what spot to choose for taking pictures, listening to the ATIS (or channel 9 for AMS)
28 KLGAviation: Of my three shots on the database, they are all the result of luck, opportunity, and skill. These three shots have 31691 , 6857 , and 1295 hits. Getti
29 Maiznblu_757: Now this is planning.. I am sure he planned everything having to do with this shot, including the fog. No luck involved here. View Large View MediumPh
30 Brian_ga: I have been taking pictures of airplanes since 1978. In all that time I have taken 1000's of pictures and have seen many things at the airport. I woul
31 PW100: It's a combination of all above mentioned factors. However planning, and just keep on trying to get that one shot in the long run will help your odds.
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DOH!
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I didn't think my cheap little camera (only cost $180) would ever get a picture with that many views.
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