On the weekend, I had the opportunity to watch and photograph the San Francisco Fleet week Air Show. I had a decent vantage point and the planes flew pretty low in the sky, so I was able to get a few good shots. However I got major lens envy when there were people around me with 400mm lenses on cropped bodies. I definitely felt the limitations of my 70-200mm lens on my full frame body because it really dose not have the reach required to capture tiny planes from a distance. Despite my equipment troubles, I was still better off than those iphone users who probably didn’t get more than a bunch of dots with their 33mm equivalent focal lengths.
I think one of my favorite shots of the day came when the F15 flew low right in front of us and went fast enough to almost break the sound barrier. I doubt they are allowed to do a sonic boom so close to the ground and people but the vapour cone that resulted was pretty cool. The pilot did it right in front of where I was standing too, so it enabled me to get a great shot! I also got a really nice shot of the underbelly of the B2 Bomber which allows you to see the markings and doors with pretty great detail.
Let’s just say I am jealous of all the aircraft photographers who get to fly in planes, own ginormous lenses and can get closer vantage points that civilians can’t normally access. I hope to make friends with someone working in aviation some day so I can get the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of these planes.
