Tag Archives: Fleet Week

Silhouette of the Blue Angels during Fleet Week 2019

28 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by in Air Show, Blue Angels, F-18 Hornet, Fleet Week, Fleet Week 2019

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The Blue Angels flew in the Diamond Formation over San Francisco during Fleet Week 2019. It was fun to watch their perfect formation as we sat underneath. Looking up shows the silhouette of the planes – meaning the planes appeared darker against the lighter blue sky background. It is also cool to watch their white cloud exhaust as the planes are flying fast together.

This photograph shows the contrast between what appears to be the darker planes versus the lighter blue sky. We can appreciate the outline of the planes when we have this contrast.

Look for the contrasts between dark and light when you take your own photographs. The contrasts will make the objects you are shooting to stand out.

Darkness is not always bad when it can highlight the outline of the plane.

Seek contrast in life too! We cannot appreciate sweetness without experiencing the sour. I love the cold more after experiencing extremely hot temperatures. Feeling peaceful moments after a turbulent roller coaster type experience is a relief.

Appreciate contrast in your photos and in life!

Photos Inspire!

 

 

 

 

 

Close Fly-by Maneuvers by the Blue Angels at Fleet Week

20 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Air Show, Blue Angels, Canon 5D Mark IV, F-18 Hornet, Fleet Week, Fleet Week 2019, Fleet Week SF 2019

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The precision and expert maneuvers by the Blue Angels during their air shows amazed me as I was shooting the Blue Angels at the San Francisco Fleet Week. How do these fighter planes move so close to each other and not collide or touch?

I appreciate the great skill and expertise of the Blue Angels every time I watch their shows. Their dedication to be the best is an inspiration to me.

How often do we feel discouraged about improving ourselves in a particular skill? For me – photography has evolved a lot from the beginnings of my career. Technology has greatly improved how photographs look. There are a variety of ways we can share our photos thru Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc. The internet has provided a different dimension in the way we see our world. Today’s world provides more ways we can express creativity.

I am striving to find my own road to perfect my photography expertise. This photograph reminds me not to give up on how to create my art.

Expertise takes time to develop. Keep striving to be your best at what you do.

Photos Inspire!

F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighter flying with the Legendary P-51 Mustang

19 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by in Air Show, F-35, F-35 Lightning II, Fleet Week, Fleet Week 2019, Fleetweek SF 2019, P-51, P-51 Mustang, Stealth Fighter

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It was a real treat to watch the F-35 Lightning II fly alongside the P-51 Mustang during the Heritage Flight part of the Fleet Week Airshow in San Francisco on Friday, 10/11/19.

The P-51 Mustang was very lethal fighter and was the highest scoring US fighter in the Europe Theater of Operations. Please see the link below for more info about the P-51 Mustang.

Link to Information about the P-51 Mustang.

It was nice to watch the new F-35 Lightning II fly with the old P-51. Having the old with the new interact with each other was really cool. The old fighter airplane is fun to watch with the front propeller which shows the technology of that time.

These pictures remind us how we need to remember the old and examine the present. We can see how the technology of the fighter airplanes has improved from the P-51 to the F-35. Today we see the new plane has such different technology and moves significantly faster than the P-51. But without the beginnings of the P-51, the improved F-35 would not be possible.

When I think of my past and how I was and compare myself to who I am today – what do I see? I hope I have mellowed out a little and learned from my past experience. My wife tells me I have grown slowly over the years to recognize my mistakes and move forward. I expanded my skills in sharing my photos with this blog and social media. I am seeking to improve my photography skills. I am beginning to create my own scenic area to take photographs of nature, birds, butterflies and etc. – More about this hopefully in my future blogs.

A good retrospective question for each of us – Is my new self an improved version of my old self from 10-20 years ago? Our physical bodies of course change with time and may not be the same. But our mental self and our determination to achieve should improve over time. Is there any satisfaction with the person we are today versus the person we were in the past? Do you like the new “you” of today? Have I changed for the better? Can you ask a close friend or family member to share their opinion about who you are today? Self examination is hard but useful.

If we are not happy with ourselves today, can we figure out what we need to do to be better?

Photos Inspire!

Sleek F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighter at Fleet Week 2019

17 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in Airshow, F-35, F-35 Lightning II, Fleet Week, Fleet Week 2019, Joint Strike Fighter, Stealth Fighter

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We were fortunate to see the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter perform maneuvers at Fleet Week in San Francisco on Friday, 10/11/19.  It was very cool to see this fifth generation stealth fighter flying over the San Francisco Bay.

The sun was behind me when I shot this picture. The bright blue sky is behind the plane. The plane was at angle where the sun did not illuminate it.

The flames from the fighter’s afterburners looks more dramatic and bright in contrast with the dark silhouette of the fighter jet.

This plane flew before the arrival of the Blue Angels and also flew alongside a P-51 Mustang.

This was the first time I saw this jet at the San Francisco Fleet Week. This is the latest stealth fighter for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines.

I have always enjoyed watching and studying fighter jets. As a child, I would build models of fighter jets. I admired the F-15 Eagle and F-14 Tomcat jets as they were front line fighters when I was a teenager. I collected reference books with information on the various fighter jets. It is easy for me to rattle off information about various fighter jets due to my interest and love for our military’s fighter jets.

I appreciate how our military continues to improve and develop their air superiority fighters to defend our nation.

It reminds me as individuals we should always try to improve our expertise or abilities in our own lives. These fighter jets are reminder to me to keep moving forward and aim to achieve high goals.

See the below link if you are interested in more info about the F-35.

Photos Inspire!

Link to Information about the F-35A Lightning II

How to Photograph Moving Things?

30 Monday Sep 2019

Posted by in Airshow, Blue Angels

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Do you find it difficult to shoot pictures of things that are moving?

My wife’s cousin has been trying to take photos of a turtle in a Marsh with Reed’s. She was trying to focus on the turtle, and the turtle was not focused.

I checked the settings on her camera and found several of her settings were incorrect to use the autofocus. It is easy to forget or not understand how these settings should be.

So if you have problems taking moving objects like these Blue Angel planes, make sure your camera settings are correct.

If you have questions about you camera settings, please send me your questions with info about what kind of camera you own. I will be happy to answer your questions to help you take better photos.

Let’s Get Close – Blue Angels

17 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in #Fleetweek, Blue Angels

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Notice this is showing Blue Angel F-18 Hornets #1 to #4 in close formation during the the San Francisco Fleet week event.  They flew very close to each other  – within 18 inches of each other.

I love seeing these choreographed maneuvers.  I appreciate the expertise of these pilots.  I shoot at a high shutter speed at 1/4000 of a second to get tact sharp images.  These photographs have not been altered.  These pilots are an example  to us of seeking excellence  in their skill.  We each need to be the best at whatever we do.

 

 

Diamond in the Sky

10 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in #Fleetweek, Blue Angels

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Diamond Formation with the Blue Angels on 10/7/2016

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F-22 Raptor Air Superiority Stealth Fighter

We had a great time attending the Fleet Week Air Show Rehearsal on Friday, October 7, 2016.  Last year, we bought tickets for the reserved seating in the Marina.  This year we watched the show at Aquatic Park which is a popular area to view the Air Show.  It is nice to bring your own chairs or just sit on the terraced concrete seats.  The weather was perfect, and the sky was just a little hazy.  But we are thankful it was not a typical San Franciscan foggy day.  So there were no restrictions in the flight plans.

I had to shoot a higher shutter speed which required me to use a higher ISO film speed to catch the fast moving planes.  I also used a high speed compact flash memory card to keep up with the rapid firing of my camera.

Many were shooting with their cell phones like my wife.  They are good pictures but you cannot zoom in as close to see the detail of the planes.  You can see my wife’s short video clips of the Blue Angels on our Twitter account – @untouchtcphoto

Thank you for all the expert military and civilian pilots who flew this weekend to show their skill in flying.  We appreciate their service and sacrifice.  One phrase, my wife heard during the air show was — “Freedom requires Sacrifice”.   We are blessed to be free, and forever grateful to our military forces.

 

Fleet Week Instagram Post on ABC 7 Bay Area

13 Tuesday Oct 2015

Posted by in Blue Angels

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@abc7newsbayarea on InstagramNN5A8608 Copy

Thanks @abc7newsbayarea for posting my picture and showing on TV.

Spectacular day with perfect weather watching Blue Angels perform at Fleet Week in San Francisco on 10/9/2015 – Friday afternoon.