Red Bull Air Races

limeydal · 16 September 2007, 02:51

Was out today taking some "Brit" Ribnet members out on the Bay

So hope Jewels and family had a great day.Lots of sights and wildlife and then came across a familiar RIB . My buddy had landed the "gig" of assisting with the preparation for the Red Bull Air races. They were moving into place rafts, that will hold the inflatable pylons ready for the races next week.

http://redbullairrace.com/

Should be quite a sight with these planes racing around the downtown Bay area.
Hoping to take a couple of days off work and get down there to get some shots.
By the way Jewels; thanks for the fish n'chips

codprawn · 16 September 2007, 03:10

That's a Nordhavn up front - one of my favourite boats - looks tiny on that ship though!!!

Tomas · 16 September 2007, 15:46

They lost three pilots in Nevada this past week at the race. That's tough to hear. I hope all goes well in San Diego. The jet class top end course speed was 504 mph!!!

codprawn · 16 September 2007, 17:23

The Red Bull air race is a bit different to what you are thinking of!!!

http://redbullairrace.com/

Seriously competitive - almost like a cross between aerobatics and racing than a just an air race.

GuyP · 16 September 2007, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

The Red Bull air race is a bit different to what you are thinking of!!!

http://redbullairrace.com/

Seriously competitive - almost like a cross between aerobatics and racing than a just an air race.

I was watching the London practice runs from the 26th floor of one of the Docklands towers shonw in the link above - seriously impressive aerobatics!

limeydal · 17 September 2007, 03:17

Just watched the Instanbul Red Bull race on TV trying to get some ideas on how to photograph them.

Good grief!! 250mph and twisting and turning through the gates.Think I need to get a larger a larger memory card for the old camera.
Going to be lots of frames of blurred images and missed planes

Looks fun though

Plus a Brit was in the series 2nd place after this race, ( Pul Bonhomme) so adds a little excitement

cheers al

codprawn · 17 September 2007, 11:46

The worst thing they ever did to cameras was introduce autofocus - I HATE it with a passion and a vengenace.

When using my 35mm gear the 50mm lens hardly needed focusing - just leave it on infinity 99% of the time. With even a 400mm lens once you were further away than say 100yds you didn't need to focus either - just leave it at one setting.

Try following a grey plane against a grey sky and get autofocus to work. Most digi cameras I have used have a manual over ride but it's just not the same.

limeydal · 17 September 2007, 23:43

Know what you mean

Its funny how with all the "advances" in modern cameras; the majority of pros' go back to basics.
They ignore all the custom shutter and aperture modes and go back to shooting manual exposure.(Especially the sports photographers)
Same with the autofocus.
As you said; too many things to throw it off.

Must admit to relying on auto settings too much and having to learn all over again

Going all manual for the air races; so hope to get a few decent images
Will post a few if I get some.(ifI don't you know I messed up

)
cheers Dal

codprawn · 18 September 2007, 02:50

I wouldn't go so far as to use all manual all the time.

One good trick I learnt was to meter off something grey in colour - kodak make cards for this but the side of a warship does nicely. Lock the settings and then when you aim at the aircraft you get perfect exposure.

I still love my Canon A1 - I just may go back to 35mm slides and get an expensive slide scanner!!!

jewels · 19 September 2007, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by limeydal

Was out today taking some "Brit" Ribnet members out on the Bay

So hope Jewels and family had a great day.Lots of sights and wildlife and then came across a familiar RIB . My buddy had landed the "gig" of assisting with the preparation for the Red Bull Air races. They were moving into place rafts, that will hold the inflatable pylons ready for the races next week.

http://redbullairrace.com/

Should be quite a sight with these planes racing around the downtown Bay area.
Hoping to take a couple of days off work and get down there to get some shots.
By the way Jewels; thanks for the fish n'chips

A big thank you to Limeydal for a great day out at the weekend in San Diego Bay! Very handy having old school friends who happen to live in California and who happen to own a rib!! Weather was superb....very welcome after our cr*p summer...Must say we were very impressed with the boat ramp (the size of Belgium!!) and just a tad wider than we are used to at Swanwick on the Hamble!! If only!! A bit strange though being out all day and only seeing one other rib!! Your photography exhibition at San Diego Maritime Museum was well worth a visit! We'll be back..J & M

codprawn · 20 September 2007, 00:44

Stunning - what's the tidal range like - or have they never heard of them???

limeydal · 20 September 2007, 22:26

Tidal range around 4-5 feet at the moment

cheers Dal

codprawn · 20 September 2007, 22:32

Oh well at least you have one - unlike the med. Lucky buggers!!!

Tomas · 23 September 2007, 02:59

Around here we plan our lives around the tides. Four to Five inches can be serious business

codprawn · 23 September 2007, 04:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomas

Around here we plan our lives around the tides. Four to Five inches can be serious business

Oh shut up - we have to put up with 45 feet!!!

Tomas · 23 September 2007, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Oh shut up - we have to put up with 45 feet!!!

Oh Lord! You guys are tough you know; got to be!

I was up on the Bay of Fundy one time and it just made me crazy. The tidal flow is so extreme I think rivers run in reverse half the day, all the way to the artic circle!

My old Ketch "Fresh Breeze" came out of Cowes and was a full keeler cast from Iron, all the better to ground at low water. Here all we can do is get lost and possibly run into things but at least the playing field remains level.

The caribbean represents the path of least resistance but we pay a very steep price for all that. I stumped my toe on a coconut and it was uncomfortably hot for my afternoon nap yesterday. I couldn't stop yawning at cocktail hour while mixing drinks for two traveling nurses

I look forward to pictures from the Air Races in S.D.!!!

codprawn · 23 September 2007, 14:49

Yup the bay of Fundy makes the record books but on a day to day basis the Bristol Channel is about the same.

In fairness I think the Channel Islands have it worse than us - their tides aren't quite as big but instead of a load of sand they have nasty rocks everywhere. Then again rocks tend to stay put but the sand banks shift all the time.

I really admire sailors in such areas - their level of skill has to be on a different level to powerboaters - especially people in RIBs!!!

God life sounds hard where you are.......

Tomas · 23 September 2007, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

God life sounds hard where you are.......

It does have it's moments....Corrosion is rampart!

Tomas

Tomas · 24 September 2007, 04:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomas

Corrosion is rampart!

Tomas

Uhhh or rampent or rapid or remarkable.....I guess a rampart is a part of a castle or something......

Anyway, both ferrous metal and people corrode around here rather quickly.

"The climate of the West Indies is neither favorable to mental energy, nor conducive to moral hapits; and more especially, if the monotony of the same pursuits and indulgences be superadded." Sir Andrew Halliday

We need Air Race Photos to get this thread out of the ditch I'm afraid I've driven it into...Limeydal help

jyasaki · 24 September 2007, 06:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomas

We need Air Race Photos to get this thread out of the ditch I'm afraid I've driven it into...Limeydal help

LOL.

jky