Northolt Night Photoshoot XII - Tiffie Time

[Pen Pusher]

Just got home and once again many thanks to Phil and the usual gang for an excellent evening which the little bit of rain we had didn't spoil.

Just a warning to the guy who was using flash there who didnt have a tripod, firstly get a tripod you can get one for the price of a take away and will last you longer and they said dont take pics with flash..... That does mean you too!

Someone used flash when the police helicopter took off. Didn't see who it was.

I didn't have a tripod and I didn't use flash but then again Andy, I was using a Sony Alpha camera

Brian

[RickIngham]

Just a warning to the guy who was using flash there who didnt have a tripod, firstly get a tripod you can get one for the price of a take away and will last you longer and they said dont take pics with flash..... That does mean you too!

Ah I thought that was your voice bellowing accross the Pan Well said though! Didn't make me jump at all.......

Someone used flash when the police helicopter took off. Didn't see who it was.

When these events first started everyone looked out everybody was polite and gave everyone time and space. Now the event has gone into the 200's it seems people are more rude and couldn't care less about other photographers or more importantly crews in the air...

A sugestion for the next one...There were a lot of 'spare' uniformed people about. Could one stand at the bottom of the air-stairs next time limiting the amount of people on the stairs at one time? It was like a bouncy-castle at one point with people climbing all over each other to get up. If we Queued one side, got our shots from the top and moved along in a queue each time then went down the other side it would be a lot smoother.

the Catering team who yet again excelled with their Burgers and Bacon Buttys, its such a shame that so few people seemed to make use of them this time! Lets hope that cnanges as otherwise I can see the food facility going, I so hope im wrong.

The catering isn't advertised enough. After coming to Northolt straight off a 9 hour shift, I was ready to eat a horse. Sadly I didn't know where, how much or what was available. Shame as I was willing to spend!

Thanks to Phil and co for organising the event, the Tiffies looked amazing Shame about the other aircraft on the list but understandable given the weather! Going down the M4 and looking at a TV mast, it looked less than 100ft cloud base! With only 1 hour shooting in darkness, it's a good job we didn't have more to shoot!

[JohnF]

A sugestion for the next one...There were a lot of 'spare' uniformed people about. Could one stand at the bottom of the air-stairs next time limiting the amount of people on the stairs at one time? It was like a bouncy-castle at one point with people climbing all over each other to get up. If we Queued one side, got our shots from the top and moved along in a queue each time then went down the other side it would be a lot smoother.

Agree with this. Prior to it getting dark I waited for one person to come off before joining the other 4. A few minutes later and others had joined us who either hadn't listened to the briefing or couldn't be bothered to count the number of people already on the air stairs. They were politely asked to get off by the man from RAF Northolt who did the briefing.

[lynothehammer]

Another fantastic but rather damp night at Northolt, what happened to the BBMF Spitfire, Sea King & Gazelle though ?

I keep saying it but many thanks to Phil & his team for the outstanding job they do. I also found the burger/bacon buttie stand last night ! om nom nom, thats all I can say on it !

[Pen Pusher]

what happened to the BBMF Spitfire, Sea King & Gazelle

Weather, left early, weather.

Brian

[lynothehammer]

what happened to the BBMF Spitfire, Sea King & Gazelle

Weather, left early, weather.

Brian

Thanks, I hope that didn't come accross as I was moaning. Did think the weather had a lot to do with it, which is a great shame as i'd have loved to have seen the BBMF Spitfire there.

I'd have been happy taking tons more photos of the Tiffies !

[zoomer]

Another excellent evening - thanks, guys.

As for the stairs... fully agree with the fact some 'management' would come in handy when the number of attendees goes up.

My 'stair saga' started when I joined a short queue and waited patiently for there to be a gap... and someone just walked past us and up top, making 7 up there.

Dont stress, I said to myself, they'll be another chance. Went back a bit later, hung around til someone came down, so went up just as there was a shout from below that there were too many people up top - no one else responded, so being last up I came back down again leaving 5 up there.

Almost gave up... but toward the end of the evening I spotted a chance... by the time I got the tripod up I was joined by a family - each to their own of course - but no chance of a shot until the family snaps were all done. By the time things had calmed down and I was set up, the groundcrew were prepping the tiffies for bed...

Now of course someone's gonna say they wish they'd been there for that shot...

Besides that, I had a loverly time!

PS I didnt know where the bacon butties were either, and I would have eaten more than Rick.

[umea4]

I just want also to say thanks so much to Phil and everyone at Northolt who made the evening possible. Its a real privilege and I enjoyed it a lot. But I missed the butties - I didn't know there were any, and could have done with something.

About the stairs - I agree about some management. I went up early while it was still light, when there weren't too many people, so got some shots, but gave up even thinking about it later with the number of people on there.

Anyhow - looking forward to the next one!

Anthony.

[Graf Zeppelin]

[quote="lynothehammer"]Another fantastic but rather damp night at Northolt, what happened to the BBMF Spitfire, Sea King & Gazelle though ? Low cloud and poor visiblity enroute is what happened. The forecast was actually far worse than the weather that actually materialised.

[Graf Zeppelin]

Sorry some folks missed the grub! The food was located adjacent to the entrance to the terminal building. Apart from the burgers and butties there was also cold food available in the coffee shop next to the toilets in the terminal. For the next one we will do a handout and give them out on check in at the gate.

[lynothehammer]

Another fantastic but rather damp night at Northolt, what happened to the BBMF Spitfire, Sea King & Gazelle though ? Low cloud and poor visiblity enroute is what happened. The forecast was actually far worse than the weather that actually materialised.

Lets hope it's third time lucky with the Gazelle for the next shoot eh Phil ? thanks again though, seriously it's appreciated !

[ChrisL]

A number of us had no interest in shooting anything with a big red bin liner attached to it , so time was at a premium once the intake covers were eventually removed and only after much pleading to the Typhoon det CO . Unfortunately it was nicely timed with the worst of the rain! I think we had 10 minutes for DF and around 15 minutes for QO-C, no where near enough time to get 200 people up the air stairs for some nice clean shots. So is it any wonder there was not a nice orderly queue but a number of understandably impatient people struggling to get their shots before the covers were replaced. I was lucky enough to get up the stairs when QO-C was unbagged and even luckier to get one sharp shot due to all the bouncing around the stairs were doing! That said, I shall be at the next one, so lets see what challenges that will throw up. Thanks Phil and team for all your efforts.

[RRconway]

Another vote of thanks Phil for a fabulous evening , I really enjoyed it even if my camera wasn't as happy....it did dry out overnight though.

Re the no-shows, don't forget Phil is as disappointed as we all are, and don't forget Phil always gets his aircraft eventually....Tracker????

Thanks again Phil.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[cw318is]

Just a quick post to show my gratitude to Phil - top work arranging as ever too right you should have an award for it. Dunno what it would be called but the "trophy" should be a silver bacon roll on a tripod with a high viz

In relation to the amount of joustling that goes on, unfortunately with the numbers attending these days it's inevitable. That said there are a couple of areas - take the 3sq special Typhoon. When the covers came off and there was a melee there was a guy in prime spot stood at the front who took 9 long exposures and chimped them all for quite a while, when I eventually got there I was down on my knees in a puddle so that others behind could get some shots as well as were some others. I'm sure with a bit of thought we could be a bit more courteous. One way system on the stairs is a good idea as well, I was queing on one side waiting for a space to become free then 3 others went up the other side and set up stopping anyone getting off. Also as they are in a prime spot could they maybe be moved towards the hangars a few feet so you can get in front of them at ground level?

But all that aside, once again thanks Phil for another top night - looking forward to XIII!

[andyxh558]

I have to admit it is nice that there is more feedback on the shoot now than there used to be. Sorry for making you jump Rick, I was using a technique that is saw used for getting idiots off active runways!!

[Graf Zeppelin]

We had a Night Photoshoot Wash up Meeting this morning and discussed the feedback that you chaps have given us after the last event. The outcome is that there will be some subtle changes for Night Photoshoot XIII.

Photoshoot staff will wear a different colur hi-viz vest to stand out from the visiting photographers

There will be an upper limit of 200 people for "normal" Night Photoshoots

There will be a one way system in force on the aircraft steps which will be closely stewarded to ensure that the maximum number of people and the time spent up aloft is not excessive to stop people "hogging" prime spots.

Directions to the food and toilets will be included on the back of the entry passes that will be issued at the event

All rain will have to stop before the start of the event

[RRconway]

We had a Night Photoshoot Wash up Meeting this morning and discussed the feedback that you chaps have given us after the last event. The outcome is that there will be some subtle changes for Night Photoshoot XIII.

All rain will have to stop before the start of the event

Sensible rules for a happy event, well done Phil.

So about this Northolt Nightshoot XIII then....

Cheers,
Jeff.

[andyxh558]

what about the hanging drawing and quartering if flash users...

[Graf Zeppelin]

what about the hanging drawing and quartering if flash users...

Only for a first offence!

[Graf Zeppelin]

So about this Northolt Nightshoot XIII then....

Cheers,
Jeff.

We are looking at trying September for NNS XIII

[Pen Pusher]

In the June Issue of Aviation News, there is a 5 page spread on Nightshoot XI.

Not sure about the mug shot though.

Brian

[Pen Pusher]

Page 5 of the latest RAF News has a side view photo, minus red bin bag, of the 3(F)Sqn 100 anniversary Tiffie taken by an RAF News photogrpaher at Nightshoot XII.

Getting popular in the media this night shooting stuff.

Brian