Old Warden Fly-Navy, 05/06 (Updated again!)

[Private Custard]

Well, what a difference a month makes! Things are still mostly at the far end of 400mm, but better than they were. The flying today was brilliant, the weather played ball again, and all-in-all, I think that todays show is the benchmark for all other shows to aim for this year.

I took a hell of a lot of shots, and it's late. Here's the first batch......in no particular order!

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat by Barrie May, on Flickr

Lysander by Barrie May, on Flickr

Sea Vixen by Barrie May, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015 by Barrie May, on Flickr

North American T-6 (G-KAMY) by Barrie May, on Flickr

Chipmunk WK608/906 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Boeing-Stearman by Barrie May, on Flickr

Spitfire TE311 (Mk LF XVIE) by Barrie May, on Flickr

Morane-Saulnier MS-317 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Westland Wasp by Barrie May, on Flickr

Lysander by Barrie May, on Flickr

Hawker Nimrod Mk.I S1581 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Lt Cdr Chris Gotke by Barrie May, on Flickr

Gloster Gladiator by Barrie May, on Flickr

Morane-Saulnier MS-317 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Lysander by Barrie May, on Flickr

Fairey Swordfish Mk.I W5856 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Bristol Scout by Barrie May, on Flickr

Bristol F.2 Fighter by Barrie May, on Flickr

Morane-Saulnier MS-317 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Final Pass of the Day by Barrie May, on Flickr

Hawker Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Supermarine Seafire by Barrie May, on Flickr

Dragon Rapide by Barrie May, on Flickr

Hurricane PZ865 (Mk IIc) by Barrie May, on Flickr

Westland Wasp by Barrie May, on Flickr

Avro Nineteen Anson by Barrie May, on Flickr

Hawker Nimrod II K3661 by Barrie May, on Flickr

[Blackbird]

Great set , and even better to know the show was a great improvement on the inaugural disappointment of a show. (Had to miss this one as I was at the Springsteen concert at Wembley )

Andy

[jacksonphreak]

Superb set of shot's Barrie, some great topside views. Wish I'd have gone to this show rather than Duxford last week.

[paullangford]

Excellent as ever Barrie

[BrawlerO]

Nice set of images! Are you using a full frame or crop sensor body?

[Agg]

Just open the Flickr-link guys, there's EXIF info there

Nice set

[AFC]

Excellent set as usual.
Jealous of that sea vixen topside as mine came out rather dark and idk why.
I'd be interested to know what your post processing work flow is?

[Airwolfhound]

A lovely set there Barrie, was a great show. I think that Vixen topside is likely to be a fairly repetitive shot, but what a sight to see

[Exiler]

Excellent Barrie, that opening Bearcat shot... wow.

[Stagger2]

Brilliant set of crispy shots done to perfection as always! Very glad to see you've 'chanced-it' again & seen the vast improvement in displays over the 'Premiere' show.

[Private Custard]

Thanks a lot guys

Now I feel a little more human, I can expand on what I thought of yesterdays show.

After the premiere, I was very unhappy with things. I felt that, if Old Warden was wrecked, everywhere else could only be worse. They've always been a step ahead in terms of the viewing experience and overall feel of the shows. I made a last minute decision to go, and was frankly amazed to find I could still buy my ticket online. After yesterday, I suspect I may need to buy earlier next time, as word spreads fast in these circles!

Highlights (selected from many)

Sea Vixen. First time I'd seen her, and WOW!! What a stunning aircraft. After so long as a bridesmaid, maybe this year is the year she finally gets to be 'the bride'!

The Morane. A really enjoyable display, from a frankly beautiful aircraft. Those flicks along the flightline, to present the topside of the aircraft to the crowd, were amazing

The Bearcat. What can I say? He beat the place up in a marvellous fashion, and offered a rocking-horse-poo moment.....a perfect topside in a blue sky with the sun directly behind us!

The Corsair. A lovely 8-point roll along the display axis. We didn't get that topside, but wow, that roll was lovely!

The Wasp in a grass-storm


The lowlights

Still a bit distant. Sure, 400mm was enough yesterday if you're willing to crop. But I'd love things to come even 30m closer.

No Edwardians. Understandable really


As for questions about my kit, and shutter speeds. Canon 80D and 100-400 mk.I (God I'd kill for a stabilised 400mm prime. Canon, get on it now!). Panning shots are anywhere from 1/40 to 1/20, depending on subject, range, and bravery. I'm throwing 'most' of my ground shots away!!

And the Sea Vixen topside shots being pretty common now. All I can say is "This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine"! Everyone gets to take home that special moment.......and then bore everyone else with how awesome it was!!

I'll be processing some more tonight, including some from Duxford in the morning, before the TFC aircraft got wound up.

[Private Custard]

Right, I'll be trickling these in gradually as I go through them. This batch is from Duxford in the morning. A few statics were calling. Lighting wasn't brilliant, and they were facing away from me, but we work with what we have. Like I said, a warbird is never parked facing the wrong way!

Corsair FG-1D by Barrie May, on Flickr

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat by Barrie May, on Flickr

Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat by Barrie May, on Flickr

Grumman Wildcat FM2 by Barrie May, on Flickr

[LN Strike Eagle]

they were facing away from me, but we work with what we have.

As all static warbirds/taildraggers should be. From the front they're just engines and blades. The flight line walk at Duxford airshows holds no appeal to me for that reason - they were parked tail-on, who knows, they might lure me in.

Love the Corsair pic anyway, and the stuff from Old Warden is superb. How do you shoot at those speeds!?

[Private Custard]

How do you shoot at those speeds!?

I throw almost everything away!!

[stuart n]

Tremendous set

[LN Strike Eagle]

How do you shoot at those speeds!?

I throw almost everything away!!

Can you share some of those just to make the rest of us feel better?!

[Private Custard]

How do you shoot at those speeds!?

I throw almost everything away!!

Can you share some of those just to make the rest of us feel better?!

Never, never, never!!

[Private Custard]

This is about as slow as I've ever gone handheld. 1/13, iso 100, f32. I had some issues controlling the highlights, so I just gave up!!

Chipmunk WK608/906 by Barrie May, on Flickr

[sylvancatharsis]

Outstanding set! Hard to select a standout from the bunch, but I'm going with the Wasp shots just because of how much grass the old girl's tossing about!

[Private Custard]

Outstanding set! Hard to select a standout from the bunch, but I'm going with the Wasp shots just because of how much grass the old girl's tossing about!

I've got a mental one to upload later. Shot from the wrong side, so the colour balance is a bit wonky, but I had to keep it!

[Private Custard]

Right, large update, then time for Game of Thrones!

Morane-Saulnier MS-317 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Avro Tutor by Barrie May, on Flickr

Miles Magister by Barrie May, on Flickr

Westland Wasp by Barrie May, on Flickr

Sea Vixen 'Foxy Lady' by Barrie May, on Flickr

Avro Tutor by Barrie May, on Flickr

Hawker Demon by Barrie May, on Flickr

Westland Wasp by Barrie May, on Flickr

Sea Vixen 'Foxy Lady' by Barrie May, on Flickr

De Havilland dh82a Tiger Moth by Barrie May, on Flickr

Grumman Wildcat FM2 by Barrie May, on Flickr

Nimrod x2 & Sea Hurricane by Barrie May, on Flickr

Demon and Nimrods by Barrie May, on Flickr

Nimrod and Sea Hurricane by Barrie May, on Flickr

Corsair FG-1D by Barrie May, on Flickr

Tiger Moth and Miles Magister by Barrie May, on Flickr

Trainer Trio by Barrie May, on Flickr

Dragon Rapide by Barrie May, on Flickr

Anson and Dragon Rapide by Barrie May, on Flickr

[Blackbird]

Another great set ...and that Wasp shot is outstanding

Andy

[FarnboroJohn]

Fabulous set, hope at least one or two of mine come up half as good. After what was written about the season premiere I was worried but oh boy am I glad I went!

John

[Slinger65]

Have to disagree with previous poster...THOSE Wasp shotS are outstanding

Couldn't make it yesterday due to just having driven back from the north of Scotland - looking at these photos is the next best thing to having been there.

Glad you made it Barrie.

[Hatstand]

Excellent photos, as always!