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Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 3:36 pm**

Happened to find myself outside a helicopter maintenance company the other day at Redcliffe Aerodrome. One of their 'regulars' was in for a quick grease and oil change. I think I've finally got this USM business sorted out after some recent and very informative posts. Thanks Onyx, Dooda and others. It's made a big difference to my final shots - or at least I think so...
Comments on this photo would be very much appreciated.

Click for larger image.

Exif: Kit Lens at 62mm, 1/1000, f5.6, Shutter Priority mode, ISO 200, Daylight WB.

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 3:47 pm**

Well done Manta - nice sharp image! You're 'still the one'

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 3:52 pm**

Geoff wrote:Well done Manta - nice sharp image! You're 'still the one'

Ha! Nice one Geoff; thanks. :wink:

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 3:57 pm**

Nice shot Manta, and sharp enough to cut carrots.

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 4:11 pm**

Love that analogy Greg! I think that's just what the maintenance guys said to the pilot after grinding his rotor blades....

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 4:37 pm**

Nice one Simon. I love shooting those things as well

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 5:56 pm**

Thanks John. I was shooting towards the sun (couldn't be helped) and got away with a decent shot but it stills lacks the clarity you got in your recent Noosa photo. Time to get serious and buy some decent glass...

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 6:18 pm**

If he doesn't get those wing things flingin' real soon he's not gunna be hangin' around in the air for much longer!

Niiccee shot

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 6:23 pm**

Simon - nice keeper - sharp and still in the air

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 6:34 pm**

Nice pic Simon.

What is your new sharpening recipe?

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 6:48 pm**

Thanks all.

Steve - You've flown everything else; how many hours rotary?

Chris - Yes...I think I might just keep this one!

Trevor - Easy recipe for this one: 150%, 15px, 1.
MICs well, garnish with LEEK, serves THREE!

Posted: **Mon May 02, 2005 7:19 pm**

only a couple of hours rotary Simon. Got disheartened the last time I had a go. Didn't seem to be making much progress so I looked at the airspeed indicator and I was doing 20 knots ------- backwards DOH :oops:

I have got a pile of gyro plans on the floor beside the desk though - next project maybe

Posted: **Tue May 03, 2005 4:37 pm**

Manta wrote:Easy recipe for this one: 150%, 15px, 1.
MICS well, garnish with LEEK, serves THREE!

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 3:23 am**

yeah
really sharp image Manta

only critique would be to slow your shutter a bit to get the blurred choppers

my question: are you using that recipe for USM for most of your images?

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 8:58 am**

Thanks Dee - appreciate your positive response.

I bracketed a few exposures with different shutter speeds to get exactly the effect you speak of. It was always in my mind to try and get a nice motion blur happening but it was just such a bright sunny day that I just couldn't nail the right 'look'. Plus, I'm sure that pilot was slowing the blades down at the same rate I was adjusting my shutter.... :wink:

Truth be known, I've never shot a moving chopper before at such close range. (Or shot AT one for that matter). I'll be more savvy next time.

I'd have to say I don't use that same sharpening 'recipe' for every shot. That would be just too simplistic. I do, however, use it as a starting point and tweak from there onwards. In some shots I want a completely different effect. For example, this one was deliberately over-sharpened to achieve a more graphic contrast:

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 9:14 am**

Looks pretty good to me, nice and sharp and a lil bit of motion in the rotors is all good.
Cheers

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 9:32 am**

Thanks for that John. I would have liked a little more motion but I'm happy with the result for this first effort.

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 5:20 pm**

The chopper shot seems REALLY sharp... Blur in the rotors would be nice but I assume he was moving so you'd have to "pan" with a slower shutter and still get it that sharp?

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 5:22 pm**

mudder wrote:The chopper shot seems REALLY sharp... Blur in the rotors would be nice but I assume he was moving so you'd have to "pan" with a slower shutter and still get it that sharp?

Hi

How are you? mate. Haven't heard from you for quite a while.

regards,

Arthur

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 6:28 pm**

Yeah - good to hear from you Mudder - you've been VERY nondescript lately!

You're spot on with your appraisal of the shot. He was shooting past me fairly quickly and I haven't yet graduated from the BBJ School of Panning and Deportment for Shaky Photographers.

:wink:

Posted: **Wed May 04, 2005 6:35 pm**

G'day guys,

Yeah, been just about living at work lately with crazy hours and stuff, hence the dummy spit, just not fronting for a week... Ha!

Tried getting to the forum a few times at work, but usually got dragged away. Hopefully should settle down now for a while...

Bewdy! I can hang around here again :-)

Cheers guys...

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