Air to Air

[agriffiths]

Captured these on a recent photo trip to Robe, South Australia. Probably the most fun I've ever had with a camera! The temptation to reinact the "Bega Ad" was enormous but as it turned out there wasn't enough time so we had to take a raincheck...

We were out there for two days and it was a frantic time spent scouting locations and planning flights.. followed by a thoroughly entertaining night at the pub with the locals.

Here's a small selection taken for a local enthusiust / pilot. The overhead shot was captured at 2,000 feet above a turf farm. We flew alongside in a helicopter with door off and banked hard over on our side just as the Tigermoth passed the centre circle below us. It's hard to make out in web resolution but to give you an idea of scale that double line passing beneath the tail section is actually a road.

[aim54x]

Some great images here, I love the one over the circle, great timing there

[biggerry]

DAMN fine images those first two and not because of the plane! Looks like a beautiful clear day!

that second one is stunning on so many levels! look at the fabric on the top of wing!

What lens were you using?

[agriffiths]

Thanks guys .

I was using an 80-200 AFS and a large kenyon gyro attached to the tripod mount. That lets me shoot handheld down to 1/80 to get a nice long arc in the prop.

I've since printed them on A3+ Epson Traditional and I'm pretty happy with the results!

[radar]

Thanks guys .

I've since printed them on A3+ Epson Traditional and I'm pretty happy with the results!

I'm sure you would be

these are great shots, especially the first two,

cheers,

André

[Matt. K]

Aaahh, the joy of flying, the joy of photography. Life doesn't get much better.

[surenj]

#2 is an absolute stunner! Wow!

[biggerry]

Aaahh, the joy of flying, the joy of photography. Life doesn't get much better.

nope, it can get better - fly something better, faster and more agile...(and which is not a bloody tail-dragger)

I was using an 80-200 AFS and a large kenyon gyro attached to the tripod mount. That lets me shoot handheld down to 1/80 to get a nice long arc in the prop

wow, i wanna see some images of that setup next time!

Upon a second look at the images, the only thing I reckon taht would improve #2 would be getting the perspective angle of the aircraft at the 3/4 position, either front or back, this I finds gives more please lines for aircraft, obviously all easy to say in hindsight:)

[Big V]

Number 2 has such great lines and colour

[agriffiths]

Number 2 has such great lines and colour

Thanks BigV The green of the turf field was almost surreal, especially when you consider that everything else in the region at this time of year is a burnt brown colour.

nope, it can get better - fly something better, faster and more agile...(and which is not a bloody tail-dragger)

There is something to be said about the nostalgic factor of climbing into something so lightweight and simple, with only fabric and a few timber struts holding you up. I'd have to agree on one thing though... don't know how they taxi with the nose pointing skywards the whole time. That would scare the cr@p out of me. I think I saw some footage somewhere of a taildragger at an airshow plowing into a parked helicopter because he couldn't see where he was going .

wow, i wanna see some images of that setup next time!

Yes it's a beast. I'll get a shot of it and post later on.

the only thing I reckon taht would improve #2 would be getting the perspective angle of the aircraft at the 3/4 position, either front or back, this I finds gives more please lines for aircraft, obviously all easy to say in hindsight:)

Yes I had given this some thought. You are right in that a 3/4 angle would have made the Tigermoth more distinctive, though it wasn't quite what I was going for with this particular shot. Perhaps I could have attempted a second shot for comparison but getting the grass, Tigermoth and camera lined up perfectly whilst banking the helicopter hard over was a small miracle in itself .

[Ant]

Lovely suite of images. In the first one I would like to see the pilot and passenger looking forward or down, looks a little unnatural to me looking across at the helicopter.

Ant.

[agriffiths]

Here it is. Honestly, who needs dumbells and a gym membership when you get to work with this?

[tasadam]

I can see why that image got POTW, well done!

[agriffiths]

Lovely suite of images. In the first one I would like to see the pilot and passenger looking forward or down, looks a little unnatural to me looking across at the helicopter.

Ant.

Thanks Ant. Yes in fact I did take one or two of those in the brief seconds leading up to this but wasn't happy with the background. I'll post it later. Funny thing is you'd hard pressed to find any pilot crazy enough to not be watching the aircraft they're flying close formation with. I for one was quite happy for him to be watching us as it only takes a split second for things to go pear shaped when flying manouvers like this. Also the passenger was fixated on us the whole time. It's not every day you pay for a joy ride and get to fly close formation with a helicopter. It was his lucky day and it's clear by the look on his face that he was well aware of that too .

I can see why that image got POTW, well done!

Thanks tasadam .

[Ant]

Funny thing is you'd hard pressed to find any pilot crazy enough to not be watching the aircraft they're flying close formation with.

Yeah, I know I used to feel pretty wrecked after an hours formation, felt like four hours flying and one hell of a crick in my neck! We used to fly with a safety pilot (quite often GFPT or similar) to look at the rest of the sky, check guages etc. I still remember the look on one friends face when I decided to get really close one day!

Ant.

[agriffiths]

Ha, I think I know that look. Priceless!

[biggerry]

Here it is. Honestly, who needs dumbells and a gym membership when you get to work with this?

interesting setup, I am assuming you were in the hughes or the robbo, how did you mount it to the airframe? I assume the gyro is giving you one axis of stabilisation?

[agriffiths]

I was in an R44 with doors off and the camera was handheld (not attached to the airframe).

The gyro contains two gyroscopic wheels spinning at high velocity on opposing axis. The unit effectively opposes movements in both yaw and pitch when mounted parallel to the camera lens. I like to attach it to the lens tripod mount as this provides the most effecctive stabilization in heavy setups.

For video work I'd have at least two of these mounted at right angles to eachother. Either that or use a Cineflex, but then budget's rarely allow for that kind of luxury.

[biggerry]

Thanks for the update Ant, did you have it mounted to the tripod in this case, or just handheld?

If you don't mind, I will have to look you up one day when I am down your way for work, I am interested in your setup and ops.

[agriffiths]

This shot was taken handheld with the gyro attached as shown. I prefer this for still shots since the arms and body act as a perfect shock absorber for those pesky high frequency vibrations coming from the airframe.

Are you down this way very often? Feel free to drop in anytime .

[biggerry]

pesky high frequency vibrations coming from the airframe

more so with the things you get into - helicopters..bah..

I have done alittle bit of personal photograhy out the open window on a cessna 172 - but am keen to do more should the opportunity arise...

Are you down this way very often? Feel free to drop in anytime

yeah I do head down there every now and then, mostly I am not allowed out the airport but could make an exception

[Alpha_7]

Awesome photos, the timing and scale in the second makes it the standout for me!

[agriffiths]

Thanks Alpha_7 .

[agriffiths]

This one's for my pilot in case he's watching... taking time out somewhere along the SA coast.

[natskis]

Something really awesome about picture 2.

From the newbie perspective:
Composition of the plane being framed by the circle is fantastic.

Good framing pushes the tail right into the Bottom Left Thrid Axis of the picture. And the entire circle hits all thirds as well.

This draws my eye around and back into the plane again.
It just keeps my eye in the frame and makes me notice more and more details of the picture as well.
The eyes just don't want to leave this picture.

Great image!

[agriffiths]

It just keeps my eye in the frame and makes me notice more and more details of the picture as well.
The eyes just don't want to leave this picture.

Thanks Natskis. It's interesting how that works. I've stopped looking at the plane in the high res version and now I just look at all the goodies hidden in the field below. It's like "Where's Wally" .

[agriffiths]

The publications section of Air Services Australia just contacted me to let me know the Tigermoth image made it to the cover of the ERSA. I'll have to head out and pick up a new copy .

[aim54x]

The publications section of Air Services Australia just contacted me to let me know the Tigermoth image made it to the cover of the ERSA. I'll have to head out and pick up a new copy .

congrats!

[Ant]

The publications section of Air Services Australia just contacted me to let me know the Tigermoth image made it to the cover of the ERSA. I'll have to head out and pick up a new copy .

Well, thats one pilot with an up-to-date ERSA

[Glen]

The publications section of Air Services Australia just contacted me to let me know the Tigermoth image made it to the cover of the ERSA. I'll have to head out and pick up a new copy .

Congratulations! Your website also has some impressive images as well, looks great

[agriffiths]

Thanks Glen, it's a work in progress and I should probably update it with some new images. Just need some spare time!

[biggerry]

Tigermoth image made it to the cover of the ERSA

awesome stuff, at least when your cursing and trying to find that backwater strip you will at the very least be able to pause on the front page and go 'aahhh.. thats a nice shot', again, well done!

[agriffiths]

 LOL, right on!