Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

CaptainTom · **Denton Air Fair and Waxahachie Balloon Festival -** 06-20-2009, 09:47 PM

I got up this morning at 4:30 and left for Waxahachie to get there in time for the mass balloon launch at 6:30. I'm not new to balloons and I had good feelings when I left my house because the sky was clear and the wind was calm.
When I got to Midway Regional Airport however, the ceiling had dropped to 1500 and the surface winds were 10-15 and the winds aloft were at least 25-30.
No launch this morning !!
I got one picture of the sunrise to prove I had actually been there.

Drove home and took a nap. Got up and left for the Denton Municipal Airport
and the Denton Air Fair. Got there about noon for the 1pm show start.
It was HOT with a double TT. Ate some great barbecue wings. I was impressed with the organization of this " small town " airshow. The static displays were very nice, and the show line access was superb. Wish I had brought a chair.
They even had buses to shuttle people to and from the remote parking lot which was completely free. Admission was only $5.

Got some shots of most of the acts, but by the time the F18 got aloft I was so HOTTT that I didn't care. I'd wanted to get the classic vapor compression shot, but there wasn't enough moisture in the air to get a really good one.
I couldn't shoot straight by then anyway.

Here they are. C&C always taken with a grain of salt, which is just the way I think it should be.

J Eddington · 06-20-2009, 10:12 PM

Dang Tom! you went out in this heat?! That is one way to lose weight! It sure looks like it was worth it.

mmuhlenkamp · 06-20-2009, 10:20 PM

Damnit! Now I hate myself even more for missing the Denton Air Show, it's like a 10 minute drive for me!

Nice shots cap'n.

snydersnapshots · 06-20-2009, 10:55 PM

Nice shots Tom! I especially like the first and last. The shot of the P-40 is excellent. And the picture of the flight line takes me back to my days in high school as a lineboy, showing up at the airport before everyone else, unlocking airplanes and getting the obligatory pot of coffee on before the flight instructors and customrers showed up (that's also where I learned to vacuum and clean toilets, but don't tell my wife

). Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

CaptainTom · 06-21-2009, 08:08 AM

Thanks
Did I mention how HOTT it was ?

David_3 · 06-21-2009, 08:40 AM

Great stuff, Tom!

siks · 06-21-2009, 09:48 AM

Great shots Tom. I especially liked the second and last shots. Too bad they scrapped the hot air balloon flight.

hawgmauler · 06-21-2009, 04:37 PM

As the Captain mentioned, it was HOT at the Denton air show!! I didn't get there until nearly 1:45. So, I missed a lot of the show. And, after being there for a few minutes, I was glad i was late. I got burned enough in the short time I was there. I had a great time though! Can't wait for the Ft Worth air show. It should be cooler in October.

I love your photos Tom. I wish mine had turned out half as good. The second photo is awesome! And, the shot of the P-40 is great as well!

I hope you don't mind, but I'll add a couple of my photos to this thread as well. There is a few more on my flickr page, the photos are linked to the flickr photostream.

ChristopherCoy · 06-21-2009, 04:42 PM

I think that Coast Guard helicopter landed at our air base in Intercoastal City one time. they were searching for a boy who had fell out of a shrimp boat, and they needed fuel. Its called a Dolphin or something or nother...

I really like the last one Tom!

ttusa · 06-21-2009, 04:43 PM

That's some very cool shots, Tom! Worth all the heat!

CaptainTom · 06-21-2009, 04:54 PM

Scott. No problem, add all the photos you want.
I like the T6 on the taxiway. Great perspective.
Are you shooting in an auto mode, or manual ? I shoot all aircraft photos in manual and usually abide by the "sunny 16 rule", give or take a bit.

hawgmauler · 06-21-2009, 05:01 PM

Capt, I'm a point and shoot kid. I tried to shoot a couple in manual, but everything is just too slow with my camera trying to change shutter speed and aperture. I wanted to attempt shoot with a slower shutter and maybe get some motion blur, but nothing was working out for me. So, I just put it on Auto and attempted to just get stuff in frame. :) That plan didn't always work out either.

I had lens envy everytime I turned around. I need to upgrade to a DSLR soon!