1/1600 sec., f5.0, ISO 640, D300 with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens at 90mm.

Here’s a shot I had some fun with.  It’s a fully restored WWII B-17 Bomber flying over Crystal Beach Condominiums.  It’s the “Sentimental Journey” and was in town for show and tell for a few days.

My first thought was to get a ride on it, and get a shot looking out the bombardier’s nose cone at McCall.  Then I thought that’s kind of a standard shot.  And, a shot of the belly as it fly’s over is pretty common also.  So I decided to charter a small plane and get an overhead shot.  (Besides, to ride in the 17 would cost $450.)

This turned out to be a hoot.  We took some seats out of a Cessna, and removed a window brace.  After take-off, I crawled around inside the cramped quarters (once falling against the steering wheel putting us into a dive) and opened the window.  With the window wide opened it gets quite noisy, and when I stuck my lens out the window a bit the 120 plus mph wind tried to suck my camera away.  It was kind of crazy with the sharp turns, wind, noise and nothing but a camera to hold onto.  Then to add to everything, the B-17 pilot did not want to work with us due to liability issues.  So we had to fly on our own, legally distanced away from the B-17, and try and get a good position.

I got several shots I liked, although none mached my vision, but this one seemed to be a favorite.