Don Hill
July 2025 - "Connie"
About the Image(s)
I am a huge aviation fan. I love air shows. There are certain planes that always bring excitement and at a recent air show in Sacramento, I saw one of my favorite airplanes of all time. In 1943, Lockheed flew its first Constellation, or “Connie” as it was referred to. I wanted to show its unique curved body. Later that day, the Connie flew around the field and my day was complete. The Connie flew commercially until 1968 and according to my mom, I flew on one in the late 50’s.
Shot with my Nikon Mirrorless ISO 100, F/11 at 1/125 sec with a 19mm lens.
7 comments posted
Hi Don, glad you were able to see your favorite plane in person! I like the reflections on the shiny silver side and the bystanders which shows size comparison. Unfortunately the tip of the wing on the left side of the image was cut off, so this may not do well in competition. However, if you cropped more on the left to make it look intentional rather than an accident, it would do better in competition. I think you'd have to crop to between the 2 propellers so that nothing appears cut off. Or crop to just left of the silver part of the far left propeller so that the propeller blade isn't cut off near the tip. Posted: 07/10/2025 16:00:58
Hey Janice, thank you for your comments. I agree with your, cropping on the left comment. It seems you are really into competitions and that is cool. I am just looking for a shot that I like, and I do too much editing to probably be entering into a competition. I guess I am not a rules guy, but I did appreciate your comment. I sometimes can not see the forest for the trees. There was a photographer in the foreground holding about three large cameras and I did not want to wait for him to move so I just beamed him out. So look at what I did and let me know if that helps.
Posted: 07/12/2025 13:40:14
Posted: 07/12/2025 13:40:14
Hi Don, you have the complete propeller! That's good! I recommend cropping to the left of the propeller so it's not cut off right at the tip, and to the right of the wing edge so that's also not cut off right at the tip. I like your phrase, "beamed him out"! Hahaha! I only know competition rules for my camera club, and all of your edits would be acceptable to them. But from what I'm hearing from our DD40 group, it sounds like my camera club is pretty lenient. Posted: 07/12/2025 15:47:31
Hi Don,
I'm glad you had a great day with the plane that you so obviously have a connection with. It's very interesting to see a plane with such a bright finish. I do like your re work of the image, but think it looks off balance. Consider cropping from the left to leave as much room between the edge of the shot and the first tip of the propeller as there is from the right edge to the plane. Posted: 07/17/2025 07:04:24
I'm glad you had a great day with the plane that you so obviously have a connection with. It's very interesting to see a plane with such a bright finish. I do like your re work of the image, but think it looks off balance. Consider cropping from the left to leave as much room between the edge of the shot and the first tip of the propeller as there is from the right edge to the plane. Posted: 07/17/2025 07:04:24
Hi Don. That is a hard one to capture with the shiny surface and bright light - you did a great job. I love the reflection on the plane. I might try to lighten the shadows underneath to accentuate those yellow lines leading in. It is a pretty capture of your favorite plane. Posted: 07/17/2025 12:20:23
Nice picture. I think better if it had been taken a few steps to the left to include more of the (pilot's view) right hand engine and propellor. I like version 2 better. Also agree about slightly lightening the shadows underneath. Posted: 07/22/2025 16:10:14
Well Don, I think you have paid a masterful tribute to a magnificent plane and to your love of aviation. Let's see if I can capture all the elements blending to make this a monumental image.
Your placement of where you took the picture with two lines leading to the Connie set the stage. The strong sun, shadows, and chrome reflections all highlight the plane. The clouds fill the sky with interest. The observers scattered about the plane and runway add context. The use of a 19mm lens positioned to fill the picture frame is classic. Great work!
The comments of the others are useful but I think your capture is perfect.
Posted: 07/22/2025 21:11:11
Your placement of where you took the picture with two lines leading to the Connie set the stage. The strong sun, shadows, and chrome reflections all highlight the plane. The clouds fill the sky with interest. The observers scattered about the plane and runway add context. The use of a 19mm lens positioned to fill the picture frame is classic. Great work!
The comments of the others are useful but I think your capture is perfect.
Posted: 07/22/2025 21:11:11