These photos were taken during the Milwaukee Air and Water Show on Saturday-Sunday, July 22-23, 2023. The US Navy Blue Angels put on their show over Lake Michigan just out from the city of Milwaukee’s Lakefront Parks. Some friends have a condo on the bluff above the Lake, and their terrace is a great place to observe and photograph the show.
The main photo, ⬓Lead Angels 126,⬠was taken on Saturday, when we had a cloudy, gray sky. And Originals 1, 2, and 3 were taken on Sunday with a hazy blue and then clear blue sky. When I cropped the images, I rotated each image slightly to make each image more diagonal.
Which of the three images (main image, and Originals 1 and 2) do you like best?
For Original 3, there is nice detail, especially the detail on the pilot. But do you think it looks a bit artificial (no smoke, no clouds), or is it strong enough for acceptance in international exhibitions?
My camera is a Canon 7D Mark II, and the lens is the EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II zoom lens at 400mm. The settings for all images were f:8.0, ISO 400, at about 1/3200 sec.
This round’s discussion is now closed! 8 comments posted
Dr Isaac Vaisman
Gerald, I like the main image the best since there is complete separation between the aircrafts, the amoke is not blocking any of them, it is sharp. In ACR masking brushes I selected the sky and moved the WB slider to the left. That gave the blue sky.
Great shot !! Posted: 09/02/2023 11:36:49
Don James
I do like the blue sky a touch better - more contrast between the different elements in the picture. Regardless, great shot! Posted: 09/18/2023 22:03:43
Bruce Benson
Gerry, I agree with Isaac that the main image is the best, even with the grey sky. As Isaac noted, there is complete separation showing all of the planes clearly. For me original is a close second . I have photographed the Blue Angels here in Washington state on a bright sunny day so know how difficult they are to shoot. I like how Isaac changed to sky from grey to blue, if that is withing the rules of the division you would enter. Bruce Posted: 09/02/2023 12:07:02
Gerald Emmerich Jr
It is not permitted to change the sky in PJ, but I could change it in PIDC. Do you have an opinion on the acceptance possibilities for Original 3? Posted: 09/03/2023 00:13:26
Dr Isaac Vaisman
Probably not Posted: 09/04/2023 13:27:56
Hans-Werner Griepentrog
Hi Gerald, I like your original the best. Here the blue of the sky is very subtle and not as intense as in Isaac's processing. Deep blue sky and the dark blue Angels don't go so well together in my opinion. The white contrails of the Angels come out well in the original. I would recommend you to submit the original in the PJ section. For the original 3, I don't see a good chance of adoption in PJ.
Posted: 09/04/2023 03:07:19
Ronald Davis
Hi Gerald. Yes I like the main image also but have nothing against original for the same reasons others have mentioned. Good contrasting colours of the yellow writing against the mid blue sky and darker blue planes. Posted: 09/12/2023 18:57:46
Kerry McFarlane
Gerald, I like your original best, its sharp and shows movement and intrigue. Sorry Im not a fan of shot 3. Posted: 09/13/2023 00:55:25
