Incoming Japanese Zero
Here is my favorite Zero shot from Wings Over Houston airshow on Friday. Taken from along Hwy 3 near the end of the runway. I like the straight-on perspective, the tilted wings and that you can see the pilot. It was a cloudy day but it works for this shot. This is the only authentic Zero at the show. The rest are mock-up’s from the movie Tora Tora Tora. The 500mm lens makes a great airshow lens when you aren’t too close to the action.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, hand-held
Shutter priority, 1/320 @ F16, ISO 400, +1 exposure compensation
1/1000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, 
Blue Angels Turn and Burn at Wings Over Houston
The Blue Angles put on another great show at the Wings Over Houston airshow this year. Spent the afternoon on Friday along Hwy 3 near the end of the runway. Hand held my 500mm lens for about 3 hours, which was a good work out. The biggest challenge was keeping it steady with the high winds. I like the different angles that you can get from this location. Spent Saturday along the flight line near show center but just got the typical airshow shots. Here are some of my favorite Blue Angels shots from Friday. Most of these are full frame with very little cropping. It was time to turn and burn…
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens, handheld
Shutter priority, 1/320 sec @ F14, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Aperture priority, 1/2000 sec @ F4.5, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering
Aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering
Fish Scared Out of the Water
This Willet appears to be proud of himself with scaring 2 fish out of the water as he is contemplating which one to catch. Had a little golden light action going on at sunrise. More good times from Bolivar Flats in Texas.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
Pelican
Sometimes you get the shots where you can. This Pelican photo was while sitting in my car on the Bolivar Ferry. I was too tired and covered with sand from my trip to Bolivar to get out of the car. Treated this shot like a bird in flight shot by using positive exposure compensation due to the bright sky causing the camera to darken the scene.
Can’t tell if he is laughing at me or ready to eat me…
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter, hand-held
aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F8, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation.
Full Frame Wood Storks
Here are some more Wood Stork Photos from Brazoria NWR. These are full frame shots without any cropping. Having 700mm to work with instead of my old 100-400 has been very sweet. These very large birds go through a lot of trouble for such a little meal, as seen in the last photo.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens, with 1.4x III teleconverter hand-held out the car window.
Aperture priority, 1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering
Aperture priority, 1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering
Aperture priority, 1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 250, spot metering
Aperture priority, 1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 250, spot metering
Marbled Godwit
This Marbled Godwit had just stuck his beak into the sand and started walking away when I got this shot. He was spitting out the sand and it formed small droplets off of his beak. Close to a full frame shot taken while laying down with my ground pod on a sand bar.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, 1.4x III teleconverter, skimmer ground pod, Wimberley II gimbal head
1/800 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
All Puffed Up
This little shorebird got all puffed up when she realized that there was paparazzi nearby. Show-off. Had a great time at Bolivar Flats on Friday. No one was around and there were a few exposed sandbars to lay on with the tide going out. Felt right at home and in the groove with the new lens, which isn’t so new at this point. After 2 months, it’s got several thousand pictures under its belt. Just getting it broken in by now.
I’m loving the Lenscoat Raincoat, which works great at the beach for keeping sand and salt water off of the lens. http://www.lenscoat.com/lenscoat®-raincoat-p-1506.html
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Wings Over Houston Article in Texas Explorer Magazine
My latest article in Texas Explorer Magazine is about Wings Over Houston airshow, which is coming up the last weekend in October. The article will give you some tips on the logistics of going to the airshow and taking photos of the planes. They are just like big birds that are easier to track than a red winged blackbird. If you use birds in flight photography techniques, you will get some great shots. Below is the link to the article.
Wood Storks from Brazoria NWR
The Wood Storks were out in force on this trip to Brazoria NWR. There were about 15 of them hanging out when I got there and another 10 showed up later. Some stayed in the back of the pond and others would walk around feeding and got very close. It was fun to watch and shoot. Got some full frame shots at 700mm with my 1.4x that I’ll post later. I’ve seen Wood Storks at a distance before but never this close up. Was a very good time. Went back again for the next two weekends and never saw them in numbers like this or as close up.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter out the car window.
1/2500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering
1/2000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, spot metering
1/2500 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, spot metering
Tim Timmis Photography 