2022 Wings Over Houston Airshow
Late October is always one of my favorite times with the Wings Over Houston airshow. I’ve been going since 2005 and just love it. Was lined up to go to the drive-in show with some friends but it got rained out. Had already bought tickets for the weekend so went on Saturday. It ended up being a cloudy day with limited ceiling so the planes couldn’t fly their normal routines. Didn’t feel like going again on Sunday, which was a mistake as it had some sunshine. There is always next year.
I’ll post some of the Blue Angels photos later. All of these shots were taken with my Canon R3 and 100-500 lens, handheld.
F-16 demo team put on a great show. The female pilot rocked it.
F-15 from Louisiana lit up the sky with a short routine
Aero L-39 Albatros
Published Again in PetaPixel.com
PetaPixel.com published my airshow photo along with my words about why I liked this photo. It’s toward the end of this article. Thanks again PetaPixel!
https://petapixel.com/2021/08/22/great-reads-in-photography-august-22-2021/
Memorial Day Tribute
In honor of Veterans giving the ultimate sacrifice on this Memorial Day, F-18 nearing the speed of sound at 2007 Wings Over Houston airshow. It was fun to go back in time and reprocess this photo using some gained skill and software since then. Went with B&W to better show off the vapor cloud.
Canon 30D and 100-400 lens @ 100mm
Veterans Day Salute
This post is dedicated to all veterans past and present. Thank you for your sacrifices.
These are photos of the Blue Angels from 2018 Wings Over Houston airshow on Sunday Oct 21.
Taken with Canon 1DX with Canon 100-400 II lens, handheld
1/1600 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/3200 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority, converted to B&W using NIK Silver Effects Pro
1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
F18 Vapor at Wings Over Houston 2017
Made it to Wings Over Houston special show again this year and took photos from outside the gates with my 100-400 lens. Got in a good spot across the road from the runway and got the F-18 coming in for a high-speed pass almost right over me (first two photos). He came back for another pass and banked left and caught some great vapor on his wings. Lots of fun trying to track him when he was flying around 600 mph.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 100-400 II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld
1/3200 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 1/3 exposure compensation
1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 1/3 exposure compensation
1/4000 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 1/3 exposure compensation
F-35 Stealth Fighter Over the Moon
It was a very busy weekend with my trigger finger needing some well deserved rest. Between two days at Wings Over Houston air show and going to Bolivar Flats for the first time in several months, ended up taking over 11,000 photos over the last three days.
Friday started out with Doug, David and I taking photos of the abbreviated special show for Wings Over Houston. The Blue Angels were back in Houston to show off their precision flying skills. A first for Houston was the new F-35 Lightening stealth fighter, which was on static display and participated in the heritage flight with a P-47 Thunderbolt and a F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The moon was still out on Friday morning, which made for a cool back drop for this photo of the F-35 and the P-47. Converted it to B&W to help bring out the detail in the moon. When the F-35 took off, it looked like a F-22 Raptor from a distance. Can’t wait to see it perform during an airshow.
Went inside the gates on Saturday to get some close-up shots of the F-35 and the usual array of aircraft on static display and when they performed. More air show posts to come as there were too many photos to go through after a most excellent weekend of photography.
I’ll also be posting some shorebird photos from Bolivar with the action being off of the charts. It’s prime time for Bolivar and I’ll be a frequent visitor there this fall/winter.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II, handheld at 500mm
1/2000 sec @ F 6.3, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Shoot the Moon
On the last day of the Wings Over Houston airshow, hung out with Doug on the north end of the runway. Thanks Doug. Got some good close-up photos that I’ll post later. The moon was out and we tried to get photos of the planes flying near the moon. Didn’t realize that I had captured this photo until I got home. It’s a WWII Grumman Avenger torpedo bomber.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, handheld
Shutter priority, 1/250 sec @ F22, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Wings Over Houston in B&W
During the Wings Over Houston airshow, they have a Tora Tora Tora portion that simulates the attack on Pearl Harbor. I arrive at the show when it opens to get a seat along the fence line so that I can have an unobstructed view of the action. They blow up bags of gasoline to simulate the bombs, which can make for some cool photos.
My goal during this part of the airshow is to capture the action with more than just the planes flying by. I’ve got tons of plane photos but like to get some of the smoke in the shot and other planes in the background to enhance the interest/story in the photos. Use shutter priority to blur the propellers with 1/320 for the Zero’s and 1/250 sec for the rest of the planes.
Here are some of my favorites from last Saturday, converter to B&W with NIK Silver Efex Pro 2. Gave me the opportunity to break out my new 100-400 II lens and it worked very well.
All were taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 100-400 II lens, hand-held.
Shutter Priority, 1/320 sec @ F22, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Shutter Priority, 1/250 sec @ F11, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Shutter Priority, 1/320 sec @ F25, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Shutter Priority, 1/250 sec @ F25, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Wings Over Houston 2015 Airshow – Friday’s Practice
Friday at Wings Over Houston is a two-hour show for special needs kids and the opportunity for the pilots to practice for the main shows on Sat/Sun. It’s not open to the general public so I found a spot along Hwy 3 at the end of the runway to get some close-up photos.
This was the first time in a few years that the F-18 was back at WOH and it’s always my goal to get a photo of the vapor cloud when they approach the speed of sound, around 600 mph. A cold front coming through this weekend reduced the humidity in the air so Friday was going to be the best chance to get that shot. Caught him starting to form the vapor cloud as he flew over me and it fully formed as he got over the runway. A head-on shot would have been better but I’ll take it.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter, hand-held
Aperture priority, 1/3200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
They have one original Japanese Zero flying at the show, with the rest being replicas from the movie Tora Tora Tora. Being at the end of the runway allows for this shot as he banks around back toward the field. Converted this one to B&W as the colors were muted anyway. Used shutter priority to slow down the shutter speed to get the prop to blur. The Zero prop’s spin faster than the P51 Mustangs so I usually use 1/320 for the Zero’s and 1/250 for the rest of the prop planes.
Shutter priority, 1/320 sec @ F14, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Only 3 of the Thunderbirds flew at the show around noon, which was a surprise. Minimal cropping on the first two shots with none on the last one.
Aperture priority, 1/6400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
Aperture priority, 1/6400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Aperture priority, 1/3200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Memorial Day Tribute
In tribute to all that have served, here are some Blue Angels photos from the 2014 Wings Over Houston airshow. The moon was out which made for a cool background.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 100-400 lens, handheld
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/2000 sec @ F7.1, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/3200 sec @ F7.1, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Flags of our Fathers
Flags can make some interesting photo op’s at airshows. This year at Wings Over Houston, this B17 Flying Fortress attracted my eye with the Texas and US flags waving in the wind as the sun was coming up. In the first photo, the US flag is directly behind the turret, along with the sun. In the second shot, the US flag is reflecting in the turret.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 100-400mm lens, handheld
1/320 sec @ F14, ISO 100, evaluative metering
1/2000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering
Blue Angels at Wings Over Houston
Spent two full days last weekend taking photos at the Wings Over Houston airshow. It was great weather, which brought out record crowds as they sold out the show on Sunday. Got to hang out with Christine and her father on Saturday, who is a former A4 pilot. The Blue Angels were awesome as always. With bright blue sky’s, blue jets and harsh sunlight, decided to try B&W for something different, which helped to bring out the details in the smoke trails with the higher contrast. Took lots of photos so more to come.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 100-400 lens, handheld
1/1250sec @ F10, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/1000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Jet Car
Got a front row seat along the fence for Wings Over Houston on Sat. Got up close and personal with the Air National Guard jet car. A little loud but an interesting photo op.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens
More from Wings Over Houston
A couple more batches of airshow photos and I’ll be back to birds, I promise. These shots were taken from the south side of the airfield along hwy 3 on Sunday. It’s always great to see the F22 Raptor. Needless to say, I took a few photos over the 3 days.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II
Where there is Fire, there is Smoke..
I always get excited when the gas bombs start going off during the Tora Tora Tora portion of the Wings Over Houston airshow. Where there is fire, there is smoke, which leads to some interesting photo op’s. Tracked this Zero as he was heading through the smoke and was barely visible. When adjusting the color using curves in Photoshop, tried setting the black point even though nothing was showing black. It darkened the scene dramatically and led to this photo.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens, hand-held
Shutter priority, 1/320 sec @ F18, ISO 200, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
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
Tim Timmis Photography 
