RIAT 2016

[jmorgan]

Yertis said:

Can I ask you photography guys – is the photography central to your enjoyment of the airshow, or would you also go just to watch the planes?

Strictly amateur. I spent a lot of time watching as well. But I see what you are getting at. Last year we had the seats in the viewing village and stayed all day and if one lens suddenly moved to the left and looked intent on something, a sea of other lenses would often track it to see what it was missing. I tried it once and it happened, it was like a Mexican wave.

However. I like both and can get a good mix of both. Then there is the post processing. Again, interested in seeing what I have. So it is a combined enjoyment. Nothing I have is going to beat the other here. But that also gives me something to aspire to.




Already been sniffing around MPB for a good better zoom or prime.......

[Yertis]

Thanks chaps. Are there any special facilities or provisions, other than those already provided, which an airshow could provide which would enhance your enjoyment as photographers? Other than some measure of control over the weather

[jmorgan]

Very tall ladders for us with little lenses.

[24lemons]

I tend to feel that the crowd is getting squeezed into ever smaller sections meaning that unless you are able to get in at the crack of dawn, you end up sitting one or two rows back which makes it very difficult to get a clear view/shot of the planes on the runway.

As I recall, you used to have almost the entire length of the runway to spread out and it never was a problem getting an un-obscured view whenever you happened to arrive. It would be nice to either offer larger spectator areas or perhaps the option to buy tickets to a photographers enclosure with tiered stands for example.

[Kermit power]

Yertis said:

Can I ask you photography guys – is the photography central to your enjoyment of the airshow, or would you also go just to watch the planes?

I enjoy the challenge of getting clear, sharp shots of the aircraft in flight, which is why the photo I posted of the Red Arrows' tails all lined up was pretty much the only photo I took of aircraft on the ground.

When they're in flight, I'll tend to pretty much track the individual aircraft through the lens the whole time. This is partly because I want to capture any decent shots I can get, but also partly because the magnification is enough to provide a better view without being so close that I'm missing stuff. The vast majority of the shots I've posted have been cropped down quite significantly.

With the display teams, however, I do watch far more of the show without the camera, as for all that it's nice to get those really satisfying, close up shots of the Reds, I don't want to miss the overall impression of the display, and my lens won't zoom out far enough to let me do both!

Having said that, this time, I went with my kids' Scout group, so didn't have to spend the whole time with them getting bored of me taking photos, so spent more time taking photos than I would otherwise have gotten away with!

[NJK44]

Yertis said:

Thanks chaps. Are there any special facilities or provisions, other than those already provided, which an airshow could provide which would enhance your enjoyment as photographers? Other than some measure of control over the weather

Chairs on the runway.

[Yertis]

24lemons said:

I tend to feel that the crowd is getting squeezed into ever smaller sections meaning that unless you are able to get in at the crack of dawn, you end up sitting one or two rows back which makes it very difficult to get a clear view/shot of the planes on the runway. As I recall, you used to have almost the entire length of the runway to spread out and it never was a problem getting an un-obscured view whenever you happened to arrive.

Is this because of the various chalets and enclosures?

24lemons said:

It would be nice to either offer larger spectator areas or perhaps the option to buy tickets to a photographers enclosure with tiered stands for example.

Don't RIAT have a grandstand and/or the FRIAT facility offering this kind of thing?

[jmorgan]

Last year we did the Saturday as a walk around and found a spot on the grass quite easily after visiting a few things, planted myself for the start of the Vulcan and stayed to the end. The Sunday, we did the viewing village and worth it I think. We spent the day sat there but got in early to get a top seat.

However, this year we only did the Saturday and tried to find a spot by the red entrance, incredibly busy. It was hard to work up past the various stands and find a good view after 10am, it was rammed I thought.

If we do this again next year, I am going for the viewing village again.

[24lemons]

Yertis said:

24lemons said:

I tend to feel that the crowd is getting squeezed into ever smaller sections meaning that unless you are able to get in at the crack of dawn, you end up sitting one or two rows back which makes it very difficult to get a clear view/shot of the planes on the runway. As I recall, you used to have almost the entire length of the runway to spread out and it never was a problem getting an un-obscured view whenever you happened to arrive.

Is this because of the various chalets and enclosures?

24lemons said:

It would be nice to either offer larger spectator areas or perhaps the option to buy tickets to a photographers enclosure with tiered stands for example.

Don't RIAT have a grandstand and/or the FRIAT facility offering this kind of thing?

I get the feeling that the hospitality tents are getting greater in number (and size) and this year they were occupying a good percentage of the crowd line. There always used to be the main stand in the middle but the general spectators could choose anywhere along the rest of the length of the runway to view from.

The issue with photographers is exacerbated by the fact that more people are crammed into less space. It never used to be an issue before the spectator areas were shrunk.

It would be interesting to compare a site map from today against one from 10-20 years ago to see if things have really changed that much.

[Kermit power]

All my photos in this thread with the exception of the one of the Red Arrows' tails were taken from behind the FRIAT enclosure. I wasn't fussed about getting shots of aircraft on the runway, and the people in the enclosure generally stayed sitting down during the displays, so no problems with visibility.

From memory, though, had I wanted to get closer, I'm pretty sure the general crowd could also go along the front of the FRIAT enclosure as well? I assume this wasn't the case with other hospitality tents?

[jmorgan]

Last year, Viewing Village, goes all the way to the crowd line front with the garden chairs, you had the choice of stand or at the front. The stand further down is the FRIAT. Not much room there, then there were the other stands.

[ukaskew]

Yep actual 'general admission' crowd line is very restricted compared to years ago. Green Zone (where I was) is fairly open still but presumably only because it's at the far end of the runway to where planes usually take off and land, so less likely to be of use as an area for enclosures.

The front crowd line was pretty much full by 8am on Sunday.

I find RIAT mirrors Goodwood FoS in many respects, general admission folk are gradually getting squeezed by those willing and able to pay more for extras. Much like I have with FoS I'll probably move to attending on Friday at RIAT in future.

[Condi]

NJK44 said:

Condi said:

Something most people missed was this very yummy woman sorting out her aircraft before getting in and performing an awesome display. Looked fantastic in her flying suit and long hair in front of the Extra.

http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/aircraft/aircraft...

And the creepiest comment of the thread goes to..

But in all seriousness, that display wasn't fit for RIAT.

It was great, but not at RIAT.

Eh? How is that 'creepy'?? Or are the nerds who go to airshows somehow offended by a man commenting on a pretty lady? Get over yourself ffs.


Also, the Sunday program was moved around to accommodate the low cloud at the start of the day, so yes, they can rearrange stuff. I thought it was a nice change from seeing military jets fly around, once you've seen 10 passes, roar of engines, peel away - its quite nice to get something different for 5 minuets.

[Kermit power]

Condi said:

Eh? How is that 'creepy'?? Or are the nerds who go to airshows somehow offended by a man commenting on a pretty lady? Get over yourself ffs.

I don't think anyone was actually offended. I must admit, though, that it did create a rather unwelcome mental image of you reluctantly lifting a hand to type it before going back to the two-handed rhythmic thigh rub whilst you admired the pretty lady!

[NJK44]

Condi said:

Eh? How is that 'creepy'?? Or are the nerds who go to airshows somehow offended by a man commenting on a pretty lady? Get over yourself ffs.

Tongue in cheek mate..

[NJK44]

Here's some more

RIAT 2016

RIAT 2016 by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

RIAT 2016 by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

RIAT 2016 by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

RIAT 2016 by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

RIAT 2016 by N-K-Photography, on Flickr

[saaby93]

These photos on Flickr or whatever
If you want to use smaller versions to give a flavour of the day is it enough to give credit link to the author underneath or is there some other arrangement?
Obviously if you wanted you could just copy them anyway