Harrier GR.9s - Low Level - Wales - 25 Sep 07

[TEEEJ]

A cracking sight to see two Harrier GR.9s heading for Cad Pass on the 25 Sep 07. I decided to stay low on the hill for some head on and cockpit shots of anything that came through. It was a hard job keeping sight of the Harriers down in the weeds. I lost the nose on one of them, but quite like the effect. I fluffed the shot before this which had the nose intact! I only managed to get a quick snap at the number 2!

Lead Harrier GR.9 was ZD409 with no markings and the other GR.9 was ZD330 with 801 NAS markings. I believe that both airframes are part of the Naval Strike Wing - although you can never tell even with full markings! If anyone knows, or was the pilot of ZD409, then I would gladly send him high res copies.

ZD409 & ZD330 - Cad West - 25 Sep 07

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0061HARRIERS.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0062HARRIERS.jpg

ZD409 - Cad West - 25 Sep 07

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0066HARRIER.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0068HARRIER.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0069HARRIER.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0070HARRIER.jpg

A few blow up variations on the cockpit shot of ZD409

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_006969ROTATED.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_006969CLOSEPIT.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_006969CLOSE.jpg

ZD330 - Cad West - 25 Sep 07

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h261/TOMMYJO/DSC_0074HARRIERWINGPIT.jpg

[nacluv]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - fantastic stuff. :D


Cheers for posting.

[PPRuNe Pop]

They are just brilliant. I betcha your PM's base is getting full.

The driver's will like those for sure.

Very well done.

PPP

[High_lander]

Cracking photos TEEEJ.

Not too bad indeed!

[Fokkerwokker]

Fanbleedin'tastic!!!!

Quintuple :ok:

FW

[gareth herts]

Absolutely brilliant pictures Tom - thanks for posting.

It never ceases to amaze that these (you) guys have the time to look anywhere other than where you're heading when down in the weeds. Great stuff.

[Regie Mental]

What is impressive is that his eyes are shut.

Feel the force Luke.....

[You Sir, Name!]

:= Harrier pilots don't blink.

[dagowly]

awesome pics Teej :D once you finally get Tornado pics, i'll be a happy man ;)

[BigBoeing]

they are f'in awesome!!! nice one

[Flik Roll]

Crackin' pics TeeeJ!

[TEEEJ]

Thanks for the comments! I'm a happy bunny now as the pilot of ZD409 has been in contact and I'll be able to provide him with high res copies. :)

[Flyingblind]

As others have said...well done that man! great photo's :)

Do you have a website?

[Geehovah]

Just incredible

:ok:

[cdt scopes]

as 1 of your biggest fans;) I would like to congratulate you on some more fantastic pics :D. P.S, what camera did you use to get that close up of the cockpit?, because its really well focussed.

[TEEEJ]

Thanks for the comments.

Do you have a website?

No. Sorry.

I've always thought that the low-level routes would be a good expedition/outing for recruits at the Defence School of Photography?Especially with inside information knowing what was scheduled to come through and at what location. A small group of recruits could cover all aspects of a fly through from high photographic vantage points to low.
The results could be quite spectacular?! Especially on a good day for vapour!

[Green Flash]

I do hope someone in RAFland has approached TEEEJ with either a) an offer of work and/or b) a ride in one of Aunty Bettys finest sky chariots. OK, so you've got to be in the right place and at the right time but Tom - you've got talent.:ok::ok::ok:

[TEEEJ]

as 1 of your biggest fans I would like to congratulate you on some more fantastic pics . P.S, what camera did you use to get that close up of the cockpit?, because its really well focussed.

Thanks very much. Too kind. I'm glad that you like them. I get a great buzz out of taking them, and also being witness to the great flying sights and sounds in spectacular scenery.

For those I used a Nikon D2X fitted with a Nikon Nikkor 300mm f/2.8. The lens is exceptionally quick to focus and has built in vibration reduction. You don't have to go to that expense to get good results though. My second camera is a Nikon D70 fitted with a Nikon Nikkor 100-400mm zoom.

All those images were shot on shutter priority at 1/1250th where the camera automatically selects the aperture. In all those cases I was lucky with the available light and it registered f/2.8.

After much trial and error I never drop below this speed for fast movers. For props and blades I set it at 1/320th. You can go a lot lower with shutter speeds, but you need perfect panning. The weight of my camera/lens is quite substantial and with only a limited number of fly by opportunities I would rather go for keeping the shutter speeds high.

I mount the lens and camera on an old tripod head with a homemade pistol type grip. The extension tube of the tripod mount runs underneath and horizontal to the lens with the pistol grip right at the end. When I say a pistol grip it is just a bolt covered with bubble wrap and duck tape at the moment! The idea came to me on one of those long days spent on the low-fly routes.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

TEEEJ,

That second lens, would it be the Nikon 80-400mm like the one the police heli crew here in Dorset carry to back-up the 18-200mm? I've been trying to persuade Domestic C-in-C/ Comptroller Fun&Finance that one of these would be a seriously useful addition to the household inventory (even I blanched when I saw the price of the 2.8/300...).

Fully concur with all the comments re the pictures - almost worth venturing into Taffeban territory if you can see this sort of thing. Good skills.

[TEEEJ]

Thud and Blunder,

Thanks. I would presume so in ref to the 100-400. I think you can get them with and without vibration reduction? The following I took when I was starting out in low-level. These were all taken with the D70 fitted with the 100-400. You can get acceptable results with even cheaper kit and good practice. Even a 200mm lens at Cad Pass from the positon where I was standing would suffice.

D70/100-400 results

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=285985

[Thud_and_Blunder]

TEEEJ, I remember enjoying seeing those when they first came out. Much appreciated.

[Downwind.Maddl-Land]

TJ, can I post these on another website where the FAF is getting the praise as the LL experts? I feel the need to remind the world of the truth! I'll ensure that you get the credits.

[TEEEJ]

TJ, can I post these on another website where the FAF is getting the praise as the LL experts? I feel the need to remind the world of the truth! I'll ensure that you get the credits.

Sure, no probs!

[I.R.PIRATE]

Would you ever be interested in taking a foreign visitor to this magnificent shooting location? I would give 3/8th of my nutsack to go and wield my canon there....:ok::E:sad:

[PICKS135]

I would give 3/8th of my nutsack to go and wield my canon there....

Thats a bit much. A flask of tea and a packet of Ginger Nuts should be a sufficient enough bribe:ok::ok: