Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Spotting Review From Dec 30 @ LGA

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    8,285

    Spotting Review From Dec 30 @ LGA

    Well after going to work for an hour on the 30th my boss said for me to go home and enjoy my New Years holiday a bit early. So Phil and I meet up at the World's Fair Marina for some spotting. Like the other day at JFK the light was just perfect. Here's some highlights of the day. Hope you enjoy












  2. #2
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Queens, NY
    Posts
    12,470
    Tommy, your photography has come a long way. Those shots look wonderfully crisp and sharp. Especially proud of you on the larger-than-1024 DL 763.
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    730
    did you happen to get a pic of the song 757 at around 11:20 am or were you there later?

  4. #4
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Queens, NY
    Posts
    12,470
    Joe, I have pics of it. Tommy wasn't with me at the time.

    N698DL
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    1,139
    Tommy, nice shots! You've been lucky with the great weather and sunlight. In case you also want some constructive critique, some, but not all, of the shots look a tad oversharpened to me (particularly the Retrojet picture).

    Josh

  6. #6
    Senior Member Futterman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Rego Park/Forest Hills, NY
    Posts
    877
    Great shots, Tommy! We may have to rename Phil's shoreline some day. :)

    As far as critique is concerned, I agree with Josh to a certain extent. I will also say, though, that a few of your shots look very dark on the belly and under the wings (particularly the jetBlue, Astrojet, ATA, and one or two US Airways). Are you using autolevels or autocontrast in Photoshop?

    Brian
    "My wife is an air traffic controller. I married her because I've always wanted to screw the FAA." - B. Wulle

  7. #7
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Queens, NY
    Posts
    12,470
    Actualy, I do agree about the sharpening on some of them. However, the dark dottom issue is just because the sun was higher than it looks.
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

  8. #8
    Senior Member Futterman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Rego Park/Forest Hills, NY
    Posts
    877
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil D.
    However, the dark dottom issue is just because the sun was higher than it looks.
    That may be true, but it's still dark. Perhaps a quick re-edit from scratch with careful adjustments to levels and contrast will bring out some of the detail. The Shadow/Highlight tool is also great for that kind of work.

    Brian
    "My wife is an air traffic controller. I married her because I've always wanted to screw the FAA." - B. Wulle

  9. #9
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Queens, NY
    Posts
    12,470
    Well, when talking about the natural effectsof the photograph, he did nothing wrong. I don't see what you mean about levels though. That's a job for dodge, not levels.
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    1,139
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil D.
    the dark dottom issue is just because the sun was higher than it looks.
    That's true, but it's not an "excuse" for a photo with overly high contrast. Contrast-y photos can be fixed properly in Photoshop, but auto-anything is not the solution unless properly used in conjunction with other tools.

  11. #11
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Queens, NY
    Posts
    12,470
    Yeah. I use Fade to correct the harsh job that certain "auto's" do.
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    1,139
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil D.
    I don't see what you mean about levels though. That's a job for dodge, not levels.
    When you're talking about the entire underside of a plane, the dodge tool is, IMO, an inferior replacement for the proper application of curves, and, to a lesser extent, the shadows/highlights tool. Rather, I would use the dodge tool if I wanted to gently lighten the dark fanblades on an engine, or a set of tires, etc.

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Scottsdale, AZ
    Posts
    1,139
    Quote Originally Posted by Phil D.
    Yeah. I use Fade to correct the harsh job that certain "auto's" do.
    I'd like to believe that anything done with the "auto" tools can be done manually -- i.e., better -- if you know how to do it properly. The only time I ever use the auto tools is when I just can't get the color right with levels, and I use auto-color but then fade by like 50-75%.

  14. #14
    Senior Member Futterman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Rego Park/Forest Hills, NY
    Posts
    877
    I agree with lawyer Josh.

    I'd also like to know Tommy's workflow for these shots...personally, I don't use auto-anything, as there are other tools in Photoshop that can adjust contrast and colors to a much more accurate and precise extent. I find it hard to believe that the aircraft in these shots should be pitch black under the wings...
    "My wife is an air traffic controller. I married her because I've always wanted to screw the FAA." - B. Wulle

  15. #15
    Administrator PhilDernerJr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Queens, NY
    Posts
    12,470
    Tommy's workflow is mentioned in anther recent thread somewhere.

    I've been pleased with Auto-Levels and a Fade of 50 in most photos, although a manual applicaiton is necessary for certain shots for me.
    Email me anytime at [email protected].

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •