NAF El Centro CA

Photozz

Spent a day shooting on the edge of the runway out at NAF El Centro. Can't get much closer than this without the planes hitting you

Thanks to the Navy for providing us with this opportunity!

rainbow

That must have been a wonderful and fun opportunity. I enjoy the shots. The first one is the best as it reminds me of "Top Gun" when they are launching the jets at dusk or dawn with the flames shooting out the back to convey the power in these jets.

Photozz

rainbow wrote:

That must have been a wonderful and fun opportunity. I enjoy the shots. The first one is the best as it reminds me of "Top Gun" when they are launching the jets at dusk or dawn with the flames shooting out the back to convey the power in these jets.

I agree, here is one more that I really like.

rainbow

Another nice one!

So how close/far are you (and what length lens?). Do you feel the rumble of the jets throughout your whole being (worse than a lowrider with the bass on full blast)?

Photozz

rainbow wrote:

Another nice one!

So how close/far are you (and what length lens?). Do you feel the rumble of the jets throughout your whole being (worse than a lowrider with the bass on full blast)?

We were literally standing right on the edge of the runway. I was wearing earplugs plus a set of muffs over that and it was still LOUD. It shakes you to the core when they launch with full afterburners.

I rotated between lenses, side shots where with a 10-22mm and most others where 70-200mm.

JChurill

Simply excellent! Sweet lighting!

black mamba

You have some really good shots here. You got to take advantage of a great opportunity. I once was invited to spend a day on the USS John Kennedy to watch flight operations from the Captain's private deck. Like you in this case, I was right on top of the action. I think I shot about 10 rolls of Velvia.

Tom

Dogdots

What an opportunity -- one I surely wouldn't turn down

Your photos are just awesome

What camera did you use?

Photozz

Dogdots wrote:

What an opportunity -- one I surely wouldn't turn down

Your photos are just awesome

What camera did you use?

All were shot with a Canon 40D and lenses used were 10-22mm & 70-200 F4L. The shot of the T45 banking in was taken with a 400mm F5.6L prime lens.

rwells

A rare opportunity, and you took good advantage of it!

Dogdots

Photozz wrote:

All were shot with a Canon 40D and lenses used were 10-22mm & 70-200 F4L. The shot of the T45 banking in was taken with a 400mm F5.6L prime lens.

Thanks for letting me know

Roadkill

Very nice shots....

Back in the day, spent a bunch of time around fighters... I miss the smell of jet fuel in the morning.

Milan

Great shots. #1 is my favourite, but I like them all.

Azzaro

clap azzaro

Panther

Howdy,

What a great series of images, can't even imagine the thrill of just being there much less getting to capture it.

Excellent shots, but love that first shot, really sweet with the Afterburner kicking in!!!

sixdaemonbag

I loves me some aircraft photos, and that's a great place to shoot, A little later in the year the Blue Angels train there (winter quarters)

MCAS Yuma (about an hour from NAF El Centro east on I-8) is another place to take some awesome shots. The Yuma County fairgrounds are just across the street from the runway and there's a ditch running along the larking lot where you can get high enough to have an unobstructed view of the tarmac. Spent a lot of time watching planes from there as a kid.

alexf

Nice set!