Changing Focal Point

I often take multiple photos of a scene or object changing the focus or perspective in each shot. I do this because I have found that sometimes my original "focus" vision for the shot isn't always the one that turns out to be the most striking image. Here is an example using some more of my air show photos.

While walking underneath these jet engines my eyes were drawn to the propeller on the next plane.

I thought it would make a cool shot to use the jet engines overhead as a half frame for the propeller of the next plane.

My main dilemma was deciding if I wanted the propeller blurry or sharp. Which wasn't much of a dilemma at the time as like I said before I generally take multiple shots with varied focus. It became more of a dilemma while going through my photos to decide which I liked best and wanted to share.

I keep going back and forth. One minute I like the sharp photo, the next I am drawn back to the blurry one. For me the blurry one has this aura about it. Be it a sense of urgency or maybe power, I can't quite figure it out. But whatever it is the blurry shot definitely captured my attention. 
 

What do you think? Sharp or Blurry?
Do you also change up your focus?

WW: Push The Button

Dancing With The Hawkeye

E-2C Hawkeye

"To the right, the right, the right, the right, the right
The left, the left, the left, the left, the left
Now kick, now kick, now kick, now kick
Now walk it by yourself, now walk it by yourself"

It sure looks to me like I captured this service member doing the 'Cupid Shuffle' with the E-2C Hawkeye. Personally, I was doing a Happy Dance.  Finally I was getting a close up look at the plane that was such a big part of my oldest son's life for nine years. The Hawkeye may be a lousy dance partner but as planes go it is top of the line. Yet, it is probably the most underappreciated aircraft in the military.

The Hawkeye may be the ugly duckling of the flock but he is the guardian angel of not only all those pretty ducks in the air but to the flock in the water as well. 

With his odd looking disk tail this duck knows and sees all no matter what the weather is like. His computerized radar and electronic surveillance sensors allow him to identify other flocks in the air or on the ground as either friend or foe. With his unique skills he provides critical support not only to all the popular ducks, but to the entire Carrier Strike Group and Joint Force Commander to which he is assigned. He provides both 'offensive and defensive counter air control, close-air support coordination, time critical strike coordination, search and rescue airborne coordination' among other important functions. 
  

All this he does with a smile. 
Of all the planes my son could have been responsible for, I am glad this was the one. Although, my son calls it a tin can or something like that, he does it with a sense of pride and affection.

Who cares if this so called ugly duckling is a poor dancer, 

I would willingly dance with him any day! 

How about you?

In Flight: Catch Me If You Can

For a year now I have been wanting to capture some shots of a cardinal that likes to hang out around our home. Either he is camera shy or he just doesn't like me because every time I go out and sit with my camera all ready, he goes into hiding only to come out again when I don't have my camera or like this when I am photographing something else.

I was taking this next shot when I saw a quick flash of red out of the corner of my eye and heard his sweet call.

Not wanting to miss out on yet another chance to capture the Cardinal, I quickly moved to a position where I could see him in the tree and captured the shot shown at the top of this post. Knowing that any shot would have to be taken in a hurry I did not take time to change my settings, I just tried to get the focus as clear as possible. Sure enough, he took off almost as suddenly as he landed. I did manage to get this last shot of the Cardinal and an airplane both in flight before he got away.

[Canon T3, lens EFS 18-55, f/8 1/320 ISO 200] Top Shot Submission

Although the Cardinal has a motion blur and I had to crop the image to get the frame I wanted, since I didn't shoot it with a zoom lens, I am still pretty happy with the shot.  

The perfectionist in me says the motion blur is an obvious sign of lack of skill, which I am not ashamed to admit my skill when it comes to action photography has a long way to go, especially with birds. At the same time the artist in me actually likes the motion blur, maybe even more than I would like it nice and crisp.

What do you think, would it be better without the motion blur?
To all of you bird photographers out there, any tips on capturing these lovely creatures is greatly appreciated.

Linking up with:

Skywatch Friday

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