What a setup!

[ballroom_boy]

Check out this guy's setup:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/48732

Talk about zooming the hard/expensive way!

[Swampy]

Hey, that's what I'm working on doing. LOL

What gets me is that he has 80 grand in equipment, but the chair he uses looks like it's going to break apart.

[sandman]

Could always borrow Tom's eyes ,then he would'nt have to keep on moving . :D .very impressive though.

Brian

[Tom V]

Wouldn't it be easier, and the results better if he just used an assistant or two or four. Even with four eyes, he can't use every camera, and I doubt he has a way to fire every camera at once. It looks totally unreasonable. The chair is a nice touch.

By the way, I have seen the prototype 4-lens Nikon-based digital camera that this guy should use. It is the third image down in this post: http://www.s2pro.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=605

[Steve Wynn]

The second shot shows the guys true feelings. He had to buy that Nikon cap. LOL

Steve

[lightwrangler]

I really would rather judge a shooter by his shots and not by his gear but man it's hard not to laugh at this. I am tempted to make some wise crack about manhood issues, but I'll let it go. This just doesn't make any sense at all except to show everyone how loaded up with gear you are. BTW, who says it's all his?

Please post more of these, I like to blow coffee out of my nose each morning!

[Swampy]

I agree. I'd like to see some of his images. Maybe someone with the original media can make out his name. I can only make out "Joe Bxxxxxxx" though.

[Wichita Wayne]

that rig probably has to earn its keep or it would not be there. Ever see all the aircraft calanders that show up in December and January.

[Steve Wynn]

Airshows are a big draw. I've been going to an airshow about 1-1/2 hours from me since the mid 1970's and it's a rush, and also a great time to get together with your friends. OH back to the subject.

It takes a wide variety of lens to cover everything from an F/A 18 Super Hornet to the B-52. Then inbetween there is a single F117A or a B1 or B2 bomber. Someone has to supply photos for the hundreds of photographs available to the calanders availble near the end of the year. I haven't carried a camera for 5-6 years but I use to take everything from a 20mm to a 500mm mirror. A lot of constant changes of lens!

I'm willing to bet that he's working for an aviation magazine, freelancing for someone, or sellilng his own photos. But no matter what, I'll bet he either loves planes or loves the money. It's usually a good 9-10 hours of flying, often going from chilly in the morning to a 110 or more degrees out there.

Steve

[lightwrangler]

I suppose that both Wayne and Steve are right, just because it looks ridiculous to me doesn't mean that it is. Years ago when I worked for a catalogue house, a friend from my highschool camera club visited me. He thought that the 11 x 14 inch camera I was shooting with was a joke - I mean why would you need such a beast he said. The answer was of course, because it did the job. In retrospect this rig in the picture probably falls into the same category.

[bdcmedia]

Originally posted by lightwrangler
I really would rather judge a shooter by his shots and not by his gear but man it's hard not to laugh at this. I am tempted to make some wise crack about manhood issues, but I'll let it go. This just doesn't make any sense at all except to show everyone how loaded up with gear you are. BTW, who says it's all his?

Please post more of these, I like to blow coffee out of my nose each morning!

I agree on your first point. It would be nice to see the quality of his photos, but why would you laugh at his set up. Seems all you people who are mocking him must have some jealousy issues. It seems like a good idea to me. This man is prepared for any type of shot!

[sandman]

Knowing this forum bdc, you'd better prepare yourself for a few replys to that remark.

Brian

[lightwrangler]

bdc,

Read my follow-up post (above) and you'll see I softened my remarks somewhat. I'm still somewhat amazed by this set up because it seems so over the top. You gotta admit that you don't see something like this everyday (hence me blowing coffee) but hey if it works for him ....? But it does kind of remind me of the shooter that takes 1,000 frames to get one good one - sure it's a method but many of us prefer to (and can) get it right in much fewer exposures.

Let's assume this is a workable solution, I have some practical concerns; It would appear to be very difficult to pan and tilt, not to mention to do so with any speed. I don't see any counterweights and I would imagine the balance of this is very tricky. It also looks very top heavy - something that would worry me being out in the wind and around other people.

And for the record, I am quite happy with what I have - so no, it isn't jealousy, I would have absolutely no need for much of that gear. Gear is good, but in the end, it's about the photos isn't it? If the photos created by this rig are outstanding then it's done it's work for the photographer.

[Swampy]

yeah, nothing about jealosy. Except, maybe I wouldn't mind having one of the two left lenses.... Other than that, nah. I don't like waking up at 4am after spending 6 hours the night before loading my gear and checking it, driving for 2 or 3 hours, spending another 2 hours unloading and setting up and sitting out in public with a shirt like that.

I've taken photos that are impressive, at least in the circles I run in, and that's good enough for me since I can whip out my camera in 10 seconds, instead of hours. :P

I just really want to see the shots he's taken is all.