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View Full Version : Let's take in the shuttle launch

Harryb
Jun-11-2007, 10:34 AM
Hi y'all,

My good friend Gale kept bugging me about going up to see the shuttle launch. I wasn't thrilled because my 3 prior attempts to see one were wash outs. It was going to be a hot day and wasn't thrilled to be hanging out in the heat for a few hours. Gale was really persistent so I decided to give it a try.

The locals love a shuttle launch because thousand of visitors flock in an they get to soak (provide services?) them for their every need. Traffic is a horror and every parking spot that was free yesterday costs $10 on the day of a launch. Motel room rates are at their highest also.

Anyhow I got to our usual spot on the river, The New York, New York Restaurant and Tiki Bar. If you are wiling to wait an hour you will get a cold beer and a fine burger.

A shuttle launch is basically an excuse to have a party.

The first thing to do is find a spot for your equipment
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761705-O.jpg

If you have anything larger than a P&S folks will come over to ask you questions
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761720-O.jpg

everyone finds a spot to wait out the time before the scheduled launch
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761844-O.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761871-O.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761899-O.jpg

some take advantage of the river to take a dip
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761959-O.jpg

a few minutes before launch and folks are gettin excited and checking out their gear
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161762054-O.jpg

then it happens
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161762081-O.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161762099-O.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161762139-O.jpg

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161762170-O.jpg

in the end there are only vapor trails in the sky
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/161761673-O.jpg

With the launch out of the way folks got down to some serious drinking while waiting for the traffic jams to abate. :slurp :beer
Tommyboy
Jun-11-2007, 10:46 AM
Really cool shots, Harry. I like some of the crowd shots as much as the launch shots. The man with his three boys is nice.

Glad the 4th time was the charm!
Harryb
Jun-11-2007, 12:52 PM
Really cool shots, Harry. I like some of the crowd shots as much as the launch shots. The man with his three boys is nice.

Glad the 4th time was the charm!

Thanks Tom. I was glad I got this one because the next one is In August and that's really in the middle of the hot season down here.
cwphotos
Jun-11-2007, 01:58 PM
Great pics Harry. Im not sure if its my crappy work monitor or what but the colors look a bit wonky in some of these....to saturated of sorts... :scratch
Harryb
Jun-11-2007, 05:09 PM
Great pics Harry. Im not sure if its my crappy work monitor or what but the colors look a bit wonky in some of these....to saturated of sorts... :scratch

Depends on which shots you're talking about. The crowd shots were in bright light and the shuttle shots were under entirely different lighting. No saturation was done in the post work of the crowd shots or the shuttle shots. I did play around with the WB on the shuttle shots.

The crowd shots were a tad glaring and I considered toning it down but opted against it because it was darn hot out there and that communicated the moment more accurately.
pathfinder
Jun-11-2007, 07:41 PM
I saw your earlier frames on your forum, and forgot to ask.

Did you shoot the launch shots in Manual mode, or Av or just how? Did you use any EC also?

I knew Gale had you back to the NY,NY. Looks like you had a great time.:thumb
digismile
Jun-12-2007, 05:49 AM
That must have been fun! It's something I've wanted to see for a very long time.

So what was the sound like? From the distance you were at, I assume it was still a roar. Great series of images!
Harryb
Jun-12-2007, 08:04 AM
I saw your earlier frames on your forum, and forgot to ask.

Did you shoot the launch shots in Manual mode, or Av or just how? Did you use any EC also?

I knew Gale had you back to the NY,NY. Looks like you had a great time.:thumb

I shot in aperture priority, ISO 200 and I used a -0.3 and -0.7 EV adjustments on the shots. The EV adjustments were off and I should have gone neutral or maybe even positive by a third. The shuttle was underexpsoed and teh fuel trail is going to be blown no matter what you do.
ChrisJ
Jun-13-2007, 11:09 AM
Wow, these are great Harry! I didn't realize you could get that nice of a view without going to the official Kennedy launch viewing location. And cold beer and a burger are definitely not options there! I love the vapor trails... not something I got to see at the night launch I saw.
Harryb
Jun-13-2007, 03:58 PM
That must have been fun! It's something I've wanted to see for a very long time.

So what was the sound like? From the distance you were at, I assume it was still a roar. Great series of images!

The sound was quite impressive. I was closer to another launch and the ground rumbled. No matter where you view it from its damn impressive.
Harryb
Jun-14-2007, 04:39 AM
Wow, these are great Harry! I didn't realize you could get that nice of a view without going to the official Kennedy launch viewing location. And cold beer and a burger are definitely not options there! I love the vapor trails... not something I got to see at the night launch I saw.

Thanks Chris. There are lots of spots along the river that give you a good view of the launch. A 500mm lens helps to get you closer to the launch.
k2butter
Jun-14-2007, 10:33 AM
Great shots, I enjoyed the "play by play" I got to watch it, but only on the NASA channel as I live in Maine... :( I grew up in the general area though, it is a fun party to attend! (night launches were my fave)
Harryb
Jun-14-2007, 02:43 PM
Great shots, I enjoyed the "play by play" I got to watch it, but only on the NASA channel as I live in Maine... :( I grew up in the general area though, it is a fun party to attend! (night launches were my fave)

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the shots. It is a party on launch day. I definitely want to shoot a nite launch in the future.
MrParts
Jun-21-2007, 04:08 PM
SSOOO CCOOOLLLL!!!!

I'm hoping to, some day, go to my sister-in-laws condo and shoot from her balcony. Of course I'm going to have to get a real camera LOL!
Seamus
Jun-22-2007, 12:32 AM
spectacular Harry, Going to a shuttle launch has been added to my wish list.
photo*smurf
Jun-23-2007, 08:50 AM
Great shots! I'd love to witness a shuttle launch in person, but since I live across the country I imagine it would be difficult to plan. My luck, the mission would get postponed because of weather the entire time I was there. hahahaha.

Your pictures are the best I've seen ever (no joke) and they really made me feel like I was there. I could almost feel the heat from the engines/boosters.