Waddington Airshow

cambsno

cambsno

Suspended / Banned
Messages
20,999
Name
Simon
Edit My Images
Yes
Weather looks good for next week and tempted by Waddington Airshow. Any feedback from people that have been?

I normally go to duxford, old warden and also gransden Airshow, the later 2 are small ones but imagine it to be similar to duxford, lots of stalls, huge crowd etc...

What's it like shooting wise, as we all know duxford is not great. I will be wander along as will be with kids but still keen to get some nice shots. Any play areas for kids too?

Finally, have heard that traffic can be bad, true?
 
Simon
I've never been, but you can gleam a fair bit from Flickr/You face etc.
From what I've heard the light is Ok, at least for most of the day, but it can be very crowded and getting in /out has been a problem in the past. Although that might have been more to do with the Tin Triangles re appearance there around 5 years ago.
Also be aware if taking toddlers, its mostly military jets and they are loud!
 
Hi Simon

I've been over past couple of years and it's great day out - shooting wise, like a lot of places can be troublesome on occasions, but generally you'll be fine.

We were lucky enough to be next to the runway and the Vulcan was taking off from there - was very loud :)

You'll have a good time with the kids - there were loads there last time we were there, all having a good time.

Traffic - yes, will be busy, especially if the weather is looking good - I would recommend you get there early and enjoy yourself...
 
Hi Simon, I've been for the last 4 years on one day or the other but this year I'm there both days. As long as you get there fairly early, before 9.30 is best, the traffic in isn't bad but the traffic out can be a bit slow. It took us around 20 minutes to get around 3 miles but then the traffic clears and you're away. I got a blue badge last year and now getting in and out is vey easy. I was home in 10 minutes last year.

Photography wise, if you get to the front it's no problem. I usually go up to the take off and landing end, to the left as you go in, and I've got some good photos from there. Last year I had a 5D3 and Sigma 150-500 OS and a 60D and Sigma 120-400 OS and got some cracking 'up close' photos. This year I've got the 5D3, a 7D and a 1D3 to play with so I shoud get some more decent shots. IF the sun's out it's facing towards you for most of the morning so you have to watch your exposures but by lunch time the sun is overhead and going behind you so you can get some real crackers.

Here's a couple from last year, the weather wasn't very good, light was very dull, but I still got a good few I was pleased with. There's a few more on my Flickr if you want to have a look.
7493943218_79cbfae498_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]

7493953676_bb39126a74_b.jpg
[/url][/IMG]
 
modchild said:
Photography wise, if you get to the front it's no problem. I usually go up to the take off and landing end, to the left as you go in, and I've got some good photos from there. Last year I had a 5D3 and Sigma 150-500 OS and a 60D and Sigma 120-400 OS and got some cracking 'up close' photos. This year I've got the 5D3, a 7D and a 1D3 to play with
Click to expand...

Also looking to go this year, early weather forecasts look hopeful... Thanks for the info regarding the light - No-one seemed to be able to answer that on the aviation forum! Looking forward to the Viggen and F-16 displays, and the BBMF Lanc + 617sq tonkas should be nice too!

Stuart I'm puzzled as to why you need so much gear...? Clearly there's the crop factor difference between the bodies, but what an odd duplication of focal lengths! No offence I'm just curious... :)

PS... We've stolen each other's Flickr avatars - Infact our photostream is quite similar around BBMF hangar and Newark Air Museum!
 
Last edited:
Im going to Waddo this year and staying at Barn Farm Friday to Monday, got my new Sigma 150-500mm lens to play with this year and we are booked into the Spitfire grandstand. I hope I get some results with it like your F16 Modchild, if you don't mind me asking what settings did you use for this
 
Traffic can be hit and miss given previous years have been nightmarish for those going in on the early Saturday. I went to Waddo last year pre-airshow on the Friday to avoid the queues and to get a decent vantage point from the Barn Farm campsite which itself is good for basic catering and toilet facilities. The Saturday was spent with the old DSLR up and down the statics and just milling around the tarmac, whilst on the Sunday I made my way up to the south side for a good vantage point close to the runway thresh-hold where you get a slightly elevated view across all the airfield. My advice amenity wise would be to make sure you have plenty of supplies especially food and drinks as they can be expensive on site unless you want to head into Waddo village to the chippy and small supermarket. Also don't forget to bring lots (I mean lots) of sun protection as the plains of the tarmac taxiways makes for a good reflective surface UV wise. Last year I ended up red as the Red Arrows livery :lol:

photography wise you can't really escape the fact that you are facing near-direct into the sun during the first half of the day which is a slight pain but can't be helped, after 11am however things start to get better light-wise as the sun edges higher into the southern-western sky and makes it easier to get the livery shots. It lowers behind you just as the airshow is drawing to a close but given its midsummer and 7pm its not too bad for the ISO. I hope to have a new 70-200mm SLR lens myself in time for the show having upgrading to the D3100 from a DSLR not long ago. It should provide the results i'm looking for especially on the Friday if I manage to get myself northside for the P.A.V.E opening to see the arrivals :thumbs:
 
Hazza said:
Stuart I'm puzzled as to why you need so much gear...? Clearly there's the crop factor difference between the bodies, but what an odd duplication of focal lengths! No offence I'm just curious... :)
Click to expand...

Hi Harry, it's just paranoia mainly. The gear's already in my bag so I'll take it for a just in case. I had a lens crap out on me while I was at an airshow once and I was left with only my kit 18-55, on my 550D, for about the last 2 hours of the show. I might not nick the wifes 120-400 OS this year as I've got a 70-200 MkII and 2x MkIII converter that I can use instead. As for the Flickr avatars they do look very similar, I guess we both must have great taste :lol:

Mark, the settings on that shot were 1/1000sec, f10, ISO640 and +1 EV, spot metering and a focl length of 247mm. The weather was poor and it was very dull last year so hopefully it should be better this year.
 
Last edited:
modchild said:
Hi Harry, it's just paranoia mainly. The gear's already in my bag so I'll take it for a just in case. I had a lens crap out on me while I was at an airshow once and I was left with only my kit 18-55, on my 550D, for about the last 2 hours of the show. I might not nick the wifes 120-400 OS this year as I've got a 70-200 MkII and 2x MkIII converter that I can use instead. As for the Flickr avatars they do look very similar, I guess we both must have great taste :lol:
Click to expand...

Fair shout, suppose we've never been accused of taking too much gear before :D:p

I'm using a Sigma 120-300 with a 2x III now, pretty impressed with the results that the MK3 gives at F10+. Anything less than that and its **** though :lol:

Clearly we do!
 
Thanks Modchild, think we share our taste in great music going with your name and my Avatar ;), what settings would the Sigma 500 lens be best on a nice sunny day (heres hoping)
 
mark111 said:
Thanks Modchild, think we share our taste in great music going with your name and my Avatar ;), what settings would the Sigma 500 lens be best on a nice sunny day (heres hoping)
Click to expand...

For fast jets you will want it in Av set about f8 (or whatever the sweet spot, if it's good wide open then use it wide open) and just adjust the ISO to keep the shutter speed around 1/1000 so you don't have to put much effort into panning!

For the BBMF you will want a shutter speed (so use Tv) of about 1/250th for the spit and hurricane and maybe drop it to about 1/160th for the lanc if you're feeling brave!


I tried to get hold of a 50-500 for Waddo and FL, but the guy I usually borrow it off is on holiday :'( Good lenses :)
 
How are the Sigma lenses if you don't mind me asking? I've managed to acquire myself a Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro for the D3100 after doing a bit of shopping around. I'm hoping to get some shots in at the PAVE on the Friday for arrivals and pre-airshow practise. Weather looks to be excellent thus far so the UV filter is also coming along for the ride.
 
Hi Mark, your avatar has just inspired a change of mine. I suspect our music tastes would be similar judging by your avatar. Mine is now my scooter, which unfortunately looks a bit of a red blob at that size, but there are some bigger shots on my Flickr page if you're interested.

As for the airshow settings Harry looks to have hit the nail on the head. My Sigma is pretty good wide open and I'd use it like that if the light needed it but it's a bit sharper at f8 but not much. Here's hoping for some 'nice' weather for a change.

Robb, there's a lot of discussions on the forum about using UV filters on your lenses and when I first started in DSLR's I had good quality filters, mostly Hoya at around £30-40 each, on reasonable to very good quality lenses and in the end I removed them as all they did was soften the photos. By all means use your filter but at least give it a try without the filter to see if the outcome is any better, most reviews say it's better without. Now I don't bother with any filters apart from Polarisers, unless I'm in a very dusty or wet weather environment and will use a UV just to protect the lens, and I always have a lens hood on as IMHO that's much better protection.

Just getting my 'flame proof suit' on just in case :lol:

I haven't used a Sigma 70-300 that you've got but I have used the 150-500 OS, the 120-400 OS and a 24-70 f2.8 HSM and I've been very pleased with the IQ from all of them and some of the reviews I've just read are quite favourable to the 70-300.
 
Last edited:
Thanks modchild, best to leave the filter at home it looks like then as thinking about it the UV flare shouldn't be too much of a issue anyhow, especially in being situated along the flightline up next to the grass where the lens-hood can be used if conditions are too dusty. I had the 70-300mm delivered just this morning and have been testing it out amongst all this cloud this afternoon, i'm very pleased with the results even on a drab day like this (8/8 cloud) where the DSLR and kit-lens would have obviously struggled to get anything.

Thinking back to last year at Waddo I had myself positioned downwind from the Saudi 130 along the south threshhold 'keys' which has some good clear views of what's going on display and runway wise. I'll probably do more/less the same this weekend given forecast winds are due to be vectoring in from the south and I don't fancy lugging about the small-ladders, camera gear, and the rest along the flightline in 25'c heat. Still it'll be good to be amongst fellow 'toggers once more.
 
Nice scooter and photos, Modchild I have added you to my Flickr account which is marksmith0668. Another question if you don't mind I have got my Sigma on the lens setting marked 2 is that whats best for Airshows ?
 
Hi Mark, TBH I leave mine on the No.2 setting nearly all the time and only turn it off if it's going on a tripod. Sigma have this on their website "Mode 1 is ideal for general photography, and Mode 2 is effective on moving subject such as motor sports etc." and as I use mine mostly for wildlife and airshows mode 2 is best for me. Will add you to my Flickr contacts when I go on Flickr later.

Robb, glad you've got your lens sorted and you're happy with it so far. I'm really looking forward to it and I might just get myself down to the viewing area opposite the runway later to see if there's anything up practising.

Don't forget your suncream fellas!!
 
Arrivals for Waddo tomorrow are the VC10 at around 11.45am and the Vulcan from Doncaster at 3.45pm.
 
What a fantastic airshow weekend over 600 photos taken and a few keepers, the only thing that I missed was the role demo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top