Civilian Aviation

I spent an hour or so at STN on Tuesday before going on to the Air Britain meeting, partly because I hadn't visited Stansted since February apart from early morning and evening for my flights to/from Bologna and partly to try using back button focussing for the first time having read others' experiences of it on here. I have to say I found it generally quite easy although I opened up live mode a couple of times by mistake as the button was very close to the AF-ON but otherwise okay. I had one or two very out of focus (probably me - PICNIC) but the others seemed fine.

here's my efforts, the sun came and went a few times but the light just before sunset was very nice....

0041 N863FD B777 Fedex STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0068 N863FD B777 Fedex STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

this Western Global MD.11 created loads of smoke on touchdown and the tower told him to hold for a while to check for tyre damage , I think he blew one and also there was a quick runway inspection, the fire services escorted it right to his stand where it was inspected0181 N512JN MD11 Western Global STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Ryanair still have this 737 in the National Express coaches scheme
0219 EI-EMK B737 Ryanair National Express scheme STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

G.5 N700HA landing
0252 N700HA Gulfstream G.5 STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0261 N700HA Gulfstream G.5 STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

3 of the FedEx Md.11, hope they last a few more years (Martinair will stop using theirs' this year so I need some better pics of them soon),
0311 N614FE MD11 Fedex STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0329 N614FE MD11 Fedex STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0337 N614FE MD11 Fedex STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0358 G-EZDK A319 EasyJet STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

a cropped pic of the Qatar A330
0382 A7-AFH A330 Qatar Airways, front STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and the full aircraft off into the evening sun...
0388 A7-AFH A330 Qatar Airways STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

some just before the sun disappeared
0445 EI-FOG B737 Ryanair STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0475EC-GQA Emb120 Swift Air STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0495 D-AGWR A.319 Germanwings STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and sun gone...
0531 N723FD A300 Fedex STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

then three on the northside (getting very dark)
0550 N700HA Gulfstream G.5 STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

0540 N360HP Bombardier Global Express BD-700 STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

shame about all the posts in the way, I challenge a photoshop expert to remove that lot!...
0552 N444HE B737 STN 5-4-2016 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

hope they are of interest, thanks for looking. BBF seems the way forward for me now.

there are a few more here as well if you are interested: https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545 ... 4408119564

C&C welcome
Andy

Lovely light Andy. The FedEx MD-11 shots are my favourite, and always nice to see the Swift Air Brasilia - not a common type these days.

nice set Andy...

A lot of nice stuff for the hour or so you were there!

Dan

Nothing beats the softer light of late afternoon, or early morning, and you made well use of it Andy.

I spent a couple of hours over midday recently on Belmer Road shooting into the sun .. .. but sometimes you have to make do with what you have. Once edited I will post some on here.

you need to be there from about 3.30 onwards to avoid the sun being the wrong side of the aircraft, in the mornings it's nigh on impossible to get decent light on them unless it's a dull day.

look forward to seeing your pics.

andy

Very nice Andy must give back focusing another whirl

Paul

some great shots as usual andy

interesting to hear your thoughts on back button focusing, I have been using it for a while now and still hit the front shutter button on the odd occasion looking to focus, but i have never really had it cost me any shots because you tend to start focus tracking long before you are going to take your shots