Photographers Prepping For Shuttle Launch

This link is certainly a "man & nature", mostly "man", but thought it to be of interest on how the photographers set up to capture the last shuttle launch.

http://www.firsthandpictures.com/blog/?page_id=1450

Wick, that is really, really interesting. Thank you for posting that link. I think the last image on the page, the three-exposure image, is just beautiful.

Ah man, if I could manage it I'd be there in a heartbeat. Anyone who can make it should do so! Talk about a breathtaking experience.

Photo tip- Bring your fastest camera body and a full Whimberly head for your longest lens. Things happen really, really fast. I was shooting an Athena rocket (6 stories tall) rather than a shuttle, but I pressed the shutter release when I saw the first flame and held it till the rocket was no longer visible. At five frames per second I had exposed 17 frames.

That is very interesting. I have a stupid question. I think it's the 4th image, the one with 2 cameras on the wood platform on top of the tripod. What is the reason for the tape around the lenses on both cameras?

That's a trade secret.

It's a custom-designed product for locking the focus ring against accidental shifting. It's not enough simply to pre-focus and turn off the AF. You can easily bump the ring and change focus while doing something else.

I have always used black gaffer's tape, but I like his use of the white (athletic tape maybe?). Easier to remember that it's there!

.

VERY interesting - excellent info and images. I especially liked seeing the equipment and protectors - ie tupperware over expensive triggers, home-made steel protectors around video stuff costing, surely, many thousands of $.
Thanks for posting this!
Sandy

Thanks Hank.

Very cool. Thanks! I got to see the one last year from the Haulover Canal bridge. Lots of photographers there, but nothing like this! Sharon