They flew overhead

MySpark53 · Jul 8, 2020

I didn't have my Spark with me....I had planned to try and photograph them at an anticipated distance ....a bit more across the Charles river....but they flew overhead several hundred feet above during the July 4th weekend in Boston. A really expensive collection of flying machines....In 5 waves.

MySpark53 · Jul 8, 2020

Guesstimating the altitude based on camera field of view and lens setting gives a flight altitude of about 3000 feet.

The photo metadata says 95 mm lens

The B2 wingspan is 52.4 meters (Wikipedia)

The width of the shot is about 149 meters (2.8 x the wingspan)

A field of view calculator gives 950 meters as the distance (altitude) or 3116 ft to that field of view.
Probably they flew at around 3000 feet.

Scooter · Jul 9, 2020

MySpark53 said:
I didn't have my Spark with me....I had planned to try and photograph them at an anticipated distance ....a bit more across the Charles river....but they flew overhead several hundred feet above during the July 4th weekend in Boston. A really expensive collection of flying machines....In 5 waves.

MySpark53 said:

Guesstimating the altitude based on camera field of view and lens setting gives a flight altitude of about 3000 feet.

The photo metadata says 95 mm lens

The B2 wingspan is 52.4 meters (Wikipedia)

The width of the shot is about 149 meters (2.8 x the wingspan).
View attachment 13100
A field of view calculator gives 950 meters as the distance (altitude) or 3116 ft to that field of view.
Probably they flew at around 3000 feet.
View attachment 13101

Click to expand...

View attachment 13097 View attachment 13098

Nice photo !!! Did they deploy from Hanscom AFB? That’s an impressive display of our Military!!! Scooter

MySpark53 · Jul 9, 2020

Scooter said:
Did they deploy from Hanscom AFB?

Don't know...Google search doesn't know either...

graywoulf · Jul 9, 2020

Looks like 4 jets and a BIG bat. ? Cool picture!

MySpark53 · Jul 9, 2020

Scooter said:
Did they deploy from Hanscom AFB

With refueling they stay up for a long time. Pease ANG for refueling ? Another photographer said Langley for a destination. Missouri , I read, is home base.
Boston news said they'd be flying at 1000 ft but my math doesn't agree based on the photo.?? Maybe my photo was at a big angle to the ground. (cosine theta *hyp. stuff)
Five waves of aircraft...last was B52.

MySpark53 · Jul 9, 2020

graywoulf said:
Cool picture!

I've been using a new DSLR for a few weeks. The aircraft were taken by using 'aperture priority' with a set iso in broad daylight. The camera selects shutter speed when you take the shot.
This had my confidence up. Closer to home is a salt marsh. Towards sunset I saw a feeding grey heron. Didn't have the camera with me. Went back to fetch the camera. Sure enough the bird was still there. Light was low so despite a fast iso selection (1600 ) with aperture priority wide open the shutter speed (1/30 ) was not fast as selected by the camera to freeze the subject in flight.
I'd use 'shutter priority' next time at maybe 1/100 @ iso 3200 . Grey heron is not often seen around the marsh.

I guess the case for using full automatic operation has some advantages.

MySpark53 · Jul 10, 2020

I made a Spark video of the Boston skyline last year. The stealth bombers, escorts, Thunderbirds and B52 would have flown near the skyline several miles away.