Beautiful Betsy

[LyndaC]

This plane rests at Kroombit Tops National Park. Her name is Beautiful Betsy, she came down in 1945 with 6 Americans and 2 British airmen on board. She was only discovered in 1994 by a park ranger burning off.

I know there are a few on here who are interesting in planes so thought they might appreciate it.

From a technical point of view, I can't seem to get the lighting right on the 3rd image, I am thinking it was because I have incorrectly metered but I would love some help on it. And of course, critique is welcome on all, not just #3.

http://www.photo.net.au/members/d/3173-1/betsy.jpg

http://www.photo.net.au/members/d/3191-1/betsy%20with%20poppies.jpg

http://www.photo.net.au/members/d/3188-2/betsy%20at%20rear.jpg

[EarthSeaSky]

I love aeroplanes either living or dead - I was a fighter pilot with the RAF during WW1 and was killed in a Sopwith Camel over France. That's a fascinating archive, Lynda. The pilot of that aircraft might have chosen a more open place to crash. Silver metallic surfaces are tricky to expose correctly, especially in bright sunlight. My practice is to walk right up to the subject and exposure lock onto the brightest area that isn't actually a direct reflection of the sun, then move back to compose and shoot.

[LyndaC]

Thanks Mark, that's one of my next projects, to learn how to use the Exposure Lock effectively. I just can't seem to grasp it for some reason.

[EarthSeaSky]

Lynda, the Auto Exposure Lock button (AEL/AFL) on the E-500 is just to the right of the eye level viewfinder. Not sure exactly how it works on the E-500 but presumably much as it does on the D70s. Press it once whilst metering selectively from a particular area in your picture, it should then hold that exposure setting until the shutter is released after which it cancels. There may be an AEL icon in your viewfinder display that indicates when the AEL is set. That same button also doubles as an Auto Focus Lock. Somewhere in your Camera Settings you will be able to customise those functions. As they say, "when all else fails, read the instructions!" lol

It isn't an E-500 user manual but you may find this link a useful reference: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/e500.html

[LyndaC]

I have been playing around with it, but I think I need to go out for an hour or two and just play with that and nothing else. I seem to find that I learn alot that way, and it then becomes something I don't need to think about as much. Whereas now, I go out and take the shots, come home and think, ok, I should have done this, should have done that. Like with the shot of the kids the other day, I was playing around trying out the different focus modes instead of just using Auto-focus, although have decided that still subjects would be an easier way to learn. I am starting to really understand DOF now and how to achieve what I want in that regard, but then again, I think this is something I'll be learning forever too.

I'll get there, one day.... But I think the AEL/AFL button is going to become my friend, when I finally get it right ;)

[EarthSeaSky]

I would add to what I have written above that your three angles on the wreckage speak with a silent voice of an event that happened more than 60 years ago but certainly within my time. I have vivid recollections from that era just before the end of WW2 when American sailors on R&R would often visit Hobart. As a little kid I would open a dialog with the Yanks from behind the counter of my father's shop, and they would sometimes give me chew gum!

[Murielle]

The middle picture gives me the greatest impact in relation to the subject. I am sure Marks technical knowledge will work well. He has helped me too. It is strange that he was in WW1 in a camel. I was in WW1 in a red triplane! I love aircrafat. I shared a tiger moth and owned a tripacer in this lifeitme but had to sell or marry a rich husband to maintain the aircrafat so decided to sell. Thankyou for posting these, Lynda!

[EarthSeaSky]

It is strange that he was in WW1 in a camel. I was in WW1 in a red triplane! I love aircraft. I shared a tiger moth and owned a tripacer in this lifetme but had to sell or marry a rich husband to maintain the aircraft so decided to sell. Thankyou for posting these, Lynda!I apologise for shooting you down in a dogfight but, as at Trafalgar, "England expected every man to do his duty." (Nelson)

This lifetime, faced with that difficult choice, you might have snared a very old, incompetent, rich husband that expected mile high aerobatics of you only in the moth - but inverted at 2G what else could he have done but quiver in his dickie seat! :confused:

[Murielle]

I love it!! And would you be that person?