Looking for some ideas...

[Kirks518]

From what I can tell, this would be the most appropriate sub-forum...

In July, I photographed the launch and landing of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It was really cool to watch, and I (fortunately) made a cool long exposure of the entire 10 minute event.

Next Friday (Saturday 3am actually), I'll be going back to watch another launch. Not sure if it's a planned water landing, or a land landing, so not sure if I'll just be getting the launch or both.

Anyway, I'm looking for ideas of how to capture it. I plan on bringing my 4x5 with 90mm, M645, RB67 P-SD, and 35mm (just 'cuz), and a digital camera.

In the 4x5 I'll be shooting Velvia 100. My plan is to frame the positive in a backlit frame, so it should look cool. The planned shot for this will be similar to the shot below.

The 35mm will be fitted with a fisheye I think. But I'll play around when I get there and see how this will look. I may go a different route if it doesn't look like it'll give me a decent image.

Digital (yuck) will be a rapid fire series that will be combined in post, to get a dashed line image of the launch. It will also be the first time i've used the digital in 2+ years for something other than ebay photos, so don't flame me too hard!

The image below was done with the M645 last time, using Ektar 100, and the 45mm lens. May do this again, as I do like the image.

So that leaves the RB67. I'm not sure what direction to go with it. Shooting in B&W was a thought, but I can convert the others from color to B&W just as easy. There is the option of Ilford's SFX200, but I have no idea if there would be any reason to use that, or if it would even capture anything to make it interesting/different. I do have a Polaroid back, and Fuji pack film (color & B&W), as well as almost a full set of focal lengths (from 50mm to 360mm).

So what can I do with the RB to produce something different? Filters? Foreground flash (not much to see, but the crowd may make for a good foreground), or...? Any ideas and suggestions will be appreciated and strongly considered.

Thanks!

 

[trythis]

No ideas for you but it's interesting how much that looks like the st louis arch.

Good luck!

 

[LAG]

... Any ideas and suggestions will be appreciated and strongly considered.

Excuse me

What a stock of equipment! and a great picture too, indeed!

Monochromatic? It's hard to say because the colour (the little there is) can give more dramatic effect and adds beauty (like in the fireworks) and as you've said you can avoid that in the print. Anyway in that B&W case I would use slower speed for long exposures you intend to (Pan-F 50 or Tmax 100 could be better decisions) perhaps, for instance in order to capture (360 mm) the far details of that beam of light spreading out over the smoke and clouds (you might produce interesting textures ...), you must come up with the right and creative moment to get the best approach and fill the frame.

Also, you can try to overlap some multiple-exposures (something difficult perpahs having too many boxes to pay attention to) - even with those textures said - or give another perspective by doing an horizontal mode (with the whole the scene, or part of it, limited by 50 mm), or just try to achieve the apposite point of view, I mean, playing with the reflection on the "water" (ground) with something that goes through the air.

The crowd (the contour-lines of their heads or bodies, to frame the lower part of the frame) could give a beautiful backlight finish (without flash). Finally, but this is your suggest, playing with some "star" filters can end with curious special-effects

Good luck!