1941 Waco ... Prop Blur! by auntietk
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
By the sheerest of luck, I've managed to meet Bill's challenge of getting prop blur on a plane that's in the air.
Check out Bill's Photography Challenge to see what he was looking for.
When we got home from the air field Saturday afternoon Bill dove straight into what he'd shot that day, but I left my camera sitting in the living room and fiddled around with other projects. So while he was muttering about prop blur and putting that challenge together, I was totally unaware of the image waiting for me in my camera. Tonight I uploaded my biplane pics to the computer and started looking at them. Imagine my surprise when I saw this!!
This is at f8.0 and 1/320th. I got a couple of shots at 1/400th that had SOME prop blur, but not much. Bill said at 1/100th he got a blurry plane. I assure you ... when I was at the air field I was not the least bit concerned with prop blur. It really was pure luck that I got this shot.
This was taken hand held at full zoom so it's a little grainy, but at least the plane doesn't have any motion blur going on.
I thought this was the prettiest plane of the three we saw fly on Saturday. I just love the dark green and black paint job with those creamy wings, and there's something mesmerizing about a radial engine with a big cowling like that. So graceful and elegant!
For you airplane enthusiasts, this plane has an incredible story, which you can read HERE

Comments (37)
Fantastic capture, Tara! Would love to see what Bill is going to say
I guess it's a matter of timing and luck to be able to get a capture like this. You could have had several people with the same settings and camera and you might not have all gotten the prop blur with an in focus plane.
Excellent work!!
Very good shot.
This is a wonderful capture of the flying plane and a prop blur makes it real, otherways might fit into a model plane. Good job.
Tara...you've nailed it and that's more than I can say for myself. Your EXIF data is very revealing. Next time I'll start with a shutter speed of 1/320 sec and see what happens:) This is a really spiffy photo...prop blur and sharp plane. Great job. For everybody else interested in trying to duplicate this feat of prop blur/focused airplane...please give it a try yourself and show us your results. As for me, August the 7th we are having two British WWII fighters flying here (a Hawker Hurricane and a Spitfire, at Paine Field, Washington). Those planes will be flying 2 or 3 times faster than Tara's beautiful Waco biplane with much bigger props...so, I'll see if I can succeed in two weeks.
Don't you just love those surprises---and this is such a cool shot. I don't know diddly about the settings, etc, I just point and shoot and hope for the best. You really got this one and it's great!!
Fantastic capture but you're not supposed to tell everyone it was just luck. You're supposed to brag about how skilled you are! ;-) I'll have to remember the tip about the setting.
Nice shot Tara, you nailed this plane, top job.. well done!!!
cool beautiful
superb capture...well done
'Point and Pray'! my type of photography, and it sure worked here.Now to show my ignorance....the last bit of info in your EXIF is an 80 ISO. In the good old days that was the film speed.These came in 100, 200 and 400, the higher 400 ISO for fast stuff like planes and race cars and other faster 'moving' things.I don't know how (if)this relates to 'Digital' but an 80 ISO film would have been ideal for racing snails, not sure if it would have caught this though.Please feel free to educate me, preferably by sitemail, I don't want to get Tara & Bill in trouble for running an illegal forum on a Gallery page. Great catch Tara, and your description makes such a refreshing change ! I just can't ever see Bill describing a plane as 'the prettiest of the 3 we saw'. If you can get this sort of result with Spitfire and Hurricane on August 8th you'll have a few friends for life this side of the pond.
HAHAHA to Neiwil "point and pray" You got it, Tara. It is BEAUUUTIFUL. Way to go. Good that Bill can read the EXIF, so he has a chance to try the speed out you used. :-) I cant even make a decent flying bird shot.
Excellent shot, eat your heart out Bill, it was interesting to see what you had to say!! Very well done to Tara.
WOW! What a catch!! Well done, Tara!
You GO girl!!! Luck or no luck - your did it!!! Wonderful shot indeed! I had such a laugh at neiwil's comment now... I have to agree with him - 80 ISO film would have been good for racing snails!
'Point and pray" - I had no idea there was any other way of taking photographs... Excellent shot - you certainly nailed the blur/crispness dichotomy.
Excellent shot, perfectly placed within the frame. :)
marvelous shot,i enjoy it!!!
wonderful shot !
It is a pretty plane, especially from the outside! And yeah, you got it, girl! You're better than you know!
Tara! OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!! I have made notes of the settings, trouble is at a BIG airshow like Flying Legends, changing settings is just not going to happen.. There is not enough time! So the trusty camera is set on Auto, but with ISO at a fixed 200.. That gets some Blur.. Now, if you get this effect with the much MUCH bigger and far faster Merlin of the Spitfire and Hurricane I will be SO IMPRESSED! Bill must be silently mumbling away! lol Fine work and a pretty plane indeed! Rob
Excellent.
bonne photo!
Good shot!! You nailed it!!!
With the original Continental engine it had about 225hp. This looks like a Jacobs (shaky jake) with the pushrods out front (less likely would be a lycoming). Outstanding photo of a really cool plane. 600 were built.
Yep! Nice one, Tara! Definitely has nice prop blur, and the plane is nice and sharp! Good one! Now, ask Bill what the prize is! LOL!
Fantastic shot! :)
Congrats on that fantastic looking prop blur. Sweet looking plane also. Dana
full of smiles wonderful capture warm hugs, Linda Kaye