Blue Angels Homecoming Show: Here Are Tips On How To Take The Best Photos
November 1, 2024
It’s time for the 2024 Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show featured our hometown U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
Today, we are sharing expert tips for how to capture those perfect photos. Perry Doggrell has been shooting the Blue Angels for decades, and for the past 13 years, he’s shot great Blue Angels photos you’ve seen on NorthEscambia.com. And you’ll see his photos again this weekend.
Here are his best tips for getting the best photos, including how to take the best photos with just your phone:
I started taking aviation photos when my mom took me to my first Blue Angels Airshow when I was in elementary school. The Blue Angels were flying A-4’s back then, and she let me use her Kodak Instamatic camera. Needless to say, the photos were less than stellar, and the planes looked like little dots, but I was hooked on trying to take airshow photos from that moment on. I gradually bought better and better cameras and lenses; and went from film, to digital, to mirrorless.
I’m currently using a Nikon Z8 with a Nikkor 180-600mm lens, and a Nikon Z7ii with a Tamron 100-400 lens as a backup and for wider shots. Today’s cameras are more like computers and really take some of the guesswork out of photography. Plus, since there’s no film to worry about, you can take as many photos as you want, and the law of averages says some are bound to turn out good!
So what are some suggestions for taking photos of the Blue Angels? Most importantly, you need to use a high shutter speed. I normally photograph jets with a shutter speed of at least 1/1250th of a second, and sometimes go as high as 1/2000th of a second. Because you are moving and the jet is moving, you need to use a high shutter speed to freeze the action and not blur the photo. You can make adjustments if your photos are slightly under or over-exposed, but you can’t salvage a blurry, shaky photo.
Also be aware that as the day gets later (typically when the Blue Angels fly their show), the position of the sun can really cause light problems. Try to pay attention to which positions the jets seem to be “lit up”, and which positions they are more in the shadows because the sun is more behind them. And even if you get some darker photos because of the light, you can often edit them to make the subject lighter. There is lots of good editing software out there, and even today’s modern cell phones have powerful editing tools.
One word of caution: if you’ve just purchased a new camera and are not familiar with it, try to practice at home and figure out some basic settings. If you don’t have time, I’d recommend setting it in sports mode and leave it alone. I’ve run into many people with brand new cameras who have tried to change so many settings that they end up not being able to take any photos. I might have done that myself once or twice LOL.
If you don’t have a huge lens to shoot with, don’t worry about it. Concentrate on getting the diamond and delta formations along with different formation maneuvers. You can get beautiful wide photos with the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds, the crowd, and even some of your friends all in the photo. Everyone loves a photo of themselves with the Blue Angels in the background!
And if you don’t have a camera at all, you’re still in luck. Today’s cell phones are great at taking wide photos and especially videos. Make some short videos as the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds goe by, or try to catch the “sneak pass” which usually generates some really good vapor. In today’s social media world, videos and reels are much more popular than still photos anyway. So who knows – your iPhone video could go viral!
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the show! We are lucky to live at the home of the Blue Angels, so there’s always another opportunity to take more Blue Angels photos at a practice or a beach buzz or at the Homecoming Show in November.
- For air show information, click here.
- For base access and a show schedule, click here.
- For a sneak peak from Thursday’s media day, click here.
Perry Doggrell photographs the local Blue Angels air shows for NorthEscambia.com. He is a retired air traffic controller and still works in the aviation industry. He is a volunteer photographer at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Perry focuses on outdoors, wildlife, and aviation; he also does classic car photos. Look for his photos the next several days here on NorthEscambia.com. Find him on Instagram @jays.and.jets or on Facebook at Jays and Jets Photography.
Photos by Perry Doggrell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two People Injured In Cantonment Crash
November 1, 2024
Two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in Cantonment.
An adult a male was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital as a “trauma alert”. An adult female reportedly went to the hospital by private vehicle.
The crash happened about 3 p.m. On Highway 95A near Highway 29, in front of Porky’s Pizza.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Thousands Attend Fall Festivals, Other Thursday Night Events In North Escambia
November 1, 2024
Thousands of people attended fall festivals and other events Thursday night in the North Escambia area.
Organizers said a Fall Festival at the Pine Forest Assembly of God on Highway 297A in Cantonment was a huge success. They estimated over 500 people attended the family friendly event.
Picture: The Fall Festival at the Pine Forest Assembly of God on Highway 297A in Cantonment Thursday night. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Boil Water Notice Issued For Portion Of Chemstrand Road And Area
October 31, 2024
THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE WAS LIFtED ON 11-2-2024.
Due to a broken 8-inch water main, ECUA has issued a precautionary boil water notice for a portion of Chemstrand Road and surrounding area.
Specifically, the boil water notice includes:
Chemstrand Rd., between Nine Mile Rd. and Camden Rd.
- Greenridge Drive
- Etta Street
- Everson Avenue
- Louis Avenue
- Holly Road
ECUA said the water main was damaged by a contractor working in the area.
This story will be updated when the advisory has been lifted.
Residents located in the specified boil water notice area are advised to boil water for one minute at a rolling boil or to use eight drops of regular unscented household bleach per gallon of water, for water to be used for drinking or cooking purposes. Two independent bacteriological samples have been initiated and the advisory will be lifted as soon as possible. This process routinely takes 48 hours and the notice will be rescinded at that time.
ECUA crews have completed the repairs and flushed out the lines. Residents within the area and nearby are advised that there is a possibility of discolored water as a result of the utility work, and to flush their home’s plumbing by running their taps for a few minutes. If problems persist, customers are asked to contact ECUA Customer Service at (850) 476-0480 for assistance.
Precautionary boil water notices are issued as a part of the standard protocol following any loss of water pressure, whether as a result of planned maintenance activities or unscheduled repairs.
Costco Files Updated Plans For New Store On Nine Mile Road
October 31, 2024
Updated plans were filed this week for a Costco on Nine Mile Road.
The plans filed with Escambia County show the 172,580 square feet Costco retail store with a gas station and 885 parking spaces at 235 East Nine Mile Road, at the corner of East Nine Mile Road and Chemstrand Road. That’s the site of the current Planet Fitness and a former Kmart store. It’s several parcels totaling just under 22 acres.
The new plans are about 10 thousand square feet larger than the original proposal submitted back in June.
The plans show the existing Dairy Queen, Sam’s Seafood Restaurant and Wells Fargo to remain, with a Costco gas station constructed between Sam’s Seafood and Wells Fargo in an area that is currently a parking area for the old shopping center. The current Planet Fitness building will be demolished to make room for the new Costco.
The new plan submittal followed Escambia County Development Review feedback in July, and committee staff responded looking for more information and some clarifications. A DRC Committee review on the resubmission has not yet been scheduled.
Click images to enlarge.
FDOT: All Lanes Of Highway 29 In Century To Reopen Next Week
October 31, 2024
The Florida Department of Transportation says all four lanes of Highway 29 in Century will be opened next week.
Highway 29 (North Century Boulevard) between Rudolph Street and Green Streets is currently two lanes (one travel lane in each direction) as work continues.
Resurfacing construction activities will continue through the end of the year and drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures for paving operations and to allow crews to remove low-profile barrier walls. Signage will be in place to direct drivers safely through the work zone.
This project is estimated for completion in late 2024.
The $4.7 million safety project began to reconstruct, resurface, and realign Highway 29 from just south of East Highway 4 to the Alabama state line in early January 2023. The project includes reconstructing a 700-foot curved segment of Highway 29 from north of Henry Street to Cottage Street; the curve has been the site of several truck accidents in recent years.
FDOT will also upgrade traffic signals, drainage structures, pavement markings, and driveways, while also improving curb ramps and sidewalks to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds Super Delta
October 31, 2024
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds teamed up for a rare joint flyover Wednesday.
The “Super Delta” formation drew huge crowds to downtown Pensacola and Pensacola Beach.
The views were great at Pensacola Beach, but most that chose downtown Pensacola were disappointed. Over downtown, the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds were not in the super delta formation and flew were east of Palafox.
The Blue Angels Homecoming Show, with the Thunderbirds, is Friday and Saturday at Pensacola Naval Air Station.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Perry Doggrell, click to enlarge.
Design Approved For New Carver Park Community Center
October 31, 2024
Plans for a county community center in Cantonment were approved Wednesday by the Escambia County Development Review Committee.
The 3,250 square feet modular building will be located in Carver Park at Webb and Washington streets.
For nearly a decade, the very active Cantonment Improvement Committee (CIC) has operated from a much smaller 600 square foot building that was dedicated as the Carver Park Resource Center. They have used the small space for computer instruction, food distributions, after-school programs, and meetings.
Escambia County earmarked $1.6 million of RESTORE funding last year for a new Carver Park Community Center, which will be a single-story modular construction similar to a building dedicated about a year ago at the Ashton-Brosnaham Park (pictured at bottom).
“I am so pleased to see this project finally come to fruition. It’s an exciting day for the CIC, the Carver Park community and the greater Cantonment area. I know the community center, with the help of the CIC, will change people’s lives. It’s going to be outfitted with leading-edge technology for community use,” District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. ” I can’t wait to see how it changes the futures and the trajectories of some of the young people in the community.”
The new facility will be located in the area of the existing Carver Park Resource Center and will be capable of accommodating a medium to large dividable meeting room, a warming kitchen, office space, a computer area and a storage room that can be utilized for food distribution, according to the county.
The current resource building will be moved and remain on site next to the parking lot for the new facility.
Pictured top: The new site design concept for a new Carver Park Community Center in Cantonment (click to enlarge). Pictured inset: The 2015 ribbon cutting of the current Carver Park Resource Center. Pictured below: U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz meets with local citizens inside the current cramped resource center in 2018. Pictured bottom: A similar building at Ashton-Brosnaham Park during last year’s SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia (AL) Deputy Fired After Leaving K-9 In Car, Leading To Its Death
October 31, 2024
An Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office deputy has been fired after leaving a K-9 in their vehicle, leading to the death of the dog.
“The deputy finished a night shift and subsequently left the K9 in the car. The deputy later found the dog deceased upon waking,” Sheriff Heath Jackson said Wednesday about the October 11 incident.
After a preliminary investigation, the deputy has been terminated. The case will be presented to a grand jury for further review.
“I want to express my heartfelt remorse for this incident. Our K9s are invaluable members of our law enforcement family, dedicated to serving and protecting our community. Their well-being is of utmost importance, and we take this situation very seriously,” Jackson said.
The sheriff added that his department is reviewing protocols to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.
“Our commitment to the safety and care of all our personnel, including our K9s, remains unwavering,” Jackson said.
Burn Barrel Determined As Cause Of Bogia Building Blaze That Injured Firefighter
October 31, 2024
A burn barrel near the structure was determined to be the cause of a metal building fire in Bogia Tuesday that injured a firefighter, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue.
The fire was reported about 2:30 p.m. in the 800 block of West Bogia Road, near Pine Barren Road. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke visible from a large storage building full of equipment in addition to an active brush fire. The shed and its contents were considered a total loss.
An ECFR firefighter was injured on scene and transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital for treatment.
The fire was under control in just over an hour later, but firefighters remained on scene for extensive overhaul, cleaning up and putting out hot spots that remained.
ECFR conducted the investigation and found that the fire was caused by a burn barrel near the building, which started a brush fire that spread to the structure.
For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.
The fire was under control in just over an hour later, but firefighters remained on scene for extensive overhaul, cleaning up and putting out hot spots that remained.
The McDavid, Walnut Hill, Century, Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Atmore Fire Department, Flomaton Fire Department, Florida Forest Service, and a ladder truck from Pace were dispatched to the fire. The ladder truck was later canceled due to the narrow driveway and access issues.
The McDavid Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to the fire site again just before midnight Tuesday for a reflash.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
