Luke H.Ozawa | Ball Head
Theme
Airport night view
Photographer
LUKE H.OZAWA
Date
December 2017
Location
Haneda Airport, Narita Airport
Device
Markins
：
Canon
：
EOS 5D Mark IV
EF24-105mm F4L IS II USM
EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
EF24-105mm F4L IS II USM
EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Gitzo
：
G1227MK2
Review
LUKE H.OZAWA
Born in Tokyo in 1959. In 1973, moved by a first airplane ride. Since then, started frequenting Haneda Airport with a camera in hand. At the age of 31, left a job to become a photographer. Works on aviation magazines, ANA's public relations, advertising, SNS, and calendars. To date, has produced over 250 calendars. Activities are wide-ranging, and also appears in seminars, radio, and television. Renowned for work combining airplanes and landscapes in pictures.
- Photo Collection -
Written many books, including the JETLINER series.
- Major Awards -
1999
Received the Ministry of International Trade and Industry Director-General's Award at the National Calendar Exhibition
1999
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Head's Award
2000
Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Director's Award
2000
Japan External Trade Organization Award
2000
Japan Marketing Association Award
Capture nighttime airplanes from the observation deck
In my case, I don't take pictures of airplanes because I like photography, but because I like airplanes, photography is the method I chose to express their beauty and coolness. In landscape photography, which is said to be a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, my shooting style is to incorporate the unique light and colors and incorporate airplanes into it.
Japan's beautiful seasonal colors and light are the best. I also pursue the "characteristics" of the area by composing the mountains, sea, and even buildings that can be seen from the airport. Of course, the spring and winter characteristics of the seasons are also important elements. It is also difficult to not miss the fleeting light that spills from the clouds and incorporate it with the airplane, so the excitement when I capture it is all the more intense.
For this reason, I face the sky at an airport somewhere 200 days a year in order to stop airplanes moving at high speed and create my works.
Since the subject is airplanes that move diagonally, I basically hold the camera by hand during the day, but at night I use a tripod. In recent years, high ISO has been developed and it is now possible to freeze the image at high sensitivity, but the difference with a stable tripod and low ISO is still clear.
Furthermore, if you let the surrounding light in with a long exposure, a different world will be born, but for that, a stable tripod is essential.
Japan's beautiful seasonal colors and light are the best. I also pursue the "characteristics" of the area by composing the mountains, sea, and even buildings that can be seen from the airport. Of course, the spring and winter characteristics of the seasons are also important elements. It is also difficult to not miss the fleeting light that spills from the clouds and incorporate it with the airplane, so the excitement when I capture it is all the more intense.
For this reason, I face the sky at an airport somewhere 200 days a year in order to stop airplanes moving at high speed and create my works.
Since the subject is airplanes that move diagonally, I basically hold the camera by hand during the day, but at night I use a tripod. In recent years, high ISO has been developed and it is now possible to freeze the image at high sensitivity, but the difference with a stable tripod and low ISO is still clear.
Furthermore, if you let the surrounding light in with a long exposure, a different world will be born, but for that, a stable tripod is essential.
Blue Collar and Markins
The reason why I decided to use the Markins ball head this time is that I fell in love with its color. While most ball heads are black or have a subdued color, Markins comes in red and blue, which are quite flashy metallic colors, and they caught my eye.
As I mentioned in my profile, I work for ANA a lot and have been involved for a long time. ANA is a blue-collar company, so I can't help but be drawn to the color. However, this is a very important thing, and by attaching this blue Markins to my tripod, I went to the observation deck at Narita Airport, which I rarely go to, every night during my stay. Yes, my desire to take photos was awakened.
Furthermore, when I used it, I didn't feel any stress when attaching it, unlike previous ball heads. The one I had used until now was a set of the ball head's quick shoe and plate, and when I usually held it in my hand, I would take off the plate because I was bothered by it. Attaching this at night when it was dark and aligning it perfectly with the shoe was stressful enough.
However, this Markins camera plate can be left on without any stress, and you can shoot even in the daytime, which is a nice thing. And it's easy to attach to the head, just clamp it to the quick shoe and tighten it with the knob. Each knob has good movement and feel, and you can adjust the angle quickly.
In particular, the ball fixing knob allows you to set the fixing pressure, so I was surprised that you can free and fix it with just a little twist, without having to turn it unnecessarily. The price is a little higher than a normal ball head, but that's because it's quite easy to use.
Therefore, once you use this ball head, you'll surely be hooked.
As I mentioned in my profile, I work for ANA a lot and have been involved for a long time. ANA is a blue-collar company, so I can't help but be drawn to the color. However, this is a very important thing, and by attaching this blue Markins to my tripod, I went to the observation deck at Narita Airport, which I rarely go to, every night during my stay. Yes, my desire to take photos was awakened.
Furthermore, when I used it, I didn't feel any stress when attaching it, unlike previous ball heads. The one I had used until now was a set of the ball head's quick shoe and plate, and when I usually held it in my hand, I would take off the plate because I was bothered by it. Attaching this at night when it was dark and aligning it perfectly with the shoe was stressful enough.
However, this Markins camera plate can be left on without any stress, and you can shoot even in the daytime, which is a nice thing. And it's easy to attach to the head, just clamp it to the quick shoe and tighten it with the knob. Each knob has good movement and feel, and you can adjust the angle quickly.
In particular, the ball fixing knob allows you to set the fixing pressure, so I was surprised that you can free and fix it with just a little twist, without having to turn it unnecessarily. The price is a little higher than a normal ball head, but that's because it's quite easy to use.
Therefore, once you use this ball head, you'll surely be hooked.
● Haneda Airport night view 1
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F14・1/340 s) -1.3EV ISO400 WB fine weather
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F14・1/340 s) -1.3EV ISO400 WB fine weather
● Haneda Airport night view 2
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F5.6・1/2 s) -0.7EV ISO400 WB Auto
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F5.6・1/2 s) -0.7EV ISO400 WB Auto
● Haneda Airport night view 3
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F5.6・1/8 s) -0.7EV ISO2500 WB Auto
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF70-300mm F4-5.6 IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F5.6・1/8 s) -0.7EV ISO2500 WB Auto
● Narita Airport evening view
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF24-105mm F4L IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F8・1/2 s) -0.3EV ISO400 WB fine weather
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV、EF24-105mm F4L IS II USM
Aperture Priority AE (F8・1/2 s) -0.3EV ISO400 WB fine weather
