I've seen the Blue Angels at several locations. Although I've been to Ocean City several times, it's never been there for the airshow. I'd expect they'll be as close to the crowd as this image below from Jacksonville, captured at 420mm on a full-frame camera. You should be able to use a 70-300 zoom on a cropped body.

You can click the URL link for all the EXIF data. Of course the specifics of your position and the light will dictate your exact settings, but I try for f/11 and 1/1000 to 1/1600 to freeze the jets and to capture all four (or six) planes in sharp focus, using a hand-held camera with both the Auto-Focus and Image Stabilization active for the lens and camera.

I use high-speed continuous on the drive mode and AI Servo for AF focus mode (Canon's continuous AF mode). Track the planes (enable the AF) as they approach, but release the shutter only when they approach the closest to your position and stop the burst once they move away. For the several times the two solo planes fly at each other during the show, watch where they cross. There should be a boat in the water marking that position. Pick one of the two to track and release the shutter burst right as the plane reaches the crossing point, with more luck than skill (at least for me), you should catch one frame with both planes.

US Navy Blue Angels by Paul Sager, on Flickr

I've seen the Blue Angels at several locations. Although I've been to Ocean City several times, it's never been there for the airshow. I'd expect they'll be as close to the crowd as this image below from Jacksonville, captured at 420mm on a full-frame camera. You should be able to use a 70-300 zoom on a cropped body.

You can click the URL link for all the EXIF data. Of course the specifics of your position and the light will dictate your exact settings, but I try for f/11 and 1/1000 to 1/1600 to freeze the jets and to capture all four (or six) planes in sharp focus, using a hand-held camera with both the Auto-Focus and Image Stabilization active for the lens and camera.

I use high-speed continuous on the drive mode and AI Servo for AF focus mode (Canon's continuous AF mode). Track the planes (enable the AF) as they approach, but release the shutter only when they approach the closest to your position and stop the burst once they move away. For the several times the two solo planes fly at each other during the show, watch where they cross. There should be a boat in the water marking that position. Pick one of the two to track and release the shutter burst right as the plane reaches the crossing point, with more luck than skill (at least for me), you should catch one frame with both planes.

US Navy Blue Angels by Paul Sager, on Flickr

Hello everyone,

I wanted to reach out to anyone who has attended the Ocean City MD air show and specifically, which lenses to bring and which ones to leave home. Nikon D500, zooms from 10mm to 500mm--which worked for you and which ones stayed in the bag. I'm looking for perspective here, how near or far they may come in and not advice on how to pan, AF mode, etc. My wife and I will be in a reserved section on the beach, so it's not being shot from a hotel balcony 2 blocks away.

Thanks in advance and keep on shootin'