Sharon and I have a weekend tradition to head to our local airport cafe for breakie (they have the most amazing Huckleberry Pancakes!). It’s right on the taxi way, you eat watching aircraft going back and forth. It’s marvelous. It’s all about the food but if I’ve said it once, I’ve said a hundred times, just show up! I normally have a camera in the truck but sometimes, I forget it at home. This morning, I nearly forgot it again but Sharon reminded me as we were walking out. We pull up to the resturant to see this old classic having its tires chalked. Well, within a short time, I’m talking up the pilot, putting my business card in his hand, and photographing his gorgeous Pietenpol. It’s how a relationship begins and was the start of fun to come. Now that the mornings are near the single digit temp, flying an old, open air aircraft isn’t as much fun but spring isn’t that far away. Thank goodness Sharon said, “take the camera to breakfast!”

The light, the aircraft, the background, they all caught my attention so I raised my camera. I took a number of these arse shots of this famous old plane but only one of them became an instant and lasting favorite. This one! The reason is really small, at least the detail and that’s the two planes flying off in the distance in the clouds. We all take photos that mean something special because of that truly small detail that only we see. And that’s OK! Photography is all about our memories, never forget that. It’s why I love certain images when others don’t get it. Only I see it and that’s OK.

Lakes are freezing, swimming in them a chilly proposition with “Splashing” done for the season. Time to winterize the Goose! Many pilots winterize their planes getting ready for spring next year. For seaplanes, “Splashin” is what it’s all about but it takes a toll on aircraft. During the winter when they can’t splash, so they thoroughly go through their aircraft, a perfect time for you and your camera to get involved and make some new friends. You learn a lot, and often get hands-on time with the plane. All it takes is heading to the airport, ask some questions, show some genuine passion, and more times than not, you’ll make new friends. You don’t say you’ll help and take pictures in exchange for flying, you just show up and let the opportunities grow organically. It’s real simple, get involved, winterizing time!

Seriously, when light bounces off the heavens before sunrise, who needs the sun? Our static shoot for our A2A Photo Clinic was outstanding! We had three aircraft, PT-17, AT-6 & P-51D on the ramp with the stars still filling the sky. The light levels slowly increased in the east so on the ramp we headed. With the ramp lights still glowing, I started to shoot. With the Z 8 / Z50f1.2 resting on the top of my foot, I looked at the LCD and saw the glow on the T-6 and I said out loud, “who needs the sun!”

First flying in 1940, the PT-19 Fairchild is a primary trainer for WWII pilots. Only about eight thousand were manufactured with truly not that many flying today. Unlike most trainers of the day, the PT-19 is a monowing that provides its students a more “realistic” flight to the advanced trainers and fighters they were training to fly. Its flight characteristics demand more precision and care. Its virtues were that it was inexpensive, and simple to maintain.

I wondered if I could light an aircraft with studio flash. My normal MO is when an “if” comes to mind, I follow it to find the answer to the question. It’s how I’ve learned what does and doesn’t work for my photography over the decades. The if of lighting a plane with flash while it might appear it worked, and it does photographically, it most definitely doesn’t work for me! Warren was very kind this morning to be at the field before sun up and get the Waco in place. The hangar is very special, it’s very old and was part of the Ford Victory Tour in the ’30s. Inside its wall are the routes, fuel needed, and pilot’s names written in pencil preserved. The hangar was as much of the subject as the Waco. Well, I had a whole bunch of Profoto B1s set up out front. Bunch of Profoto B2s inside and holding them all down were hundreds of pounds of sandbags. Profoto makes getting the exposure so easy nailing in seconds a synch; set up, and take down, not so much. After one long morning, I came a way with a photo, two blood blisters, and an answer to using studio flash on statics. Had to try it once.