While there are times when flying commercial is about as unromantic as flight can be, I’m still always amazed by the planes carrying around the world. The actual aircraft get no real downtime and while we tend to get pissy when our flights are delayed or canceled because of a mechanical issue, for the hour flown, it’s really a fraction of the life of an aircraft. That’s why they are a favorite of mine for keeping my panning sharp. Na, I don’t photograph them from inside the terminal waiting for my next flight (though I have done that a couple of times), rather, I head to my local airport, MSO and others to spend time photographing the coming and goings. Be it MSO, ANC, PDX, PHL, TPA or a number of others, they have locations where you can easily photograph the airliners. I tend to go when the skies are moody and the light is rich. I get the shutter speed down in the 1/40 range and practice panning not so much level flight but the accents and decents. This is because it forces me to not only twist at the trunk, but move my arms to match the angle. With winter and the slow down of airshows, flyins and the like, there are always aircraft at the big airports to photograph. It’s a fun way to keep the panning technique sharp, at the airport, again.

Aviation and fall color, what could be difficult? I dunno but for me it sure seems to be. This photograph taken a long time ago was when I was photographing ME Moose with my dear friend Vinnie. We just happened upon this scene one morning and stopped to make a couple of clicks. Since then, I have not been able to get one, not a single one of GA with fall color. I have tried twice to make it happen, one time a micro burst hit the hangar damaging the door so we couldn’t get the planes out. Another time, the wind came the day before we arrived and took with it all the color. Heck, I didn’t even try this year. I’m getting to take it personally, it should be a slam dunk!

Lots of folks enjoy aircraft, not all are photographers. They linger and stare, often as we glare at them over our cameras as they walk into the frame. Forever and a day there were two options, not take the photo or hope they move out of the frame before someone else walks in. Well, there is another option now so you don’t really need to worry about them at all.

Case in point, I was lying down behind this Waco 10 shooting its arse. Of course, my lying on the ground, one could argue I blended right in to the grass. That being said, I soon saw folks setting up chairs and soon, accupying them. Thankfully now I don’t have to get up and ask them to move. With Generative Fill, I just need twelve seconds in post and puff … they are gone and I have my shot. It’s why I say now, people, who cares?

The event we were all at has only amazing, hold and historically important aircraft. How old, I think 1939 might be the newest I saw during the weekend. Well, as we climbed and I was looking at the clouds surrounding the event, I was told it was a 1918 Thomas Morse Scout and is believed to be the only surviving aircraft from the Howard Hughes movie Hell’s Angels. The TMS had launched before us and as we entered the pattern we saw it before us. We also saw the amazing clouds! I leaned out and shot forward, Connor stepping on me leaned over and was able to shoot without being in the slip stream (Connor can honestly say he walked all over Moose to get the shot! hehehe).

We shot as we over took him. Once the 185 strut got in the way, I tucked back into the cabin to find the front element covered with moisture. We were truly in the clouds and why I use filters! I quickly wiped off the front and went back to shooting. It was truly a magical flight! The Scout uses a rotary engine. That mines the whole engine rotates with the prop, both spinning at the same time! The amazing Andrew King was at the stick of the Scout and man can that guy fly!

After an amazing photo mission we landed and hurried over to the Scout which was parked on the dirt strip to do the statics. And while my feet were on the ground, I don’t think I still have come down from that high! Just show up just seems to always pay off. I was very fortunate Scott was looking out for me, again, Taryn called, Ryan flew and Andrew was amazing. And the plane, lets just say I now know what a Thomas Morse is so there will be no question in my mind next time I’m asked, “wanna photograph the Thomas Morse?”