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?”

Yeah, not what you typically think of when it comes to the mellow light of fall, but Heavies look great in its light! Those broad, long wings of bombers, transports and the like can create really deep, dark shadows during the summer months requiring some love in post to bring out the detail. Such is not the case in fall when the mellow, lower sun pops them open for us from the very first click. If you’re looking at airshows to go shoot right now, you might look at those that are featuring more Heavies and the like as fall is great for Heavies!

Shooting out of the PA-12 is a challenge I have conquered a number of times. It requires first, bending way over and twisting to the right in the most uncomfortable final position. This is because the seat sits back in the cabin and you have to get past the door frame, wing strut and able to shoot back behind you and the photo platform. We normally shoot to our left, that’s how we handhold our camera is for left handed shooting. The PA-12 requires right handed, completely opposite of normal shooting. Doing these gymnastics (which I start practicing at least a week prior to the shoot so my body will make the twist) messes with your hand position. It really hampers handholding, zooming and pressing the AF-ON button and Shutter Release while just seeing through the viewfinder. Stuff yourself into a ice chest and give it a try, it’s not easy! The one setting that can make it easier is to return the focusing operation to the Shutter Release from the back button. This sounds like a simple, too simple a fix to make any difference but it’s important enough to me that it’s on the laminated settings check list I have attached to my A2A camera strap. Once back on the ground, I reassign the focus back the back button. But in A2A, changing that setting can make all the difference!