Taking plane portraits, statics, at an airport can be challenging. You have the limitation of aircraft on the move, taxing, limiting where you can park a plane for any length of time. Then there are backgrounds. At the average airport, they suck. This is because often light industry builds right up to the airport since homes are typically not near airports. On this morning, I decided to go with a long lens, and stack up the hangars in the morning light as the backdrop. The foreground shadow is created by a hangar. Shooting wide open at 400mm threw the background slightly out of focus while compacting the row. It’s the first time I’ve tried this technique, and I really like it. So now I look for it as it seems like the perfect, unique portrait studio.

Your small, regional airport is a great place to practice and perfect your craft. Normally, there are no fences, which is a huge plus right from the start. Go and talk to the airport manager and tell them you’re there to photograph the aircraft because you LOVE aviation. You’d be surprised at the doors that open. Like being able to stand at the end of the taxiway I did this evening as planes launched. Pilots watch the wx, and when there is a break in it, into the skies they go. Pilots will see you standing there, and at some point, will come up and talk with you. And with that, you gain more access and more opportunities. Simply put, the small airport produces big opportunities.

Spring greens are special! The feeling of well-being and new possibilities can transform any photograph into a feel-good moment. This is especially true for aircraft. Nearly all airports have a green area where aircraft can be taxied or towed to. There are very few aircraft that can’t be placed on grass, the plane owner will know. You’d be surprised by the reaction you’d get when you ask if the plane can be parked on the grass. It’s unique for many aircraft, and that creates a unique photograph. The perfect time to ask is right now, when they are at their finest, spring greens time.

It’s human nature when choices are available to side with the rare or sexy. This is real common in aviation photography where biplanes and warbirds overshadow your basic GA aircraft. A lot of the GA aircraft you see flying today were built long ago, like this Mustang from 1964. Recognizing the M22 is a rare bird, a plane I hadn’t photographed before, when I was asked to go up with it, I jumped at the offer. The challenge then is to make the “uncommon from the common.” The easiest way to do it in an A2A is to find clouds. Then, with a nice kiss of light, you have a photo that’s clean and simple, making the client very happy. And when you can do this with a GA aircraft, it tells all what you can do when you have that sexy plane in the viewfinder. The trick, keep in mind that the old can be new.

Part of the CAF, Georgia, I had done an A2A with this gorgeous plane the previous summer. I had sold an article, had it all written, but was missing the supporting B Role. Jake, Sharon, and I went to Georgia to get the rest. What a blast it was! The volunteers at CAF were over the top, moving planes where we desired, repositioning them as the sun rose, starting all in the dark. It was important to get the air brakes, 250 / 500lbs bombs, and undercarriage as everything else. Seeing that bald skies were coming, speed was of the essence. The volunteers, though, made it a cake walk. After two days of statics and A2A (had to fly, just had to :-), we had all the images and fun we could handle. It was a grand weekend with the SBD!

Barrel rolls and anything else you can think of when it comes to Acro is so much bloody fun in an AT-6. The Advanced Trainer for most pilots in WWII, many still survive as airworthy examples, honoring the pilots of the past. While I have flown and flown in the AT-6, I love it best when it’s in the viewfinder. I’ve had the good fortune to photograph fifty-one different T-6s at this point with every one of them being a favorite. I want to encourage you to at the very least, get a ride in one. You too will find they are nothin fancy, just cool! Good times, good time!