Jun 5, 2015 | Aviation
I first saw the Monocoupe 110 Special two years ago and ever since, getting in the air with it was on the top of my list. A week ago we had a magical morning flight with this amazing aircraft. Only 7 were made and this particular one has an amazing history. Besides winning many races, one of its owners used it to escape Cuba flying it across to the US. This morning they were burning off crops and in the early morning light with the breeze and ground fog, made for simple click magic. I hope this weekend, your photographic dreams take flight and the light and subject come together in your viewfinder!
Jun 3, 2015 | Aviation
Over the last month of travels, I’ve seen some really great arses. Now I use to say ass when referring to the rear view of an aircraft until I was in England. There, my new pilot friend Howard informed me they have no asses but plenty of arses and that’s what I’ve called them ever since. There are many views of an aircraft and the rear when the skies and background are in your favor, is a very dramatic way to show off a girls lines. These were taken with D4s and D750 with either a 14-24AFS or 24-70AFS. The key is getting low, look at the lines of the wings and remember the split grad in ACR is your best friend. After that, it’s just a matter of having fun. So here are what in the last month are the ares I’ve loved.
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May 29, 2015 | Aviation
We were in Minot, ND filming two new classes for KelbyOne (Air to Air Photography & Pilot Portraits). The film crew had left that morning, Sharon & I staying an extra day to finish up the still shooting for the classes. Warren and I were taxing out for a flight in his Waco cause … it was a gorgeous day to fly. We were just about to get on the active when he said, “Hey, 802s on floats landing.” I turned to see these two, bad ass aircraft touching down. There were gorgeous but we were taking off, so I thought no more of it. That’s because, lots of planes come into Minot Aero Center to get gas and keep on going down the road.
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Hours later we come back and parked there in front of the hangar are the two Air Tractor 802Fs! There was one killer sky growing behind them. Mo said she had just been lying on the ground photographing them when the pilots came out totally rocked by someone taking interest in their planes. As fast as I could, I grabbed the D4s / 14-24AFS and went out to the flight line and hit the ground. I had just gotten the second set up shot when the pilots came out. “This is a first, two people lying under our planes taking their photos!” Introductions made, hands were shaken, and soon Jody & Aldo were standing on the pontoons and I was making their portraits. I was standing on the ladder making the second portrait when I said something like, “Man, I’d love to do an air to air with you guys.” They smiled and I knew the door had opened.
The third plane had yet to arrive, it had the boss in it. He would be in at midnight and it was 50/50 he’d want to take time for and A2A photo mission. The Fire Boss Crew were in transit to Fairbanks and had a schedule to keep. We agreed to meet at the airport at 07:00 the next morning and see where things were at. We were having a Memorial Day BBQ at the hangar so spent the rest of the night talking and laughing and when we left, I figured with their boss coming in so late, there would be no mission. We’d just walked into our hotel room when the phone rang, it was Warren. “Boss said they won’t be leaving until 10:00.” There was a possibility!
The next morning we ran into Jody & Aldo coming out of the elevator, the mission was a definite possibility! We got to the airport to find out that the two 802s stationed there that spray the crops wanted to get in on the shoot. That would make FIVE 802s at one time in the viewfinder if it was a go. Now I was really excited. A short time later I was in the all too familiar Cessna 182RG I’d already shot five missions in over the weekend with Brian again at the controls taxing with five 802s in tow. I had the D4s / 80-400AFS and the 24-70AFS in the plane with a GoPro 3+ on the wing of the 182RG. The flight brief was real simple, the Fire Boss’ were heading north and if we could shoot them while in route, then great. Otherwise … So I had both bodies and lenses cause I didn’t know what kind of formations I would have before me. As it turned out as you can see, the Fire Boss crew really got into the shoot and some great formations unfolded so I shot with my main system, D4s / 80-400AFS.
I had about fifteen minutes with the Fire Boss crew before we turned back to Minot and wished them well on their journey (They arrived just fine with images waiting for them). On the way back, I shot just the two Air Tractors from Minot for what turned out to be my longest air to air for the week, 42 minutes. I was able to file 4386 images from this shoot, wow. But more importantly, had a great time, made new friends and photographed aircraft that in my wildest dreams I would have thought I would never have in my viewfinder. The whole week was that way with photo mission after photo mission coming up. One piece advice I pass along to all wanting to do aviation is real simple which this proved once again how true it is. You wanna shoot, just show up!
May 23, 2015 | Aviation
When I started out shooting critters 40yrs ago and for a long time after, getting to North Dakota to photograph waterfowl in its potholes was a high priority for me. Starting out though, I simply didn’t have the funds to come to ND for a month to photograph ducks and geese. It always bugged me. Fast forward the clock to today and I’m in ND nearly every month but not for wildlife, but for aviation. Flying this T-6 yesterday for me is my really good friend Warren. Up here shooting two new KelbyOne classes, the two scheduled flights we had planned has blossomed to a half dozen now. And what’s in the background of our flights, those potholes I wanted to work back in the day. Looking through the viewfinder of the D4s, out the 80-400VR3 at that background, my mind now wanders off to the critters and trying to figure out who we know now here in ND permitting me access to them. I think in the future, it will all come full circle and I’ll be on that water looking up at Warren flying past.
May 21, 2015 | Aviation
Folks ask what’s the one thing you can do to make it in aviation photography and I always tell them, “Just Show Up!” What do I mean by this? Pilots are an unique bunch, love them to death but calling and making an appointment just doesn’t fit them. But if you just show up at the field when they are there, magic happens. It’s never fails! This photo is from my visit last month to KMOT and a blizzard hit and I was hired to document all the activities during and after the storm and that was because, I showed up. Another example, we’re at Minot this week filming classes for Kelby Training and as we landed, my phone goes off with a text with a list of shots being requested of me, “since I’m here.” These include Pilot Portraits, air to air and then last night, asked to do a presentation on our recent Arsenal of Democracy flyover. So when you simply show up ready to work, work appears out of thin air. So if you want to advance in aviation photography, to accomplish this in all sincerity, just show up!
May 15, 2015 | Aviation
Then the planes appeared. People parked on the Washington Bridge, other lined the river and waved flags. Roof tops all across DC were packed with over 30k folks on the mall and the vets, many just cried! For us, it was sensory overload with not a dry eye amongst us. Overhead were our friends, collages and spouses, Sharon in the jump seat in the C-53. And surrounding us, the greatest generation. As the last flight passed overhead, Taps was played and the Missing Man formation flown. It was one of the greatest days, ever!
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