Doing 100knts, 1750AGL on a gorgeous day flying over The Palouse, I had to pinch myself with the magic unfolding in the viewfinder. It was a heck of a day with seven photo missions all in one afternoon. It was our first wx window in weeks, and we were going to make the most of it. I also had the new Z70-200f2.8II in hand. Real world shooting is the only way I know of personally in deciding if a piece of gear is right for my storytelling (specs don’t do it!). I knew these flights would put the lens to the test (my arms too!).

You might be aware that the Z70-200f2.8II is lighter than the amazing original Z70-200f2.8. That loss of weight comes from changing literally the optical design and coatings, losing 3 elements in the new version. The center of balance was changed, and you have a tripod collar that is removable (the smoothest rotating collar ever with Arca Swiss groove built-in) and is replaced by the supplied barrel collar. How does all that translate photographically when you’re hanging out of a plane? Or just shooting on the ground?

You can see in the image above, which is a 4k Jpeg, just how crisp and spectacular the color is conveyed from story to sensor via the Z70-200f2.8II. What you can’t see is that my arms weren’t worn out, the reduction in lens weight making use a snap. You can’t witness the “faster” AF speed which, as far as I’m concerned, snapped the subject into focus faster than my mind could notice. To say I loved shooting with the Z70-200f2.8II would be admitting that I knew I was shooting with it when in fact, it’s so well integrated into the process, I never took note of it. It just did its job and did it spectacularly without a hitch. It was an amazing afternoon of flying (thanks to all the pilots) with gorgeous planes and the new, gorgeous Z70-200f2.8II. Simply, beautiful!

The Dakota Territory Air Museum is a one-of-a-kind collection of flying aircraft. We’re very fortunate they are opening their doors and collection to our cameras for a one-of-a-kind A2A Clinic! Possible subjects range from Spitfire to P-51D, P-47 to FM-2P with the possibilities of Staggerwing, Waco, Monocoup, and so much more. One of the world’s finest collection of flying WWII aircraft will light your passions and fill your viewfinder with magic! We have one spot open just for you!

Some of the Details

Date: 08-10 May, 2026 / starting 18:00 Friday ending 12:00 Sunday

Location: Minot, ND (you’d fly into Minot)

It starts about a month prior when you’ll receive an extensive PDF on the art of aviation photography. This will get your creative juices flowing and excitement building. The weekend starts on Friday evening with intense classroom work at the Museum. Items to be covered during the A2A Photo Clinic are:

The art and craft of aviation photography

Safety on the ground and in the air

Gear for static / ground-to-air / air-to-air

Photographic techniques for aviation photography

Working from a photo platform

Working with pilots

How to organize your own A2A photo mission

Professionally finishing your aviation images

and so much more!

Saturday morning we’ll have a sunrise ramp static shoot, images that we’ll finish and review during the Clinic in preparation for your A2A photo mission. Then more classroom time prepares you for your flight. You’ll be shooting from a Harvard and Cessna 185, two of the best photo platforms. You’ll have an A2A photo mission Saturday evening and then another Sunday morning, timed for the best light weather permits. The price for the Clinic is $3800 which includes all instruction and flights (meals, lodging, and transportation not included).

This is your opportunity to test the skies, take your camera in the air, and learn from the best aviation photography team! To register or ask a question or two, give the office a call 406. 240. 3503 (9-5MT M-F) and we’ll put you in the seat for a photographic experience like none before! Moose’s A2A Photo Clinic!

(You will be required to sign a liability release prior to flying.)

NOTE: If the flying is canceled because of weather, there is no refund

Just gotten off the phone for a delightful predawn call to look out and see this big boy with what we at first thought were three big does (they should be dropping fawns in 45 days or so). The buck being a big boy, it caught our attention, so we watched. Then two questions came to mind. First, why does he still have his antlers, and second, why is he with three does? We start seeing sheds at the end of January, and normally by the end of Feb, all the bucks just have buttons. And herding does is normally a fall activity. What gives then?

I ignored my thoughts, grabbed the camera, and walked out the front door slowly to see what they would do. Normally, the bucks tend to move off when I appear outside, especially when they are with does. In this case, he just stood there watching me. I slowly moved to get out from behind some limbs so I could shoot. The group of four didn’t move. So I kept moving, they just stood there. It was dark o-thirty, ISO 1600 +1/3 comp brought me to 1/30, but I didn’t care, I love just standing with them as they go about their life. Now, in full disclosure, I’ve been known to have an apple or six in my pockets when I go out with the deer, and over the years, well, they tend to watch me to see if they are going to get a treat.

After a little while, they figured, I think, that there were no apples coming so they ambled up the ravine to bed down for the morning. With that, I ran to the computer to look at the photos closely to understand the biology going on. I came to find that what we thought were three does were actually three bucks. That explains their size. When I looked closely, I could see their buttons where they had shed their antlers already. That left just one question unanswered: why did the big boy still have his antlers. I guess he was just the odd man out.