One of the responses I get a lot are compliments on my static aviation images. Which i deeply appreciate. Afterwards the inevitable question comes out, “how did you get those shots?” It’s a fair question. If you have ever spent time at an airport, which at this point in life about 80% of people in this country have been to an airport at least once, then you know that most airports aren’t that attractive. They are surrounded by homes, power lines, highways, cars, other buildings, you name it. So how then do these shots occur? Well it comes from planning, friends and coffee.
The planning part is pretty simple. You find a place you like, wait till there is an event going on there and then go. These days a lot of that information can be found out online. There are places where it’s easier to get those great scenic looking shots with planes. For instance Reno Stead Airport. For the places where you can’t do much about, well in comes Photoshop. The second part is harder. Making friends never is but with time and just talking it happens. Pilots are a lot like car guys in the respect that they both like to talk about their machines! You go up and start talking about their plane, ask questions and they open right up. The third part is, well, tough. You have to get up really early. I mean before the sun comes up, pull the plane out to position it and shoot. To my knowledge that is some of the best light and that is often when there is less people. Coffee helps afterwards. It may sound tough at first and it is, but the rewards are unbelievable. Best part, besides the images, you meet a lot of good people this way.
In the Camera Bag:
Nikon D3, 24-70 AF-S f/2.8, 70-200 VRII, on Lexar UDMA Digital Film