Getting good and varied images
Air to air photography from the boomer’s position offers a different perspective from tankers that use a trailing hose and drogue system. You have an almost unique head-on view of approaching receiving aircraft, which are only a few feet away. Using the best lens for the job is essential, using a digital x1.6 crop factor, I prefer to use a DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105mm zoom lens, or the 17-40mm lens which is almost as good. Most good shots seem to be taken in the 17mm to 60mm range I find.
On arriving at the aircraft prior to a photo-shoot you will be introduced to the Captain and Co-pilot who will be busy with their pre-flight procedures. The boomer will be your main point of contact. I have found all boomers to be particularly friendly and helpful. Apart from making sure you are safe by giving you a flight safety briefing, they will do their best to make sure you get the best possible images. You do need to ask for what images you are looking for.
You should be shooting through a clear flat glass window, however although optically perfect, hydraulic fluid or fuel can frequently coat the glass preventing crisp clear photographs. The blurring of the images worsens the further the receiver is from you.
Firstly I go to the boomer’s position at the rear of the aircraft which four feet below the cabin floor. I want to check the state of the glass window, if it is dirty then as the ground crew are obliged to keep this window clean they will be happy to sort out any problems. Remember it’s too late to have anything done after take-off!
It’s possible to sit in the ‘jump’ seat behind the pilots for the take-off and landing, head-phones are usually offered so that you can listen in to the radio communications. Photography from this position can be approved by the Captain if requested, but make sure you ask if and when you can use flash. If they are aware that you will be using flash then I have found that permission is even granted for the take-off and landing. As boomers have more spare time prior to take-off, I tend to put all my requests through them. The ideas you have for shots are best discussed before take-off, when it is quiet and the boomer has more time. Don’t leave it till when they are in the boomer’s position with the head-phones on as the receiver is approaching. I am not sure when they discuss photographic options with the pilot as you can’t hear them speak to the pilot though their lip-mike.
Each side of the Boomer there are positions where you can lie down and take your photographs. The right-side is better as the window extends further to the right, this was to allow a better view for the Boomer instructors when they are being trained.
Ask the boom operator if he can ask the pilot of the receiving aircraft to do a few extra things before he has to go. Pilots can have time restrictions if they are on their way to a target and will be depart in seconds after disconnecting. However if they are on a routine training sortie or on their way home after a ‘strike’ then some time maybe available for some different shots.
I always ask for the boom to be moved away as soon as the receiver disconnects, so that it does not get in the picture. Most of the pictures you take will show the boom in the image as they make their approach and close in on the nozzle. To get more unobstructed shots also ask for the receiving aircraft to descend 30 feet or so, rather than pull back, for a full frame top shot. A pilot may be able to break right or left with a ‘wing-over’ for a more dramatic shot. Once he has done wing-over he is gone for good, so make that your last request! The break can happen very quickly, the boomer can tell you that it is about to happen but not always, so be ready.
Pilots of formations of aircraft may have time to form a tactical formation behind the tanker, again ask if this can be requested.
Refuelling can take two or three minutes for fighters and apart from cock-pit shots there are not many other possible shots. Then I often dash upstairs to shoot out the side cabin windows for a minute or two before returning for the disconnect. As only one aircraft can receive fuel at a time the rest of any formation before and after taking fuel will formate on or behind the tanker’s wing. There are four side windows, two each side, the two above the wings leading edges seem to have little photographic potential, the other two are well placed behind the wings. The cabin windows are like portholes and are very poor optically and often have blemishes. I move the camera’s lens around the window, shooting many shots in the hope that one comes out blemish free. You can get lucky especially if the subject aircraft is very close to you, again ask the boomer to request this.
If you are flying above very bright white clouds exposure is very import if you are to show every detail in the cloud. I reduce exposure by around one stop or more, using the camera’s exposure compensation feature.
In the boomer’s position their are two angled side windows, don’t discount these, a wide-angle shot can show more of the aircraft than from the main window, when it is receiving fuel and the nose of the receiver is hidden beneath the tanker.
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