A number of aviation and photography magazines have recently published my work, notably; 

Aeronautika,  Aircraft Illustrated,  Air Combat,  Air Forces Monthly,  Air International,  Airports of the World,  Aranysas,  Aviation History,  Aviation News,  Aviation and Time,  Aviation World, Club Wings,  Combat Aircraft,  Control & Automation,  Flieger Revue,  Flight International,  Flying in Ireland,  General Aviation,  Loop,  Lotnictwo, The Moth,  Pilot,  Ptisi & Diastima,  RAF Magazine,  Rivista Aeronautica,  Royal Air Force Yearbook,  Royal Air Force Annual Review,  Sailplane & Gliding,   UK Air Power,  Digital Photographer,  EOS Magazine,  Outdoor Photography and even in Maxim!

 Aviation Photography - The aims of this website

Firstly, the Target Aviation Photography site aims to promote my main interest in life (apart from my family) aviation photography. Totally focussed on aviation photography if I am not planning an assignment or for an event, whether it be in the UK, Europe or North America, then I am taking time off to go to Wales or Cumbria for low level flying photography. Aviation Photography for me includes, vintage and veteran civil aircraft, warbirds (see Duxford/Imperial War Museum) and modern military aircraft which add a bit more excitement to aviation photography when they are flying. I am lucky to be able to fly with the RAF and other air forces for air to air images, which takes my aviation photography a stage further. Military base visits give me a chance to talk to pilots and to get in close. Aviation photography is so much better when the shots are taken of aircraft in their natural surroundings away from the public and barriers.

Secondly, the Target Aviation Photography website aims to bring ideas and inspiration to other aviation photographers. I hope that does not sound too pompous! I am just fed up of the same old side-on shots. Such aspects as; action, angles, backgrounds, time of day and weather should all be included in the creative thought processes.

 About Me

I was born in Toronto, Canada in 1956. My father served with the RAF in the 50's, but after moving to Canada for some years we returned to England to settle in the Midlands. From the mid 1960's I lived in Elmdon Lane, beside Elmdon Airport or as it is now known, Birmingham International Airport. I witnessed the first jet to land there in 1967, a KLM Douglas DC-9. I took up spotting from the age of nine or ten and photography followed a few years later. My first serious camera was a second hand Pratica 35mm SLR. I remember taking landing shots with my only lens, a standard 50mm, at RAF Valley in the early 70's whilst sitting amongst the landing lights, the jets were full frame! I bought my first telephoto lens in 1973 a 300mm f5.6 Sigma for just £22, my telephoto lenses have been replaced many times since, with more expensive models. I have favoured Canon equipment for the last 25 years or more.

Travelling widely I am searching for the most interesting and exciting aircraft images. I specialise in military aircraft and civil aircraft, as long as the type first flew before 1960. Why 1960 you ask, well prior to the 60's aircraft were hand crafted and had character, they were not the mass produced 'tins' of the modern day. I must admit these days it is getting harder to find quality civil aircraft when turning up by chance at a small French airfield for example. My favourite civil airfield is Cerny-La Ferte Alais just outside Paris, which is the home of l'Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis (AJBS), with it's wonderful collection of veteran (warbirds!) aircraft. They host the Meeting Aerienne at the end of May/early June each year.

My favourite museums are the Italian Air Force Museum (Museo Storico) at Vigna di Valle, Rome and the Belgium Air Force Museum (Musée Royal de l'Armée et d'Histoire Militaire) in Brussels. I must have visited Vigna di Valle at least 20 times over the years, the lakeside vista, the incredible unique exhibits are just a wonder. One of my favourite aviation shows used to be at Woburn Abbey, England where the DH Moth Club held their annual Moth fly-in which is now held at Belvoir Castle.

I have taken colour prints, processed my own film and black and white prints in a dark room constructed in my bathroom. I have 1000's of slides from a period when I did not have the time to process my film and prints. Since 2003 I have only used digital cameras, processing the digital images has given me once again, full creative control over my pictures. My two children and long-suffering wife struggle to understand my obsession for aviation photography but are supportive to a degree.

Mostly self taught, I attended Sutton Coldfield College to study photography achieveing an 'A' grade at GCSE level. I went on to get distinctions at 'City and Guilds' level exams for the following subjects; Movement and Action, Portraiture, Natural History, Black and White, and Photo-journalism.

Philip Stevens