Photographic Portfolio of 2011

Each year I like to produce a collection of my best and favourite images. Most have been published in books and magazines and possibly in conjunction with features and as such were chosen by the editor in question. I hope you like this snapshot of best work from 2011, it has been a good year with four magazine front covers.

Portfolios by Category

Air to air portfolio - click here for more images and reports.
If everything goes right then the images obtained from a refuelling tanker, whether RAF Tristar or VC-10, are stunning and yet so easy to take. However, it is not as easy as you think. Firstly, it is almost impossible to get accepted by the RAF and other air forces for a flight these days. Some days there is extremely high cloud which leads to dull images. If the aircraft appears on the sunny side of the photo-ship then the resulting silhouettes are often uninspiring. The windows of air refuelling tankers are often scratched hand have image distorting blemishes. The cloud formations aren't always the best. However nearly every flight produces something that is a little bit special. The images below were chosen, apart for the subject itself, but for their nice lighting, sharpness and good cloud formations.

Air International January 2010. Image for article 'Heading for a six squadron world'. Typhoon F.2 (ZJ936 'QO-S') in 3(F) Squadron markings while air refuelling over North Sea.

Air Forces Monthly May 2011. Image for article "Last days of the Mighty Hunter?". Nimrod R.1 (XW664) of 51 Squadron in 2004 over the North Sea.

Harrier by Tim McLelland published April 2011. Harrier T.10 (ZH665 '113') with a 4(AC) Squadron Harrier GR.7 in 2004.

Low level flying portfolio - click here for more images and reports.
This is my real passion. Finding a steep sided valley and waiting for some fast jet action is very relaxing. You might only get one or two jets in a day, but who cares? The scenery is often stunning and often alone it gives you a good chance to unwind from the pressures of life. The anticipation of a jet flying up your valley is exciting. The thrill of capturing a jet with the ground as a backdrop is more than you can imagine.

UK Air Power 2011 published in May 2011. Front cover, 5,400 words and 15 images for article 'Fly Low Level - An Essential but Perishable Skill'
Left to right: Some of the images used for the article.
Tornado GR.4 (ZD810 '102') it has 'Spirit of Speyside' nose art and was in XV Squadron marking flying low through mid-Wales in October 2008. 
MC-130H Combat Talon II (88-0195) of 7 SOS, 352 SOG based at Mildenhall at low level through Cumbria in August 2010.
F-15E Strike Eagle (98-0131) of 492 FS, 48 FW in mid-Wales in October 2009.
4 Regiment Apache AH.1 leaving the Forward Refuelling Point (FRP) on Salisbury Plain Training Area during Exercise 'Pashtun Rat' in February 2010.
Hawk T.2 (ZK018) of BAE Systems during a low level training flight for a 19(R) instructor in preparation for the Hawk T.2 to enter service with the RAF at Valley in March 2009.
Fighter pilot using the Advanced mission planning software is designed for aircrew to plan their entire sortie.
2(AC) Squadron Tornado GR.4's (ZG726 '125' and ZA614 '076') at RAF Marham about to depart on a low-level night flying sortie in January 2011.

Air International May 2011, inside page image for article 'Last Shout for the Tremblers'. Tornado F.3 (ZE791) of 111(F) Squadron, taken in Cumbria at 13:24 on March 28 this image was the last ever to be taken of an RAF Tornado F.3 at low level.
Air Forces Monthly published November 2011. Front cover: F-15E Strike Eagle (96-0205 'LN') in October 2008.

UK Air Power 2011 published in May 2011. Additional images for articles; '22 Group' and 'Will we ever see them again?'.
Left to right: 76(R) Squadron Tucano T.1 (ZF269 'MP-O' named 'Oh-De-Oh') in June 2010.
Tornado F.3 (ZE734 'JU') in 111 Squadron special colours on its way back to Leuchars in July 2009.

Aeronautika published in July 2011. Front cover, 5,400 words and 14 images for article; 'Letenje na malim visinama - Vještina koja je važna, ali brzo nestaje (Fly Low Level - An Essential but Perishable Skill)'
Left to right: Some of the images used for the article.
F-15E Strike Eagle (98-0131) of 492 FS, 48 FW in mid-Wales in October 2009.
Tornado GR.4 (ZG777 '135') in mid-Wales in June 2009.
The air traffic control centre at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. The building houses the Low Flying Operations Squadron (LF Ops Sqn) the Low Flying Booking Cell (LFBC) is downstairs.
Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ928 'QO-N') in mid-Wales in October 2010.
Hawk T.1 (XX201) of 208(R) Squadron in mid-Wales in August 2009.
Squirrel HT.1 (ZJ254 '54') of 670 Squadron on Salisbury Plain Training Area in September 2010.
French Air Force Alpha Jet E (E82 '314-LW) at low level in June 2010.

Aranysas magazine published October 2011. My written article of three pages and six images entitled 'Alacsonyan-Biztonságosan, Hegyek között, völgyek között…' (Low-Safe, Mountains, Valleys...). Special thanks to my good friend Endre for the Hungarian translation.
Left to right: Some of the images used for the article.
MC-130H Combat Talon II (87-0024) of 7th SOS, 352 SOG in May 2011.
Staff at the Low Flying Booking Cell (LFBC) the circle of computer operators is known as the 'Carousel'.
Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ928 'QO-N') in mid-Wales in October 2010.
'A show of force' - 31 Squadron Tornado GR.4 (ZA452 '021') with a 67 degree swept wing and after-burners in June 2010.
Advanced mission planning sofrware is designed for aircrew to plan their entire sortie, demonstrated at RAF Wittering.

Hawk T.2 (ZK018) of BAE Systems during a low level training flight for a 19(R) instructor in preparation for the Hawk T.2 to enter service with the RAF at Valley in March 2009 image used for Aviation News December 2011 issue.

On base and exercises portfolio - I visited a number of bases in 2011, click here for more images and reports.

Aviation World published in September 2011. Image for article on RAF Dominies. Dominie T.1 (XS709 'M') heading the final line-up at RAF Cranwell on January 20, 2011.

Flying In Ireland February 2011. My written article 'Farewell to the RAF Harriers'

Air shows portfolio - I covered some fantastic air shows in 2011, click here for more images and reports.

de Havilland Moth Club magazine 'The Moth' published in September 2011 which used 23 of my images from the 29th International Moth Rally held at Belvoir Castle, August 20-21, 2011.

Flying Legends Duxford July 9, 2011.

Association Jean-Baptiste Salis Air Meeting Cerny - La Ferte-Alais, France June 11-12, 2011.