Target Aviation Photography

Top Shots Gallery 2

The Need for Speed...

Saab JA37 Viggen of the Swedish Air Force (Flygfapnet F21 37411/11) at the Air Power Demo at Zeltweg, Austria on 27th June 2003.

I was using a Canon EOS 10D with a Sigma 50-500mm lens at ISO 200, aperture priority f6.7 and shutter speed 1/100. The shot was taken after a heavy rainshower, and the light conditions were still poor for action shots. I forgot to set the ISO setting at 400 ISO for a faster shutter speed but still managed to get a sharp shot at just 1/100sec shutter speed, by good panning.

F-15C (79-0075 / BT) +1 of the 36 TFW based at Bitburg AFB, Germany. Taken at Cambrai-Epinoy, France at the 1986 Tiger Meet on 15^th June 1986.

I was using a Pentax MX with a Pentax 400mm lens with Fuji 100 ASA slide film. I had pre-focused on the runway, when some BT Eagles taxied out it wasn't exactly something that I hadn't shot before. I had turned off the autowinder but fortunately the camera was wound on. I was holding it loosely by my side when shortly after take off something interesting started to happen. I pulled the camera up to my eye and got off this one shot. I was amazed at how well it came out.

F-15A Eagle (76-0033 / SL) of 131^st Tactical Fighter Wing, Missouri Air National Guard taken at St. Louis – Lambert, St. Louis International, Missouri on March 25, 2003.

I was using my Canon EOS D60 with Canon EF USM 100-300mm lens for the departure of the F-15. As an aircraft maintenance crew chief I have a security rating enabling me to sit out next to the active runways and shoot.

F-14D Tomcat of VF101 Sqn "The Grim Reapers" at NAS Oceana, Virginia, USA (Neptune Air Show) in September 1999.

I used a Canon EOS 5 with Sigma 75-400mm and Fuji Velvia slide film taken at 1/500. The shot was planned on the second day of the Air Show, as I first saw and liked the low level fly-by the day before with the wings half swept over the main runway. Other fly-byes included the wings fully swept and another slow approach with arrestor hook lowered.

F-16 of the Thunderbirds Display Team at Nellis Air Show on 15th November 2003.

I used my Canon EOS 10D with a EF 35-350mm lens set at shutter priority of 1/750 to freeze the action. As the aircraft broke from formation at high speed in front of me, I was lucky to catch the action.

Tornado GR.1P (ZA326) of QinetiQ at Boscombe Down, in the Welsh Hills of Low Flying Area (LFA) 7, on 7th November 2003 at 11:54 a.m.

I used my Canon EOS 10D set at ISO 200 with a EF 100-400mm L IS lens. I was lucky to capture the action.

BAC Strikemaster Mk.87 (G-UVNR) ex Kenya Air Force now owned by Global Aviation Services at Exeter. Low level through A5 pass, Wales on 14th August 2003, the day before RAF Valley photocall.

I was using a Canon EOS D60 with Canon EF 100-400mm L IS and I had decided on 400 ISO although I would have got away with 200 ISO for this particular shot. It was taken at 1/500, f7.1 with full 400mm zoom (640mm with D60). The A5 Pass is the standard low level route to RAF Valley, it was hoped that something a little unusual might put in an appearance, and indeed we had already seen a Hunter earlier in the day.

The time was 17:46 and unfortunately the position of the location, (which is inside of a 90 degree bend), is facing in a southerly direction and into the sun all afternoon. Luckily at this time of year the sun is still quite high and the aircraft tend to stay below it when flying through the valley. It can also be quite dark in the lower part of the valley, so it was crucial to set the camera in such a way that you can take the shot depending on the height of the aircraft and the light at the time. As you can see, although backlit there is a fair amount of detail.

F-16AM Fighting Falcon (J-016) of 312 Sqn RNLAF arriving at RIAT 2002 at RAF Fairford on 19^th July 2002.

I was using my Canon EOS 50e and Canon EF 75-300mm lens. The camera was hand held with a shutter speed of only 1/60^th with Fuji Sensia 100 film. It was overcast for this early morning arrival. I used this very slow shutter speed to blur the background.

F-111C (A8-143) of Royal Australian Air Force. Its first dump and burn display in the UK at the Royal Jubilee Air Show at RAF Finningley July 1977.

I used a Pentax SP1000 and Sigma 300mm f5.6 preset lens. Kodak print film was used, the negative being scanned some 25 years later, the quality suffering a little. Anticipating the approach, but not knowing exactly what to expect, I left the show early to go to the far side via the Church yard and a gap in the airfield hedge. Almost by surprise the F-111 flew from over my right shoulder and immediately start to flame. This is the only shot I took, and remains one of my all time favourites.

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