Kevin Hong
WELCOME TO THE MARCH 2016 ISSUE OF ISNAP!
Great Eastern Fly-In: Evans Head NSW Australia John Freedman WWII Airborne Demonstration Team Gary Daniels The Road To Normandy With The Ladies For Liberty Wanda Martin Meet Our Members Andrew Krob, Bonnie Kratz, David Byrne, Michael Carter, Yvette Walter Collaboration and Creativity Doug Glover How I Got The Shot Phil Makanna Mystery Plane Silhouettes John Ford 2016 Demo Schedules FRONT COVER PHOTO: Larry Grace Taken at 2015 EAA Air Venture, Oshkosh, WI, a WWII re-actor posing for the photographers in Warbird alley. Camera: Nikon D4S Lens: Nikkor 24-120mm Focal Length: 85mm Shutter Speed: 1/800 Aperture: f/8 ISO: 125 Mode: Aperture Priority Format: RAW Process: Nikon CaptureNX2, Photoshop CC. B/W and detail work using Nik Silver Efx Pro and Color Efx Pro 4. BACK COVER: Preview of April’s issue of ISnAP
ISAP’s goal is to bring together our members who share a love of aviation, and want to preserve its history through their images. Through our organization, members can seek to enhance their artistic quality, advance technical knowledge, and improve safety for all areas of aviation photography while fostering professionalism, high ethical standards, and camaraderie. ISAP continues to help our members to better their photography skills, workflow, and set up resources to help with business questions that our members have. Updates are being made to the ISAP website and member portfolio section, and we are showcasing ISAP members’ images and accomplishments on our social media pages. In this issue we are continuing to highlight ISAP members. I’m sure you will enjoy learning how your fellow ISAP members got started, as well as seeing some of their images and learning some tips. Remember that ISnAP is your publication to share your images, stories and tips with other members and the public. We look forward to each member sharing his or her stories with all of us. Enjoy this issue of ISnAP! Sincerely, Larry Grace, President Kevin Hong, ISnAP Editor International Society for Aviation Photography www.aviationphoto.org • www.facebook.com/ISAPorg isnap@aviationphoto.org
Kevin Hong
w e l c o m e
n e w
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r e t u r n i n g
i s a p
m e m b e r s
Ed Simmons
Philip Johnson
Ronald Malec
Russell Munson
Brian R Veprek
Craig Swancy
Jimmy Froneberger
Paul Bowen
Mark Hrutkay
Brent Blue
Brian K Loflin
Denny Lombard
Gregory Meland
Roy Deters
Denis Rouleau
Ricardo Beccari
Matty Booty
Luis Sales
Yasuhiro Yama
Phil Makanna
Glenn Slott
Ismael Abeytua
Jim Koepnick
Charles Daniels
Tom Pawlesh
Katsuhiko Tokunaga
The ISnAP is a periodic publication of the International Society for Aviation Photography and is used to communicate news, functions, convention information, and other information of interest on the local, regional, and national scenes. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and should not be construed as the views or opinions of the International Society for Aviation Photography.
Great Eastern Fly - In Evans Head NSW Australia Article and images by John Freedman
As the Northern Hemisphere shivers through a chilling winter, down under we celebrate summer with the first aviation event of the year, the Great Eastern Flyin at Evans Head. Held over the weekend of the 9-10th January it featured brilliant weather, and a good attendance. Opened during WW2 the Evans Head No1 Bombing & Gunnery school was one of the largest training bases in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 5000 airmen were trained there, and the area is still active with the Evans Head bombing range. The airfield is on the NSW State heritage Register. The airshow section featured a T-28, Texan, Mentor, Mustang, Yak-3 ‘Steadfast’, two Winjeels, a Nanchang, two Yak-52s, and a Mallard. Although there was a small selection of aircraft, the flying is popular for its social atmosphere and location close to the beach. I got to do an aerial photo session with Mark Awad, the CEO of Australian Warbirds, in his CAC-25 Winjeel A85-429. The Winjeel is an Australian designed and built Trainer/ Forward Air Control aircraft that was in RAAF service from 1955 to 1995. Winjeel is Aboriginal for ‘Young Eagle’.
WWII AIRBORNE DEMONSTRATION TEAM H O N O R I N G
V E T E R A N S
Story and photography by Gary Daniels
T H R O U G H
A I R B O R N E
H E R I T A G E
1944 Frederick Army Airfield training class annual photo. There are some still among us that were called upon to do the daring, the unthinkable, the seemingly impossible. The youngest are turning 90, and their ranks diminish each and everyday. Soon, they will all be gone. But today, we can still talk to the few, marvel at their stories, shake their hands and thank them for their service before the airborne veterans of WWII take their last jump. In 1942, the War Department chose a spot on the prairie outside of Frederick, Oklahoma, flat land for miles that was perfect to build a huge airfield to provide advanced multi-engine training to thousands of young aviators. Frederick Army Airfield (FAAF) became operational in September 1942. Over the next three years, more than 400 buildings, three giant hangars, four runways, and acres of tarmac were constructed. FAAF was deactivated in October 1945, and was eventually turned over to the City of Frederick. Over the decades, all the buildings were dismantled, demolished, or decayed away. Of the three giant hangars, only one exists today, a remarkable historical relic of WWII. So, what does the Frederick Army Airfield have to do with WWII airborne veterans? Richard Wolf grew up in post war America hearing the stories of WWII veterans. When his time came, he enlisted in the US Army serving in Special Forces in several postings including Southeast Asia. “Top,” as he is called, served 24 years, log more than 1900 jumps, and retired a Sergeant First Class.
ADT founder, Richard ‘Top’ Wolf US Army Special Forces Sergeant First Class (Ret.)
After Top retired, he wanted to do something to honor all US veterans in all branches of service. He had read about the War Bond Airborne Demonstration Team that traveled around the country during WWII thrilling the American public with airborne drops exciting them to buy War Bonds. Top had a ‘eureka moment’ to use the WWII War Bond concept to do the same…focus on the exciting WWII airborne history to be the platform to honor all veterans, educate the public and keep history alive. And, because of his extensive airborne experience he knew this could be achieved. With the concept clarified, Top founded the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team (ADT) in 1996. In 1998, ADT learned that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) was decommissioning their C47 fleet. A friend of Top’s, Dr. Bruce O’Brian, had been looking for a C47 restoration project. After a year long effort, Dr. O’Brian purchased a C47 in 1999 from the IAF. It was flown to Canada, then on to Lawton, Oklahoma where ADT member Ray Cunningham’s company, Regional Air, began work on restoration of the aircraft. ADT member Paul Rasys, at the time an aircraft mechanic for American Eagle, was a crucial volunteer that helped restore the C47 back to airworthiness. The C47 was eventually christened Boogie Baby and painted in the markings of the 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Troop Carrier Squadron. Since Boogie Baby began service with ADT, more that 11,000 jumps have been conducted from this historic aircraft.
deserves. And, the citizens of Frederick are happy to have ADT as part of their community.
The historical ADT hangar came very close to being demolished in 2005. Moving to Frederick began a new chapter for ADT. Being housed in an authentic WWII hangar is truly unique and greatly adds to ADT’s mission. The hangar includes barracks that have been restored to their WWII status. Entering the barracks is stepping back over 70 years in time. When students arrive for training, they are struck by the feeling of reporting to ‘basic training’ in a setting that is right out of 1942. The hangar has a mess hall, classroom, space for airborne ground school, a parachute repair and storage section, a large area for parachute folding and packing, maintenance spaces, storage areas for the large amount of aircraft parts and service equipment, restroom with showers, and a barracks with restroom and showers for the female students and members. But, there is even a more important benefit to the hangar. Due to the cooperation of local landowners, ADT can drop their troopers on flat farmland about a mile from the hangar. This is very efficient during operations. Boogie Baby can takeoff, climb to 1500’ AGL, drop her ‘sticks’ (troops) and be back on the ground in 15 minutes loading up another group of students or members. This reduces time in the air to the DZ (drop zone), and keeps fuel costs down for those very thirsty, big radial engines.
ADT’s C47 Boogie Baby was acquired from the Israeli Air Force in 1999. Built in Oklahoma City in 1942, she is back at Oklahoma home in Frederick. Boogie Baby is a WWII veteran. Built in 1942 at the Douglas Aircraft plant in Oklahoma City, she was part of the lead-lease program, shipped to England in 1943, and began serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) as FL633. FL633 was involved in training missions for the invasion of Europe then transferred to the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater in May 1944. FL633 spent the rest of the war flying missions in the CBI, Middle East and Mediterranean. Records indicate that FL633 returned to the UK and transferred out of the RAF in November 1945. The aircraft flew with the French Air Force and records show it flew with the Israeli Air Force (IAF) from 1972 until being sold in 1999. Because Boogie Baby never entered civilian service, she retains much of her original configuration, including the double cargo-jump doors and radio and navigator compartments and equipment. Boogie Baby was housed at Lawton’s Regional Air until something incredible happened in 2005. Remember Frederick Army Airfield being mentioned earlier in this story? In 2005, plans were made to burn the sole remaining WWII hangar in a county wide fire department training exercise. ADT found out about the upcoming demolition of the historical hangar and rushed to meet the City of Frederick with a plan to save the structure. If the City of Frederick would lease the hangar to ADT, ADT would move to Frederick to conduct airborne training and operations and maintain the historic facility. The City of Frederick approved the plan, and after much work and cost to bring the hangar to minimal standards, ADT and Boogie Baby moved into their new home. Over the years, the hangar has undergone constant repair and renovation. The hangar is the perfect facility for ADT, and they treat it with the reverence it
Two times a year, in January and July, ADT conducts an authentic jump school in the WWII US Army airborne tradition. Novice students to experienced jumpers familiarize themselves with military style round canopy static line jumping. Students must be at least 18 years old, but all ages have gone through the training. It’s not uncommon to have students in their 50’s and 60’s taking the course. Over ten days, the students complete 50 hours of rigorous training and tests that ensure that they are able to make five successful static line jumps from ADT’s C-47, completing the school and earn their “Jump Wings.” The school is conducted in WWII US Army protocol. Students train wearing HBT fatigues and jump in authentic WWII M42 jump uniforms. It takes around 50 team members, who volunteer and use their vacation time to be at Frederick, to run the school. Everything from training, to cooking meals, to making sure the parachutes are operational, to aircraft maintenance, to piloting the aircraft…all are volunteers dedicated to ADT’s mission. The highlight of the week is the last day of training when ADT holds an Open Hangar Day. The hangar is open to the public, and they experience first hand troopers gearing up, loading on the aircraft, and jumping at the nearby DZ. The public also has the chance to meet veterans that are invited to the event. Many of them are actual WWII airborne veterans that fought in the epic battles of the war. These veterans are treated like visiting royalty. They are embraced by the team and considered honored members of the ADT family. They are the very reason the ADT exists. The honor and respect that are shown to them is heartwarming. More than one veteran has had tears in his eyes as he has expressed his thanks to the team.
The veterans also have the opportunity to ride in the aircraft during jump operations. The troopers love having them on board. They sit near the jump door so they can see the troopers step out into the wild blue just as they did so long ago. After the flight, the veterans sign their names on one of the inside fuselage panels. Boogie Baby now has dozens of signatures adding even more honor to her history. One airborne veteran commented after a flight, “I’ve taken off in many C47’s, but this is the first time I have landed in one!”
ADT Commander Ray Steeley, Colonel, US Army Special Forces (Ret.), pins Jump Wings on a student that completed the requirements and made five successful jumps over the nine day jump school. During the Open Hangar Day, ADT holds a graduation where the students that complete jump school are presented their Jump Wings in a ceremony designed to remember and honor the airborne heritage. A touching aspect of the ceremony is when the students are presented their Jump Wings by an attending WWII airborne veteran. These humble heroes bridge 70 plus years to the present as they pin the students. For the audience, it is a special experience, and they know they are witnessing living history that is soon to be only a memory. You can hear a pin drop during the ceremony. In 2008, ADT purchased a second aircraft found in Florida, a hurricane damaged C49. The aircraft was eventually flown to Frederick and has been undergoing restoration ever since. This aircraft was repainted in the same squadron markings as Boogie Baby and named Boop B Doop. Boop B Doop’s history needs to be research further, but it is known that she was a military transport in the waning days of WWII. She was recently flown to Tulsa, Oklahoma for further restoration at the newly created ADT Tulsa Squadron. Volunteers in Tulsa will return her to her former glory. Boop B Doop will be renamed and repainted, then participate in airborne operations with Boogie Baby in the near future. The mission of ADT is two-fold: to remember, honor and serve all veterans of all branches who have served to preserve America’s freedom, and, to inform and educate the public through airborne demonstrations. Once an ADT member has completed 35 jumps they are eligible, as per FAA regulations, to participate in airborne demonstrations at airshows or special events. ADT members wear authentic WWII uniforms, carry authentic equipment, and use round style military parachutes to lend an air of nostalgia and provide an historical link to WWII for the spectators. ADT has performed at many airshows in the United States and commemorative events in Europe. 2014 was a banner year for ADT. Several major WWII events in Europe commemorated 70th anniversaries. In June, ADT members completed five jumps in Normandy, France to commemorate Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day. In August, team members jumped at Draguignan, France to commemorate Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France. And, in September, they jumped at Nijmegen, Holland
to commemorate Operation Market Garden. There was a time when hundreds of aircraft dropping thousands of troopers flew over each of these locations. 70 years later, mustering a handful C47/DC3 variants to drop less than 100 troopers, from the US and Europe, was a herculean challenge, but well worth the effort to commemorate these epic events and keep the history alive.
ADT members at the 70th D-Day commemoration in Normandy, France in June 2014. The ADT performed five airborne jumps at actual WWII drop zones during the commemoration. It’s been 20 years since Top founded the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team. He is the first to admit that it has grown far beyond what he had ever imagined. He points out that it’s not because of him, far from it. It’s because of all the members, past and present, that have volunteered countless hours to create what ADT is today. ADT members come from all walks of life and many are veterans. They bring incredible skills and expertise to the team, and all respect the ADT mission to remember, honor and serve America’s veterans and military heritage. Each member realizes that ADT’s mission becomes more important everyday. For everyday, another WWII airborne veteran takes his last jump. A note about the photography: I met members of ADT during an ISAP event in Virginia in 2012. They were scheduled to jump from the C46 Tinker Bell, but the jump was canceled due to weather. I talked with them, under the wing to get out of the rain, and was surprised to find out that they were based in Frederick, Oklahoma. That is only three hours northwest of Dallas. So, I always plan a visit during their jump schools. I enjoy photographing ADT from a story-tellers point-of-view, more of a photojournalistic approach you could say. I enjoy capturing the fast action and the historical nature of the event. I shoot with a Nikon D800, Nikon 28-300 and a Tokina 17-35. This allows me to travel light and be flexible for the varied situations. On the aircraft, I wear a harness and connect to the static line aft of, or directly across from the jump door. The space inside the C47 Boogie Baby is confined when loaded. On take off, the plane carries up to 20 troopers, a jumpmaster and master-jumpmaster/spotter. On the first pass one stick is dropped…10 troopers. Then, on the second pass the second stick and the jumpmaster jump. It only takes about 10-15 seconds for 10 troopers to exit the plane, so the shooting is fast and furious during the drops. On the return flight to the field I am in the plane with just the master-jumpmaster and the pilots. It’s a rush to stand in the middle of that big jump door on the way back. I always get excited and think I just might go to the school, make my five jumps, and get my Jump Wings! I always manage to talk myself out of it on my drive back to Dallas.
If you would like to become a member of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team and attend jump school, send an email to recruiting@wwiiadt.org to find out more. The World War II Airborne Demonstration Team is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is funded by the generosity of the general public. All donations to the team, whether they be in financial support, artifacts or services are tax deductible under the rules of IRS code 501(c)(3). The organization would not be able to maintain its commitment to our veterans without the support of its volunteer membership and the generosity of the general public. To find out more, visit: wwiiadt.org.
Troopers gear up before a jump and go through two safety checks called JMPI’s…Jump Master Parachute Inspection.
Dayton Herrington, US Army Command Sergeant-Major (Ret.), checks the wind speed on the ADT drop zone before a drop. Herrington was jumping with ADT into his early ‘80’s.
Troopers are gathered up after a jump, in the ADT transport, to be taken back to hangar.
ADT treats visiting veterans like royalty. Dick Field served in the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion/82nd Airborne during WWII.
Students are honored to have a visiting veterans present their Jump Wings. Gene Gilbreath, 506th Parachute Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne, salutes a graduating student.
Leon ‘Jed’ Jedziniak. Medic, 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne
WWII airborne veteran Vince Speranza, 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne, is ready for a flight in Boogie Baby.
Several women have completed the ADT Jump School. Pictured left to right: Katelyn Harriott, 2LT Fincher, active US Army, visiting to maintain her airborne currency, and Sharon Bennett, ADT’s Public Affairs Officer.
The student barracks, at the historic ADT hangar, appear as they did over 70
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Normandy, France, was always some place I read about in my many reference books about WWII and just dreamed of visiting. Since recently reading Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 4 inch thick book on his strategies of winning the war in Africa & Europe, my enthusiasm grew until I pledged that my WWII Andrews Sisters troupe, Ladies for Liberty, would someday walk the shores where our brave soldiers landed and entertain there. Not only did we get to visit Omaha & Utah Beaches in 2014 and 2015, but we also were invited to sing at the many ceremonies held in St. Mere Eglise, the first small town in France where the U.S. paratroopers also landed on June 6, 1944. As we landed in Paris and spent 3 days there, it was hard to imagine the city in ruins as I had read about. It is a beautiful city with beautiful people. Our French interpreter, Ms. Francoise Horn, who was raised in Normandy, but has since become a U.S. citizen, is a close friend and was invaluable as we navigated our way around the city. Also on our trip was Mr. Kevin Hong, Sector K Media, a photographer/videographer out of Houston, who was documenting our trip for a promo video. Kevin’s specialty is taking photos of aerobatic airplanes in action at air shows. That is where the Ladies for Liberty entertain mostly, at air shows around the U.S., Canada and the world representing vintage aircraft. So it was a perfect match.
When we arrived in Normandy, a wonderful man, Mr. Raymond Mouquet, and his wife, Nicole, of St. Laurent Ser Mur, welcomed us with open arms with accommodations and transportation to all our performances. He is a former Mayor of the city and was responsible for building a memorial called “The Braves” on Omaha Beach dedicated to all the soldiers that came ashore and lost their lives saving France from the Nazis. We met many French people who were very grateful even to this day for what the United States did for them during WWII. This feeling was evident in the younger generations as well, as it has been passed down to their children and grandchildren. Our first stop was the American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-surmer which is located on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. There are 9,387 white crosses marking the graves of brave U.S. service men and women who died during the invasion of the beaches of Normandy on June 6th, 1944. It was requested by a family in Kentucky that we try and find an uncle that was buried there. We found the grave and sang a special song, Requiem for a Soldier, on video to him. This song was written for the famous WWII movie, Band of Brothers. As if sanctioned, at that moment, two U.S. C-130s did a fly by close to us. What a great moment that was! Our first performance was for the Omaha-Bedford Veterans Association on Omaha Beach. This group entertains groups of WWII Veterans and their families when they visit Normandy during the yearly June anniversaries. It was such an honor to entertain there.
We were privileged to entertain for the Friends of American Veterans Association’s Banquet, along with U.S. Brass, which totaled 1,100 people in a large Quanson Hut. Even though aging, many WWII Veterans were present, and there were long lines of people, even teenagers, waiting to talk and even dance with them. They were certainly the “Stars” of every event we went to and rightly so. On June 6th, in St. Mere Eglise, we found ourselves looking skyward as the Round Canopy Parachute Team re-enactors fell from the C-47s just as they did on D-Day 1944. Everyone in that little city stopped and gazed at them as if it were happening all over again. I will never forget that moment and how it made me feel.
Mr. Mouquet’s big tent party was our second gig and it was lovely to look down upon Omaha Beach. What wonderful French dishes and breads were served! And the dancing! These people know how to drink wine and have fun! St. Mere Eglise was such a wonderful experience for our group. We were so honored to entertain daily for Mayor Jean Quetier, and Mr. Maurice Renaud, President of Friends of American Veterans Association, at the town square right next to the famous church with the replica of the wounded soldier, along with his flowing parachute that still hangs on the point of the steeple. This paratrooper’s name was Private John M. Steele of the 82nd Airborne and the story goes that he hung there for two hours pretending to be dead until the Germans finally cut him down and transported him to a German Prison Camp. Steele later escaped from the Germans and returned to his division. He was made famous in the movie, The Longest Day. Mr. Steele died in the U.S. on May 16, 1969.
WWII Veterans were sitting on street corners with huge crowds around them and we would wait our turn to meet them and sing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” to their delight! They were reminiscing and telling all about their experiences here and how they finally defeated the Germans and freed the townspeople. What wonderful, brave soldiers they were! I can’t imagine what they felt as they saw the beach where they had landed knowing so many others did not live to tell about it. On the evening of June 6th, the night ended with a giant fireworks display over the city. You barely had room to stand! Americans standing shoulder to shoulder with Frenchman just as it was in 1944. How fitting that these commemorations are still being held in Normandy and will continue to be held—remembering those who fought here. The Ladies for Liberty are very thankful for the honor of participating in such a worthy event.
We honor our WWII Veterans in particular as they are passing away so rapidly. We will always dedicate a portion of our program to these brave individuals, knowing someday there will be no more left with memories to tell us. But the Greatest Generation will always be in our hearts and minds as we entertain, as there will never be another. God Bless Them and Keep Them!
Ladies for Liberty is a 12 person singing troupe dedicated to WWII especially, but to all Wars, then and now and the liberties that we enjoy earned by our brave service men and women. The Ladies for Liberty can be contacted through Wanda Martin, Owner & Manager (502-664-0827) Email: wanda@ladiesforliberty.com) and through their website at: www.ladiesforliberty.com
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MEET OUR MEMBERS
MEET OUR MEMBER I joined a year ago, almost exactly, for the purpose of opening my eyes to other aviation photographers, learning, and networking. I found ISAP by doing a Google search, which is not that exciting of an explanation, but it is what I did. ISAP is the only photography association I have joined, though I am involved in the CAF HOA wing. During my times shooting airshows, I always run into someone that needs a little help, or advice. I try to help them understand their camera, possibly teach them enough to try out new things, and hope they get a better experience. To me, teaching is one of the basic things in my life, whether it’s my day job or aviation photography.
Andrew Krobb
I am located in the Kansas City area. However, I grew up in Wichita, KS also known as the air capital of the world. During much of my time in school I was fascinated with aviation. My walls were covered with airplanes, I built model airplanes, and during high school I thought I wanted to be an aeronautical engineer. Life took a different route, eventually leading to fueling my artistic side with photography. From there I learned using YouTube, magazines, books, and even the Kelby courses. Anything I could get my hands on to learn.
The one tip I would share is to get out there and do it. Practice. I used to play clarinet during school, and always heard from teachers to practice. At that point, I didn’t really want to. Now that I am doing aviation photography, I realize practicing makes you better. Combine passion and practice and you’ll really enjoy it!
When we were living in Arkansas, the two worlds collided. The B-29 FIFI was in Fayetteville, AR as well as Diamond Lil and Bucket of Bolts. I took my camera out and took photos. I realized after that, I had to take more. We moved to Kansas City two years ago. In 2015 I joined the Heart of America wing of the Commemorative Air Force, which allowed me to gain access for photographing planes in situations and positions that I would otherwise would not have been able to. I shoot with a Canon 6D. Primarily, my go to lens is a Canon 100 - 400 L. However, when doing aviation I always have my 24-105 L on me. I always shoot RAW. My thought on this is I can extract much better color out of the RAW than JPG. JPG might be faster, but it’s too much of a hassle for me to switch back and forth. I also always use Lightroom, since it is fast and efficient for my editing style. I may take it into Photoshop, I am no Photoshop wiz, but I always start in Lightroom. Added to this I also use the NIK collection on occasion.
ISO 100, 100 – 400mm zoomed to 260mm, with 1/100 sec. at f/13
ISO 1600, 100-400mm at 100mm, with 1/400 sec at f/5.6
ISO 100, 24-105mm zoomed to 35mm, with 1/40 sec at f/22
ISO 100, 100-400 zoomed to 400 mm, with 1/500 sec at f/11
ISO 100, 100-400 at 400mm, with 1/200 sec at f/14
ISO 400, my 24-105 at 105mm, with 1/160 sec at f/14
ISO 400, 17-40mm at 17mm, with 1/500 sec at f/6.3
ISO 400, 24-105mm zoomed to 47mm, with 1/25 sec. at f/6.3
ISO 100, 100-400mm at 400 mm, with 1/60 sec at f/25
ISO 400, 24-105mm at 105mm, with 1/160 sec at f/14
MEET OUR MEMBER
Bonnie Kratz
Let me introduce myself to those members who do not know me, and update my many friends in ISAP on what I am doing these days. I am your ISAP Treasurer and Board Member. Photography is my first passion, aviation is my second… or maybe aviation has been my first passion with photography as a bonus. I am a former EAA staff photographer, where I had the pleasure of being Photo 2 to Jim Koepnick’s Photo 1. Being able to learn air to air photography from Jim and Bruce Moore was a once in a lifetime job opportunity. In my time with EAA, I had Magazine Covers published by Sport Aviation, Sport Aerobatics, Warbirds, Vintage and Women For Aviation. I was also published in Flying Magazine, Aviation Week & Space Technology, and Plane and Pilot. While at EAA, I was featured as the cover story for Women In Aviation July/August 2007. WAI also brought me to several of their conferences as a speaker, with my favorite one being Anchorage, Alaska. I was awarded the 2014 Bruce Baty Volunteer of the Year by WAI. An honor I treasure. I currently shoot for WAI for their annual conference and EAA. So what else am I up to these days? I am a commercial photographer in the Greater Green Bay, Wisconsin area, specializing in aerial construction progress photography. I utilize the local FBO/flight instructor for my photo pilots, depending on where the construction site is located. I have wonderful working relationships with both FBO’s in Green Bay, the Fond du Lac Airport, and Middleton for my Madison assignments. In 2013 I was accepted as a protégé in the Green Bay Packer’s Mentor/Protégé Program and spent a year being mentored by the Boldt Co in Appleton, Wisconsin. In 2013 I was awarded a bid as a construction photographer for the Lambeau Field Onieda Gate Expansion Project for both aerial and surface photos. I then went on in 2014-2015 to cover the Atrium Expansion Project. As a life-long Packer fan, another once in a lifetime job opportunity. I live in rural Luxemburg on my husband, Gary’s, 4th generation farm. I have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. I am a board member on our local Luxemburg Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to seeing you at the next airshow.
MEET OUR MEMBER I take great pride in helping others learn this great hobby and affliction. I have friends that publish photos on my Facebook aviation groups and I always have helpful suggestions for them. It is great to see that those suggestions are taken to heart and their photos continually get better. The main thing that I tell anyone learning photography no matter what they take pictures of is learn the basics of photography, do not rely on the automation of the camera because only you can take a good photo. As for aviation photos, I tell folks, watch your sun angles and know where you want to shoot your aircraft. You do not have to run off a 25 shot burst in hopes of getting one good photo. When shooting Kodachrome K64 in the old days we didn’t have that luxury, you had to get it right the first time or you wasted a lot of money.
Michael Carter
My name is Michael Carter. I was born and raised in Long Beach, California where I still live today. Growing up next to the Douglas factory I obviously am a huge Douglas/McDonnell Douglas fan and historian. I have been taking photos of airplanes since 1974 when I got my first camera and seriously shooting since 1994. Taking pictures of airplanes was a no brainier for me as I have always been in love with airplanes (my wife tells me I love them more than her). I work for a major airline as an Operations Supervisor and always have a camera with me at work. I have no formal photographic training just learned on my own over the years. I did take photography classes in High School to learn the basics but that is it. I have learned a lot from fellow photographers over the years as well, a very valuable resource everyone should utilize. I am not a fancy or over the top artsy type aviation photographer, I just want the best photo possible of the aircraft I shoot for myself and my collection as I feel I am recording history to some degree. This again is a love of aircraft for me and not a competition. Over the years I have been published in several aviation magazines and have co-authored numerous stories published in both Airways Magazine and Airliners Magazine mainly featuring the McDonnell Douglas MD-95 (Boeing 717-200). Canon is my camera of choice and I shoot with two 7Ds, one body with a Canon 18-200mm lens the other body combined with a Canon 100-400mm IS lens. I also shoot slides with a Canon EOS 3 body combined with a Sigma 135-400mm lens and rounding out my camera arsenal is a Canon G12 digital camera for those times a less intrusive set-up is called for. As for general shooting practices I shoot in JPEG as I find this works best for me. It obviously requires less storage than RAW files do and that is one of the main considerations for me. I have recently upgraded to Photoshop Elements 9 from Photoshop 7 (which I have used for years) but the many enhancements of Elements 9 are very, very handy. I heard about this group from a good friend and found it to be very interesting after looking at the website. This is actually the first professional photography group that I have been associated with, so this is a new venture for me.
I also tell people not to take a so-so photos and plan on fixing the imperfections in a photo editing program, again get it right the first time, Ansel Adams did not have photoshop or lightroom to fall back on. Finally, I tell new aviation photographers to learn your hobby and learn about the aircraft. It’s not a race to see who can get their photo on the internet first it should be about getting the best photo possible for yourself and if others like or appreciate your photo that is a bonus.
MEET OUR MEMBER
David Byrne
I started Focal Flight, LLC, a Southern California based full service aerial photo business, about 10 years ago. Most of my business involves using aviation to acquire images. We do air-to-ground aerial photography and will do everything from hand held oblique images of individual houses to creating ortho-photos of hundreds of square miles. The aviation photography is a natural outcropping of this business. We have mapped many airports for everything for wall murals and posters, to geo-referenced ortho-photos used for engineering. I also do a fair amount of air-to-air photography. Since we have a vertical camera port in our aircraft, I had the idea of doing a vertical air-to-air image. The first image I did was a self portrait. I set up a Canon 5D MII in the vertical port of our mapping airplane. I attached a wireless shutter release to the camera. I flew a Pitts S1S myself and formed up directly below the camera ship. Once in position, I took the shot myself with the wireless remote from the cockpit of a Pitts S1s. Since then, we have done this with several other aircraft. I primarily use a Canon 5D MIII or a 5DS R now. For air-to-air images of propeller drives airplanes, we also have a Kenyon 6x6 gyro, which allows us to shoot with very low shutter speeds (usually 160th) producing a full disk from the propeller of the subject airplane while keeping the image sharp. I will shoot RAW or JPEG depending on the project. I use PhotoShop and Bridge for processing.
MEET OUR MEMBER
Yvette Walter
I am from Tampa, FL. I am self taught and considered semi-pro. I mostly photograph people in all situations. The bulk is skydivers (parachutists) traveling with the SOCOM Parachute Team. The bulk of my work is with the Rebel Canon T1i 15.1 MP Digital SLR shooting with a EF 75 - 300mm f/4 - 5.6 and 18 - 55 mm lens. I shoot JPG and use both Photoshop and Lightroom. Each has some qualities and processes I like. My friend Larry introduced me to ISAP and wanted to futher my reach and education through ISAP. The advice I can give is the more you photograph the more your eye begins to see. You’re not just taking a photo you are telling a story catching the right expression, light, background behind your subject matter.
COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY
Article by Doug Glover Photos by Doug Glover, Tony Granata, and Matt Genuardi
Nikon D7200 / 1/100sec / f5.6 / ISO-100 (CAF: Dixie Wing P-51D “Red Nose” photographed during the Atlanta Warbird Weekend 2015)
Aviation photography can be a very demanding genre for photographers, requiring skill in capturing imagery of both aircraft and people in an environment that can be noisy, inhospitable, complete with risks to the unwary and inexperienced. Most aviation photographers choose to “go it alone” in all but the most challenging area of aviation photography, which is undoubtedly the air-to-air arena. Most of us are savvy enough to realize that the risks inherent in air-to-air photography require collaboration and often a mentor-student relationship, but rarely do we seek out those relationships for the rest of our aviation work.
Some of the most striking images that were produced that night on the ramp at CRTC Savannah, required the actions of all 3 members of the team. Setting cameras for long exposures and using handheld flashlights to “light paint” the aircraft was a challenging but rewarding experience for all of us. I had never attempted to paint a tactical aircraft with handheld lights before, so for me it was an opportunity to try a technique with the assistance of two good friends as we all wrestled through the inevitable photography failures to make a final success of the experience.
In early 2012, three photographers, Matt Genuardi, Tony Granata and myself (Doug Glover) met at an aviation photography workshop and began to talk about ways to collaborate on projects. We had attended the workshop for different reasons, but all of us shared a common desire to learn, improve our photography and expand our portfolios. After the workshop we would go on to join ISAP and attend the 2012 Symposium in Norfolk, expanding our contacts in the aviation photography community, while experiencing hands-on opportunities with US Navy FA-18 Super Hornets, and the warbird collection of the Military Aviation Museum.
Over the next year I was able to reciprocate as I worked with Tony on several projects where we lit the subject aircraft with multiple small strobes (Nikon SB-series flashes), culminating in our photoshoot of a US Air Force Reserve KC-130H with no less than 8 strobes. Matt brought a wealth of experience with studio strobes to the team (and plenty of gear too), that proved invaluable any time we placed people in front of our lenses in concert with an aircraft. In the end, our three different skill sets allowed us as 3G Aviation Media to be able to adapt to customer desires as well as take advantage of unique lighting situations. Our growing frustration with the lack of aviation-centric photography workshops continued through 2013 and finally one day while the three of us were on a Google Hangout together, Matt asked ‘Why don’t we just host one ourselves?” Once Tony and I were done laughing, our collective response was “I guess there is no reason we shouldn’t try!” All of us had experience either as photography instructors or team leaders, and while we readily admitted we did not know everything about photography, our diverse skill sets complemented each other and provided a breadth of experience for the workshop. Because of existing relationships with the team at Stallion 51 in Kissimmee, Florida, their flight facility was chosen as the site of what was planned to be the first 3G workshop in January of 2014.
Doug Glover
In June of 2012, Matt, Tony and I all gathered to collaboratively photograph the Marine Division Tactics Course (MDTC) being held at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. We built shot lists, talked about photographic techniques and decided on what subjects we wanted to photograph, even down to picking individual aircraft to capture. As a collaborative enterprise, it was an excellent opportunity to take the best of each of our shots and provide them to the Marine Corps squadrons in Beaufort, resulting in relationships that continue to provide photographic and business opportunities today. An evening was devoted to traveling to the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) at Savannah, Georgia, in order to exclusively photography the US Air Force’s 64th Aggressor Training squadron and their F-16s that were supporting the MDTC event.
The timeline moved up when Mo Aguiari from the Dixie Wing of the Commemorative Air Force approached the 3G team and offered their Peachtree City, Georgia facility as a possible site for a workshop in late 2013. After some quick phone calls and a few panicked “how will we get there from here” moments, the first 3G workshop was moved up to November of 2013. Photographers from a wide variety of skill levels, from published professionals to self-proclaimed “aircraft addicts”, each using equipment that ranged from top-of-the-line DSLRs to all-inone-zoom cameras, converged on the Dixie Wing’s facility to capture brilliant sunrise and sunset imagery of the CAF’s warbird fleet. As with all business ventures, the founding members of 3G Aviation Media found their photographic interests and more importantly their schedules drawn in diverging directions. Because of this, in early 2015, Matt Genuardi left the 3G team, and Tony Granata left ISAP. Along with these shifts, a change to a shorter, more affordable workshop was implemented, in order to offer these unique opportunities to photographers of all skill levels. What we realized is that photographers of all skill levels had three important needs that were not being met: First, a need to have access to beautiful subject aircraft in a (reasonably) uncluttered location. Second, plenty of time to try different techniques on the same subject in order to work through an artistic vision.
The last is what we at 3G really believes sets us apart from other workshops. We encourage photographers to shoot in groups, and compare images in real-time to share the learning inherent in the photographic experience. Our instructors move amongst the groups offering feedback, and if attendees are having trouble getting the image they want, one-on-one instruction is given. So why do I share this with the wider ISAP audience? In my experience, many aviation photographers choose to work alone, and often give non-photographers the impression that we are “a bunch of territorial dogs”. There is a lot to be gained from collaboration. It won’t always be easy, and it will take a bit of humility to spend your time and effort to achieve someone else’s vision, but in the process you will be exposed to new techniques and new opportunities. However, you must also realize that time marches on, and individual goals, dreams and the ability to make time for them all shift. As ISAP members, we have to be sensitive to this and realize that no business venture or photographic opportunity is worth ruining the relationships in this small community of aviation photographers. Be bold, ask a fellow photographer if you can work together, and extend the opportunity in return to those who ask to work with you. We might all become better photographers and friends if we made collaboration a priority, and to be honest, what do we have to lose? To learn more about the 3G Aviation Media collaboration, or to check out the listing of upcoming workshops, visit their website at: http//www.3gavm.com
Doug Glover
Third, real-time feedback and where appropriate, instruction.
Nikon D7100 /2xSB-900 1xSB-910 / 25 Sec / f14 / ISO-100 (F-35B from VMFAT-501 at MCAS Beaufort)
Matt Genuardi Doug Glover
Canon EOS 5D Mk III / 1/12sec / f2.8 / ISO-100 (Doug Glover and Tony Granata instruct attendees during a workshop at the CAF: Dixie Wing facility
Nikon D7200 / 1/60sec / f7.1 / ISO-100
(Workshop attendees position themselves for sunset photos with the CAF:Dixie Wing P-51D “Red Nose� during the Atlanta Warbird Weekend 2015)
Tony Granata
3 photos merged in Adobe Photoshop CC / Nikon D-800 / 30sec / f10 / ISO-100 (F-16 from the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Savannah CRTC)
Nikon D4 / 2.5sec/ f9 / ISO-100 (EA-6B Prowler and AV-8B Harrier during a Weapons and Tactics Instructor course at MCAS Yuma)
Tony Granata
Tony Granata
3 photos merged in Adobe Photoshop CC / Nikon D-800 / 1/2sec / f7.1 / ISO-100 (C-130H from 700th Aerial Refueling Squadron at Dobbins ARB)
T O H S E H T
OT G I HOW anna
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By Ph
I made this image on 10/14/2011 with a NIKON D3 and a NIKKOR 24-120 lens at 1/160 and f14. This is the LONE STAR FLIGHT MUSEUM’s P-47D-40-RA “THUNDERBOLT” and the LSFM’S B-17G “FLYING FORTRESS”, shot from the tail of the LSFM’s B-25 over “the swamp” near Galveston, Texas. Charlie “Tuna” Hainline was the pilot of the P-47 and Keith Kibbett and Tim Hahn were the pilots of the B-17. BRILLIANT PILOTS! John Cowart, the Chief Engineer at the LSFM had a firm grip on my sneakers, bless him! Thank you, John.
MYSTERY PLANE
SILHOUETTES By John Ford
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