Towards the end of my ‘Blue Steel Valiants’ thread, John Cooper said some nice words:
“David you have done for Ground Aviation Photography what Charles E Brown did for Air to Air Photography, your photographs are very memorable and even more so due to your age.
What I like about your photographic skills is that you were able to capture the occasion, the angle, the monsoon ditches, the chocks, fire extinguishers etc all make up the bigger picture.”
Well I certainly would not want to compare myself with Charles E Brown, who is definately a photographic hero of mine, who took truly memorable pictures because of their stunning lighting and framing. However I did start to conciously change from just being a ‘spotter who took pictures’ (ie ‘another one’ in the notebook) to being a photographer of aircraft who tried to ‘tell a story’ in the pictures.
The ‘story’ can be quite simple, such as including some of the surroundings in the picture or perhaps an airman working on the plane, but lots of small details can make the shot into something ‘with a little more’. A great sky could make the picture or good lighting.
Here’s three that I’ve just scanned:
I could have waited for a ‘clean’ shot of the Bristol Freighter from 41 Sqn RNZAF, but what works for me is the inclusion of the 2 kiwi ground crew through the ‘gap’.
Kiwi DC6A’s were reqular visiters so I didn’t ‘need another’ pic of one but perhaps the lighting was perhaps going to be on my side with this shot but when the bus arrived and the the families started embarking I ran down to get it. The ‘handshake’ for the departing wife was a bonus in making it into ‘a story’.
Finally another of those 4 DC6A’s of RNZAF 40 Sqn NZ3631. The refuelling was good and the angle makes it different.
So personally I would like to see the guys with their fantastic digital cameras at say Duxford’s ‘Flying Legends’, thinking more of making something of the pictures of the planes on the ground, than getting another ‘feature-less’ shot of them flying! The photo opportunities that events like engine runs and night shoots offer is definately to be encouraged by photographers.
Hope you agree….although of course, like all enthusiasts I still remain a spotter at heart as well!
David Taylor.
By: Atcham Tower - 17th February 2009 at 11:27
That Tiger shot is indeed lovely. And Jim, it’s sad to hear that the faded trio were spanking new not all that long before.
Now here’s another – Super-G Connie at Ringway (Manchester) on a very wet day. Fairly average but it has a bit of atmosphere, I think.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th February 2009 at 11:05
[QUOTE Here’s one to keep it going – Javs at Shawbury awaiting the axe,[/QUOTE]
WOW! That photo brings back memories! I visited Acklington the weekend after 29 Sqn had received its Javelins and was given free access to its hangar (well, the doors were unlocked, to tell the truth!) and those three were sitting inside, all pristine and shining new; XA826/S,XA827/R AND XA835/Z.
Thanks for sharing that photo,
Jim
By: Postfade - 17th February 2009 at 10:51
Ken,
Yes it has lots of charm..a really nice shot. It has good lighting, composition and is technically great.
I realise that the added information that colour provides is ‘necessary’ in so many cases, but the graphic quality that a black and white photo, or even as Chumpy has shown an ‘infrared’ one, is very powerful in making an often stronger image.
My original title to this thread was rather ‘pompous’ I now realise but it’s produced many interesting photos that aren’t just ‘tight shots’ of planes.
DT
By: kenjohan - 17th February 2009 at 09:51
Tiger Moth
A picture I took as a very young boy at Gustavsvik airfield at Örebro in 1961 or so. I think it has some charm.
Ken
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th February 2009 at 07:49
[QUOTE=Consul;1366352]
I thought you were all getting bored, again sorry about the quality, 50 years old slide. The Dak is from the RAF Christmas Airways, I’m not sure of the Clipper [snagged] DC4/6 maybe, I’m sure someone will say within 10 minutes!:p
The nose is of Air Charter Douglas DC-4 G-AOXK which carried the name Golden Fleece. She was eventually sold to Williamson Diamond Mines and ended her days, with another owner, broken up in Zaire.
This is a great thread – that photo of the Connie at Elmdon …..I remember those seats in the public enclosure so well – cream tube frames and green tin seats! It is wonderful to see photos with context. The background architecture, the fashions of spectators, the historic refuelling vehicles, the marshallers in action – all add so much to the atmosphere. I’ll have to dig out some of my b&w negs!
Keep them coming!
Tim
Interesting Tim, thank you, as we are now talking DC4 the book records DC-4 Air Charter reg no’s as G-AOXK, G-ANYB and G-AOFW, you guys are a mine of information.
The one now attached, again 1959, would the aircraft be a DC4/6?
By: Consul - 16th February 2009 at 23:16
[QUOTE=John Cooper;1366235]I thought you were all getting bored, again sorry about the quality, 50 years old slide. The Dak is from the RAF Christmas Airways, I’m not sure of the Clipper [snagged] DC4/6 maybe, I’m sure someone will say within 10 minutes!:p
The nose is of Air Charter Douglas DC-4 G-AOXK which carried the name Golden Fleece. She was eventually sold to Williamson Diamond Mines and ended her days, with another owner, broken up in Zaire.
This is a great thread – that photo of the Connie at Elmdon …..I remember those seats in the public enclosure so well – cream tube frames and green tin seats! It is wonderful to see photos with context. The background architecture, the fashions of spectators, the historic refuelling vehicles, the marshallers in action – all add so much to the atmosphere. I’ll have to dig out some of my b&w negs!
Keep them coming!
Tim
By: alanl - 16th February 2009 at 22:32
Alanl have not been able to respond till now. The Connie at Elmdon was G-ARVP on 2 Sept 1962. Be amazing if was you as a lad in the photo!.
Ahh,in that case it is not me.:o
I didn’t make an appearance until March ’66!
Never mind,it was worth a try!
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th February 2009 at 22:22
AT
Just had a look in my book of reg’s that I recorded from that time
Airline Eagle Airways DC6 Golden Fleece either reg no. G-APOM or G-APSA
The Dak is from 1325 Flight Polynesian Princess or Island Paradise, those are the only two from 1325 I saw………..or recorded
By: Atcham Tower - 16th February 2009 at 21:56
Looks like a 6 but don’t think it’s Pan Am, too much red and no Clipper prefix. My 1958 ABC reggie book doesn’t help.
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th February 2009 at 21:14
I thought you were all getting bored, again sorry about the quality, 50 years old slide. The Dak is from the RAF Christmas Airways, I’m not sure of the Clipper [snagged] DC4/6 maybe, I’m sure someone will say within 10 minutes!:p
By: Atcham Tower - 16th February 2009 at 21:03
Alanl have not been able to respond till now. The Connie at Elmdon was G-ARVP on 2 Sept 1962. Be amazing if was you as a lad in the photo!
This thread seems to be dying before any more old pics are dragged out of the woodwork. Here’s one to keep it going – Javs at Shawbury awaiting the axe, with a long line of Vamp T11s stretching into the distance, some in yellow trainer bands, others dayglo.
By: chumpy - 15th February 2009 at 09:07
Hi Wallace,
Nice images!!
Just goes to show that the person behind the equipment is the important part.
Yup love that Infra-Red thing, however unpredictable stuff. Along with the triumphs, I have had a whole load of duds, entire films NFG when the lid of the dev-tank is opened!
Chumpy.
By: Wallace - 15th February 2009 at 07:27
Infra red is not quite finished.
This will answer another question about which site that I post to….
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image16248.html
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image16217.html
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image4536.html
or the whole collection
http://www.airplane-pictures.net/search.php?p=infra+red&Submit=Search
These are near Infra Red images using the Hoya R71 filter. I love the monochromes that they produce. I would not be able to post pictures like those on any other on-line photo database.
I was thinking the other day of how much I preferred developing a 10×8 print compared to coaxing an inferior toned print out of an inkjet printer.
By: old shape - 15th February 2009 at 00:27
Apparently to shoot infrared with a digital camera, you have to alter the chip. So it’s a case of -send it away and get the chip sensitivity altered to a different part of the spectrum. Best done on an ‘old camera’ that you’re not using anymore.
Perhaps I’ll dedicate my old 35mm Olympus OM1 to infrared (film) when I finally buy a digital camera.
ps: I’m feeling so old fashioned now!
DT
Well, that would be a way to do it in Camera. But you can do it in Photoshop (Or other software which gives you access to the colour channels).
Plenty of tutorials on it, on the interdoofah.
By: Postfade - 15th February 2009 at 00:12
Apparently to shoot infrared with a digital camera, you have to alter the chip. So it’s a case of -send it away and get the chip sensitivity altered to a different part of the spectrum. Best done on an ‘old camera’ that you’re not using anymore.
Perhaps I’ll dedicate my old 35mm Olympus OM1 to infrared (film) when I finally buy a digital camera.
ps: I’m feeling so old fashioned now!
DT
By: chumpy - 14th February 2009 at 23:42
We should think of using it, used to dramatic effect in the flying sequences in David Leans the ‘Sound Barrier’.
Thats a cracking pic Chumpy, really shows what can be done with a simply subject.
Strange that this thread is so popular in historic, I can never get a discussion going in the photo forum!
Glad you liked it here’s another.
Forgot to mention a red filter is required, suits wide angle shots. Never really know what the end result will be, fire and forget etc!
Do Kodak still make the stuff, can you press a button on digi cameras / ‘photoshop’ to get a similar result these days?
Chumpy.
By: pagen01 - 14th February 2009 at 23:34
I’m not suer, I’ve tried asking questions, making comments and points, all to no avail.
Seems most like taking pics but not really disscussing how or why.
By: Postfade - 14th February 2009 at 23:32
John: I’m certainly nowhere near as knowlegeable as others here, but Bristol Buckmaster…looks like a pretty rare type to me!
James: “Strange that this thread is so popular in historic, I can never get a discussion going in the photo forum!”
That’s why I put it here. Perhaps the ‘photographic forum’ requires another category other than ‘Tutorial’ and ‘Airshows’!
By: pagen01 - 14th February 2009 at 23:14
Chumpy: Infra-red for aircraft pics! Never thought of that…
We should think of using it, used to dramatic effect in the flying sequences in David Leans the ‘Sound Barrier’.
Thats a cracking pic Chumpy, really shows what can be done with a simply subject.
Strange that this thread is so popular in historic, I can never get a discussion going in the photo forum!
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th February 2009 at 23:01
Referring back to taking photos on RAF bases which was taboo, this is one I took when aged 14 in the ATC on a Hastings at Lyneham, we are passing a Bristol Buckmaster RP201 this was either 1953 or 1954. I apologise for the poor quality after seeing some of David’s excellent work but as I said earlier most kids then only got an orange and a few nuts for Christmas, so I felt like a King with a Brownie 127 that was in the days when I was just photographing aircraft and having a ball:p
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February 13, 2009 at 12:13 am