Photography Session of a T-28
I recently had the oppertunity to photograph an iconic aircraft that help to train Air Force and Navy pilots of the emerging jet era. The aircraft is the North American Aviation T-28 Trojan. The particular T-28 that I was able to photograph is currently privately owned by a friend. This one is the B model primarily used by the United States Navy for land based training. It feature the high visibility orange and white paint scheme that has been used since the mid 1950s.
For the photography session another photographer and myself help to position the T-28 in the perfect location on the ramp of the municipal airport. The shoot was planned around sunset (1730-1830 UTC-6) in order to capture golden hour. The gear used for this photoshoot was a Canon 5D Mark III body equipped with a Canon EF 24-105mm F/4, a Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT. I also set up a pair of Westcott Ice Light 2s in order to help illuminate the propeller during a night engine run. The main plan was to simply showcase the elegant lines of the airframe with the clear sky and golden hour light.
Commemorative Air Force
In June of 2018 I decided to join the Missouri Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) . For those who do not know who or what the CAF is; they are a non profit organization that’s sole mission is to educate through living history, inspire and honor. If you are interested in learning more about the CAF please visit their website (https://commemorativeairforce.org/) or Missouri Wing (http://cafmo.org/). I joined shortly after attending a Bomber and Bombshell photo shoot through a local camera store. While at the time I admit I joined simply to be able to get more images of the unit’s aircraft.
After being a part of the wing for about a year and a half, I have really embraced the mission of educate, inspire and honor. While each member has an area that they are primarily working with (aircraft maintenance, museum/gallery, administrative, etc) everyone helps wherever they are needed. The area that I primarily am is the museum. While there I help catalog items, organize display cases, check inventory of the Post exchange (PX), welcome visitors and guide them through the space. It is always fun interacting with the visitors, most are military veterans or families with kids, and sometimes educational. Some visitors come to learn, others come to donate/lend artifacts or images from their family.
The other task that I have been doing is simply photographing the wing. Some of the other members call the the official unofficial photographer. I bring my camera gear out when the aircraft are getting ready after winter maintenance, the annual hanger dance, and the annual pumpkin drop. My goal is to use my skills as a photographer to help the wing attract more visitors, book more ride flights, and perhaps even join.
Why Aviation Photography ?
This is a question I get asked somewhat frequently.
It all started when I was little. I would go to air shows with my father. We would spend time wondering around the static displays as well as tour any aircraft that we could. When I was old enough I would borrow my mom’s camera (a Canon AE-1 Program) and go to air shows. My dad and I would get there just as the gates open, so we could get some good shots of the static aircraft. Then about two hours before the air performance started we would find a spot along the fence line. We both would watch the show through our cameras waiting for that perfect shot (since we were shooting film). At the end of the four hour show we each would have between eight and ten rolls of thirty six exposures (roughly three hundred images). It was always fun going through those images after getting them developed.
Now that I’m older, and have a greater understanding of the significance of some of the aircraft, I shoot for a different reason. I shoot because there is no telling how long some of these aircraft will still be flying. Most of the aircraft from World War II are well beyond the flight hours they were designed for. And recently(October 2019) a B-17G Flying Fortress (a four engine, heavy bomber) crashed that resulted in a total loss of the aircraft.
I also shoot because I enjoy seeing what the magnificent and beautiful machines can do while they are flying. To see a WWII fighter fly, hear the roar of its piston engine; then see a state of the art jet fighter fly some of the same maneuvers is simply amazing. And to see both the WWII fighter and the newest fighter fly in formation is truly spectacular.
