ISnAP January 2019 by International Society of Aviation Photography, Inc.

Larry Grace

WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 2019 ISSUE OF ISnAP! 2018 Fall NAF El Centro Photo Call Craig Swancy, Denis Rouleau, Gary Edwards, Jerome Buescher, Jim Williamson, John Ford, Marc Farb, Michael Bellinger, Paul Csizmadia, Richard Jack James, Vince Yarbrough Ready For The Future: Belgian Air Force Days 2018 Marc Schultz Oregon International Airshow 2018 Peter Keller Demo Teams David Shirah, David Biela, Hayman Tam, Jason Skinner, Kevin Hong, Larry Grace, Marc Farb, Nicolas Limbioul, Ronald Malec, Steve Bigg Meet Our Members Kyra Betteridge Mike Bilek Simon Wong Airplane Silhouettes John Ford FRONT COVER PHOTO: Marc Farb US Army Golden Knights jumping out for an airshow. BACK COVER: Dennis Biela The graduation ceremony at the Annapolis Naval Academy with a fly over by the Blue Angels. Sony a6300 and the 16-35mm f4 lens Exposure f7.1 at 1/100 sec. ISO 160

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

Dennis Biela

w e l c o m e Jessica Ambats Nir Ben-Yosef Kyra Betteridge Dennis Biela Mike Bilek Brent Blue Nigel Bowles Jeremy Boyd Sean Bravener Gary Buzel Alexander Cook Michael Cozad Frank Crebas Rodney Cromer Rusty Denham Alex Eppel

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Chandler Feagin Debbie Gale Scott Germain Taggart Gorman Owen Hewitt Chris Hibben Steve Holzinger Michael Jackson Jeff Lambros Andy Lay Darrick Lee Erich Linder Andrew Madden Bob Marcy Keith Meachem Mike Miley

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Hicks Milner David Nelson Joshua Patterson Ivan Pena-Nesbit Michael Pliskin Paul Pritchett Nigel Quick Jose Ramos Gonzalo Rengifo John Ringquist Harry Rogers III Luis Sales Franz Schober Jeff Schroeder Marc Schultz Abhishek Singh

m e m b e r s S. Robert Sliger Tom Spanos Rob Tabor DeKevin Thornton Vincent Trelut Michael Vines Scott Wolff Sinom Wong Caleb Worpel Xinyi Xu Vince Yarbrough Danielle Young Mike Young

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.

Paul Csizmadia The slogan on a 2016 Photo Call Patch ‘closer than you ought to be’ says it all. Being invited to attend a Photo Call is a really cool opportunity. A chance to photograph aviation a mere 60 feet from the active runway for an entire afternoon along with the sights and sounds that make it all happen. Capturing images, sharing the mission, the story of the NAVY and the facilities through our lenses. NAF El Centro hosts two photo calls every year, one in November along with one in February courtesy of the US Navy, the Base Commander, and the Public Affairs Officer/PAO. ISAP members have the opportunity to be considered to attend one of these events. Information is posted in the ISAP Newsletter once the date is set for an upcoming photo call. Submitting your information after the newsletter announcement and tossing in your hat, you patiently wait to hear back. The number of slots available is limited and it’s definitely an honor to be selected. In addition to the Photo Call, ISAP members who are selected come together the day before for a mini workshop/discussion day to share, review, critique images, share experiences and learn more about the organization. The workshop and meet up was held on November 13th at the Hampton Inn El Centro. Great opportunity - meeting new friends, and seeing old friends. Great chance to share images, pick up tips and learn a bit about each other. The plan for Photo Call Day was to saddle up at 8:30 a.m. and head over to the base perimeter and hopefully catch some morning activity prior to heading on base. As luck would have it, we were greeted by the appearance of an RAF C-130J sporting the Royal Air Force 100th Anniversary Badge on it’s tail, inbound for a refueling stop. Then on to the staging area, outside of the base entrance. Once ID’s are checked and verified we loaded up with our gear, approximately 100 photographers from around the world.

Various organizations board the buses that will take us on base for lunch and the safety briefing. A greeting and welcome from Capt. Alfonzo, USN the Base Commander followed by the safety briefing. Safety is first and foremost and PAO Kristopher Haugh makes sure that all details are covered. Then a chance for last minute ‘Pit Stops’ board the vans and it’s out to the runway. Our photo zone will be 60 ft from the runway with 3,000 ft of runway to roam. As a Naval Air Facility, El Centro does not have it’s own aircraft based on the field but rather acts as a facilities host to Naval and Marine Squadrons wanting to take advantage of the great year round flying weather for training and skill refinement. The Marine presence on this day would include OV-22 Osprey’s, AV-8B Harriers, Legacy F-18 Hornets, a couple of HH-53’s and the NAVY presence would include the Executive Officer aka XO beating up the pattern with a Beech T-34C ‘Turbo Mentor’ sporting warhawk colors. And then all too soon the day comes to end, in the time before sunset - as the horn to board the buses sounds and we make our way back to the base center. A chance for ‘Pit Stops’ and visits to the Base Exchange for souvenirs and swag.

Next on the agenda is heading over to ‘Burgers and Brew’ for a chance to get a bite to eat and share stories of the day. The following morning finds everyone headed home and on their way. A wonderful experience to get ‘closer than we ought to be’, meet up with fellow ISAP Members – attending at least once should be on every ISAP member’s list. Many thanks to the US Navy, CAPT Brent Alfonzo USN - Commanding Officer and Kristopher Haugh – Public Affairs Officer at Naval Air Facility El Centro for making the Photo Call a reality. Also thanks to Larry Grace, ISAP President and ISAP for selecting us to attend.

2018 FALL NAF EL CENTRO

PHOTO CALL!

DenisCsizmadia Paul Rouleau

Craig Swancy

Denis Rouleau

For my first November photocall at NAF El Centro, I was accompanied by 11 ISAP members, including Larry Grace, the President of ISAP. We started by spending a full day doing critiques of each other’s chosen pictures. That was more interesting than I thought; I learned about my pictures and I got to know the other guys better.

A few Ospreys flew over us but it is really difficult to get some blur in the rotors.

On Photocall day, we left the hotel early to find a spot outside the base to get the morning movements. We had the chance to see an RAF C-130J Hercules painted for their 100 years. It did a pass over our heads before landing, giving me time to catch it at slow shutter speeds.

What is a photocall without a few Hornets! We got a couple of F/A-18D from VMFAT-101; they had a simple paint job but that added some nice details nonetheless.

It was then time to go to the parking at the base entrance. Buses brought us inside the base; there were many other groups of photographers. We got a briefing in the lounge by PAO Kristopher Haugh Safety is an important part of the event. Finally, the time to get to our position next to the runway had arrived! We had to wait a bit but we got a Beechcraft T-34C Turbo-Mentor doing touch n’ go’s for a while. Those many passes gave me enough tries to do some panning while dragging the shutter and come up with some sharp pictures.

A good surprise for me was the Harrier AV-8B from VMM-162, a plane that I liked.

As a bonus, we got the firetrucks. Always entertaining! We missed a trio of Hornets by a few minutes! That’s the way it is with military operations! We closed the day with food and drinks at Burgers and Beers, talking about planes and cameras. And the next photocall!

Denis Rouleau

Gary Edwards

Jerome Buescher

The Fall 2018 El Centro ISAP Workshop and Photo Call provided an outstanding opportunity to meet other aviation photographers, trade tips and stories about taking pictures of all things aviation, and photograph U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircraft from about as close to a runway as we can safely be. The ISAP Workshop on Tuesday gave the assembled group of photographers a chance to show some of their work and receive constructive critiques of both their picture taking and processing. After some joking around and constructive discussions on the history and direction of ISAP, we started looking at the members work, not only critiquing the end results, but offering advice for different ways to present the subjects, and discussing the processing techniques used to complete the images. Each member left the workshop with a new idea of how to capture a subject or how to manipulate an image to generate a desired effect in processing. The Wednesday Photo Call began with ISAP members heading to the NAF El Centro perimeter to photograph aircraft in the landing pattern; a Royal Air Force Hercules C.Mk 5 made the photographers’ morning

with a spirited arrival and overhead break for landing. After proceeding to the main gate for in-processing and a safety briefing from the PAO and his team, along with a few words from El Centro’s CO and his XO, we headed out to runway, ear protection in hand. There, we and a large group of aviation photographers from other organizations, were treated to touch-and-go’s from one of El Centro’s own T-34C support aircraft, as well as take-offs and landings by MV-22B Ospreys from VMM-163 and VMM-261, CH-53E Super Stallions from HMH-465, an AV-8B Harrier II attached to VMM-162, and F/A-18D Hornets from VMFAT-101. Finally, at the end of the afternoon with full memory cards and some welcome hearing loss from the scream of jet engines, we left the base to find some cheeseburgers and beers, and to trade a few more stories from years of chasing airplanes. I’d like to express my appreciation to the men and women of NAF El Centro PAO, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Marine Corps for their hospitality during our visit, and thank them for allowing us to have an up-close look at their operations.

Jerome Buescher

Jim Williamson

Attending the El Centro Photo Call was a complete pleasure. We began with a meeting on Tuesday morning at the hotel. This was a great opportunity to meet other ISAP members and share experiences. We each brought a set of images to share and discuss. It was very interesting to see each others style. Some tended to take close-up detail shots, others had a very stylized, fine art approach. All were good, and fun to discuss. I must admit seeing my work projected on a large screen was a bit humbling, but the lessons were terrific! Larry Grace, ISAP’s president and chief advocate, is good at guiding the critique sessions and keeping us on track. Early Wednesday morning we met in the lobby and caravaned to a location just off base to try and get some shots before we moved onto the base for the official activities. It was rather slow, but we got some good shots of a RAF C-130J. Moving onto the base for the Photo Call, we gathered in the dining/ kitchen area for lunch and then the safety briefing from PAO (Public Affairs Officer) Kristopher Haugh. He introduced us to the team of officers and sailors who would be our hosts. They were truly gracious hosts. After the briefing, we were transported to the flight line where we gathered by the chalk line along the runway. 50 feet is really close! It wasn’t a super busy day but such is life on a working Naval Facility. We had time to chat with other photographers and compare notes and experiences. The variety of aircraft was really nice. V-22 Ospreys, T-34C trainers (which treated us to several touch and go’s), CH-53E Super Stallions, TAV-8B Harriers, and the ever popular F/A-18D Hornets from Miramar (note to self, don’t forget to put on the second level of hearing protection when these guys come by). The NAF El Centro fire department gave us a demonstration of their capabilities. Not only was this fun photographically, but it was also a reminder the work that goes on there is dangerous. I’m sure the flight crews are glad to have the ground support teams available. A sincere thanks to NAF El Centro, ISAP, and Larry Grace. It really was a terrific experience.

Jim Williamson

John Ford

This was my second visit to the El Centro Photo Call. The opportunity is fantastic and unique. Where we get to shoot from doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get any better. NAFEC PAO Kristopher Haugh is great and very accommodating. Everyone worked well together making the event very pleasurable. The food offered was very tasty, kudos to the cooks. On a personal note I got some great shots. I hope they will be able to promote the base and the work they do. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to coming again.

John Ford

Marc Farb

Shooting aviation can use the same base logic like buying property… It’s all about Location, Location, Location!! This photo op was no different, it was definitely all about the location we got to shoot active military aircraft. Naval Air Facility El Centro is located just northwest of El Centro, California and serves as a key base for Naval Aviation Training. The base’s two runways are used for carrier landing simulation because they are equipped with Fresnel Lens Optical Landing Systems. The day started at a reasonable hour as we entered the base and waited for the start of the safety meeting and introductions to the key people that run the base and operations. While the safety rules seemed rather

basic, they are there for a reason…Safety is no joke as we are actually sitting/standing on the edge of an active runway with some serious aircraft. Through the day we had some down time to talk and get to know each other as groups and individuals. There were some highly experienced shooters out there as well as some newbies. The day was a fun one and when there was a lull in the flying the base brought out the obligatory fire trucks to hose down the runway for fun. Toward the end of the day we did get a chance to see the prep and calibration of the lights on the end of the runway for the pilots to practice the touch and go’s for carrier landings. As we left the base just about to head out (from outside the fence) and we had the chance to see a hand full of jets doing the touch and go’s as the sun dropped and became night.

Marc Farb

Michael Bellinger

You would be excused if you hear this term in November and thought about Pilgrims and turkeys. Instead it was the term that came up many times before the ISAP El Centro Photo Call.

I didn’t think it would be possible to come to El Centro and not see a T-45 Goshawk but the skies were clear. Instead we were treated to the arrival of a RAF C-130J overhead as we gathered outside the field.

When you go to an airshow, barring some extreme circumstances, you pretty much know what aircraft are going to be there and when they are going to fly. Photo calls are different – there may be a TON of action, or you may be sitting around all day with little to no movement. It can all be hit or miss, much like doing the Mach Loop in Wales, or Rainbow Canyon in Death Valley.

After the safety briefing where we got to meet the Commanding and Executive Officers of the base, plus enjoy chicken kabobs, we were escorted onto the field. Over our time beside the runway we were treated to an AV-8B Harrier, a couple of MV-22 Ospreys, a F/A-18C Hornet, a T-34 Mentor, plus a return engagement of the bases Crash and Fire trucks AND the FOD sweeper! Not a feast, but not quite a famine either. All in all a nice selection of aircraft. And as always the base personnel were a joy to work with and made the trip enjoyable. I’m already looking forward to see what there may be next year.

NAF El Centro is no different. This would be my third trip here and while the movement level was quite a bit smaller than normal, it was still well worth the time and effort to join my fellow members, especially the number of new members and first timers to El Centro.

Michael Bellinger

Richard Jack James

I would like to say it was an honor and pleasure to attend the fall NAF El Centro photocall in November. This was my first time attending the photocall. I recently joined ISAP (International Society for Aviation Photography) in April. Larry Grace has been informative and actually felt like family being a junior member. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be honest I was pretty nervous attending my first meeting with the selected few members of the ISAP members who were selected for their fall photocall at NAF El Centro, California. On the first day we spent meeting and greeting all the attendees and quick expectations from the President of ISAP, Larry Grace.

The information presented was very informative and I was surprised about the wealth of knowledge about aviation photography, learning different techniques and how to improve our post processing and composition in aviation. The best part of the informative lecture was the critiquing part of everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work and I must say it was an eye opener. The comments were very constructive and encouraged me to improve my work and myself as an amateur photographer. On the second day of the trip, we left the hotel for NAF El Centro which was about a 15 minute drive. We arrived at our location just outside of the base perimeter a Royal Air Force C-130 with the 100 years decal decided to do a swoop around the airfield and landed which got our

blood pumping, after this spectacular approach. We headed to the main gate and waited to be checked in by base security and was greeted by the NAF El Centro PAO civilian in charge. There were about 100 photographers who were waiting to be checked in and the process went smoothly. After we were all checked in and once verified we headed to the MWR area and received the safety briefing from the base PAO and the US Navy safety officer in charge. I must say the kebabs were amazing I had to help myself to a second serving. We were all loaded up on the buses based on the color slips we were given and shuttled out the airfield runway.

During the four hours we were at the airfield, there were various aircraft that came in. We had a couple of US Marine Corps F-18s, Ospreys, Harriers and CH-53E Sea Stallions. It was an awesome experience just being ringside and photographing these awesome machines up close and personal. Just hearing the roar and the pulsing of rotor blades, was just simply amazing. My total experience was amazing and I would like to give a big thank you Larry, the ISAP President and the other members of the ISAP organization for giving me this wonderful experience and being part of this brotherly and sisterly love of ISAP.

Richard Jack James

Vince Yarbrough The best part was being so close to these aircraft that I could feel the roar of the engines and jet wash as they rocketed down the runway. What an awesome experience and I feel privileged to have been chosen to be a part of it. The day started out cool and overcast, but soon changed after sun came out. Along with the sun came our first catch of the day. An RAF C-130 with its tail displaying the 100th anniversary markings of the RAF. As the day progressed, we were treated to Hornets, Harriers, Ospreys and Stallions. All of the aircraft took extra time before take off to ensure that the photographers had a chance to get some great photos. We even had the Operations Officer doing “touch and goes” in a T-34 for us. As with many photo trips, it’s that last minute when you don’t expect it that the coolest things happen. This was true for us because we had packed up and were ready to leave when three F-18s came in to practice carrier landings. This was right at dusk and it was very challenging to photograph due to the rapidly changing light conditions. However we did get some amazing evening shots and frankly how often do you get to photograph F-18s at dusk? All in all, it was a great day of photography that was made possible by NAFEC CO Capt. Alfonzo who allowed our group to come on to his base for the day. The photocall was well organized and planned with the Navy personnel doing an excellent job helping us to get out to the flight line. I would especially like to recognize NAFEC PAO Kris Haugh, without his dedication to organizing this event we would be left standing outside the fence taking photos.

E R U T N U O F I T 18 E I 0 2 H S T R A NC E D AY S R O R T F O F E R Y C AI D R N A A R E I R F O BELGI A

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Kleine Brogel Air Base in Belgium hosted the “Belgium Air Force Days 2018” on the weekend of September 8 & 9, 2018. The International Air Show’s motto stated “Ready for the Future” and presented a Belgian Air Force that is currently in full transition to prepare itself for the strategic challenges of the future. And indeed - there will be some rather significant changes ahead: The Cayman NH-90 helicopter is about to replace the aging fleet of BAF Sea King’s, both for land and naval tasks.

Participating aircraft at the show:

The transport sections are about to change: The Airbus ATLAS A400M will soon renew the inventory by phasing out the old but still trusted C-130 Hercules workhorses. Finally a new generation of fighter aircraft is about to replace the F-16 Vipers by 2023. The Air Show provided a perfect overview of what will happen in the future. Some very special guests came over from Eastern Europe: 2 Sukhoi SU-27 Flanker aircraft from the Ukraine Air Force attended the show and it is no overstatement to point out that especially the flying display of “Blue 58” left quite an impression to the audience. The event did not leave out the past by presenting a number of historic aircraft both on the ground and in the air.

• CAF Saab JAS-39C Gripen Display

All shots in this report had been taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000 camera. As a 20.1 MP bridge-camera the FZ2000 covers an immense focus length ranging from 24-480mm. This is absolutely adequate to shoot Air Show settings since picture quality is satisfactory over the full focus range and sufficient for most situations. Another advantage of the FZ-2000 is connected to weight: It is obviously much lighter than a standard DSLR-Equipment and therefore a rather convenient companion on long Air Show Days.

• BAF C-130 Hercules (Special Colors)

• BAF Augusta A109 Demo • BAF “Sea King” and BAF NH90 • BAF F-16 4-ship formation “Thunder Tigers” • Team Raven on 4 Van’s RV-4 • RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Display • SAF F/A-18 Hornet Solo Display • SPAF F/A-18 Hornet Solo Display • RDAF F-16 Viper Solo Display • FAF Rafale Solo Display • UAF SU-27 “Flanker” Solo Display • Fouga Magister • USAF KC-135R Fly By • RNLAF KDC-10 Extender Fly By • Hawker Hunter F.6 • Bronco Demo Team • GAF Panavia Tornado

Marc Schultz

The 2018 Oregon International Air Show was my first opportunity to watch the Royal Canadian Air Force demonstration team, the Snowbirds. I was absolutely amazed at the precision observed as they maintained perfect alignment of up to nine aircraft throughout their routine. It was like they were held together in place like some kind of invisible connection. The photos are proof of their precision! With perfect weather for the Friday evening show, their red and white CT-114 Tutor jets couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look any better against the deep blue Oregon sky. It definitely helped to enhance their featured theme for 2018 of the 60th anniversary of NORAD.

Oregon International Airshow 2018 Article and photos by Peter Keller

Peter Keller

Close up and personal with the Canadian Snowbirds in perfect formation.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds: The two soloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peeling off formation.

A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules returns triumphant after a successful deployment of the Black Daggers Parachute Demonstration Team.

An F-18 pilot from the Royal Canadian Air Force 410 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cougarâ&#x20AC;? Tactical Fighter Squadron extends his showmanship from the air down to the taxiway in front of the cameras!

Peter Keller

An F-16 from the 309th “Wild Ducks” Fighter Squadron participates in the 60th Anniversary of NORAD demonstration display.

Demo Teams

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Dennis Biela

Doing “turns” The teams maintenance personnel start their day at 05:30 turning the aircraft engines over and checking the “Angels” to be sure they are fully operational prior to the pilots arrive at 08:00 to start their preseason practice flights at Naval Air Facility El Centro CA. Equipment: Sony a6300 & 16-70mm f4 lens Camera settings: f5.6 at 1/80th sec. ISO 1600

Dennis Biela

The Blue Angels perform their signature break out over Alcatraz during Fleet Week San Francisco. The smoke is created by spraying corbis oil into the jet engine exhaust. Each aircraft has a 155 gallon tank to carry the smoke oil and will use the entire amount during their 55 minute performance. Equipment: Sony a7R II 100-400mm G Master lens Exposure Camera settings: f6.3 at 1/320th sec. ISO 320

Dennis Biela

Blue Angel #5 flown by CRD Tyler Davies is performing an inverted high-speed pass during Fleet Week, San Francisco. The teams Boeing F-18 have been retired from the fleet and is rebuilt to the Blue Angels specifications by Boeing. Two modifications are made. First a system is added to supply oil to the engine so the aircraft can fly inverted for long durations and a smoke system is added so to enhance the planes visibility for the air show attendees. Equipment: Sony a7R II and the 100-400mm G Master lens Exposure Camera settings: f5.6 at 1/3200th sec. ISO 250

Dennis Biela

The on time arrival of Fat Albert Airlines at the National Cherry Festival Airshow in Traverse City, Michigan. The C-130 is the US Marine Corps contribution to the Blue Angels. Fat Albert carries the support personnel, spare parts for the F-18 Hornets and about one ton of luggage for the 40 + Personnel that attend each airshow. Equipment: Sony a7R II and the 70-200mm f2.8 G Master lens Camera settings: f6.3 at 1/125th sec. ISO 50

Dennis Biela

AT2(AW/SW) Sarah Schenk the crew chief for Blue Angel #4 is finishing up with replacing the tire on aircraftâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nose wheel. The maintenance crew is considered the best of the fleet and goes though a rigorous selection process to become a member of the Blue Angels. Equipment: Sony a7R II and the 24-70mm f2.8 G Master lens Camera settings: f5.6 at 1/200th sec. ISO 400

Dennis Biela

Crew Chief AT1(AW/SW) Anthony Batronis does post flight checks making sure that the “Boss” F-18 aircraft Blue Angels #1 did not receive any damage and is good to go for the following days performance. Each of the F-18’s two General Electric F404-GE-402 jet engines can produce 11,000 pounds of trust giving the F/A-18 a top speed of 1,190 mph. Equipment: Sony a7R II and the 16-35mm F4 lens Camera settings: f6.3 at 1/250th sec. ISO 100

Dennis Biela

AE1(AW) Brian Coffman tops off one of the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aircraft with jet fuel. The plane holds 10,860 pounds (over 1800 gallons) of Jet B fuel and will consume 1,300 gallons during a performance. Equipment: Sony a6300 and the 10-18mm lens Camera settings: f7.1 at 1/1600 sec. ISO 100

Dennis Biela

At the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Com Cartâ&#x20AC;? as the Blue Angels perform their signature brake maneuver. The Communication Cart placed at show center is a mini weather station as well as providing radio communicates for the XO and Flight Surgeon so they can let the pilots know if any stray aircraft should enter the show area. Equipment: Sony a7R II and the 24-70mm f2.8 G Master lens Camera settings: f6.3 at 1/2400th sec. ISO 320

Kevin Hong

Ronald Malec

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Larry Grace

David Shirah

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Larry Grace

Kevin Hong

Marc Farb

Labor Day 2018 was a special day for me this past year. While I was working in Cleveland with a client I had the chance to meet up with and spend the day photographing the Golden Knights doing what they do and love doing. Most people would say the same thing why in the world would you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane!! These guys not only do it, but they do it in style and serious precision! Let’s take a moment to realize that this is entertainment for the masses at airshows but also helps promote a very important role in the military for soldiers. These guys when called upon to step out of that plane and go to work are out there defending our freedom and way of life. In 1959, nineteen Airborne Soldiers from various military units formed the Strategic Army Command Parachute Team (STRAC). Brigadier General Joseph Stilwell Jr. gathered the Soldiers with the intent of competing in the relatively new sport of skydiving, which at that time was dominated by the Soviet Union. That year, the U.S. Army team began representing the United States on the international competition circuit, and performed their first demonstration in Danville, Virginia. Two years later, the Department of Defense announced that the STRAC team would become the United States Army Parachute Team. By 1962, the team earned the nickname the “Golden Knights”. “Golden” signified the gold medals the team had won while “Knights” alluded to the team’s ambition to conquer the skies. Since then, the Golden Knights have conducted more than 16,000 shows in 50 states and 48 countries, reaching an average of 60,000 people per show. The team has earned the U.S. Army 2,148 gold, 1,117 silver, and 693 bronze medals in national and international competition. Team members have also broken 348 world records.

So we started the morning with a briefing and some do’s and don’t when on the aircraft. This is a normal occurrence and signing a few waivers basically letting you know that you are now property of the Golden Knights until the ride along is over. The crew does a great job of explaining what to expect to those who have never done this before. I have been lucky enough to do this a few times and would do it every time asked. Now it’s time to load up crew and gear after watching them have the pre-jump meeting and practice!! They go through the routines and verbally talk it through as they act as if free falling to earth doing the routine. There is NOTHING left to question these guys know what they need to do and don’t skip a beat. The next thing is getting all the tag alongs belted and tethered in place for the first of two jumps of the day. There is a slightly strange feeling sitting and staring at an open door on the plane as we turn out and start to taxi on the runway for take off. What’s even more strange is the cabin is not pressurized and then watching the ground become a distant object out the door and before you know it we are at 10,000 feet and then climbing to 12k then 14k feet. The team gets ready for the task at hand and the team lead gets ready to toss out the markers to plan the jump. Markers away, and team ready. Now regardless of who ever is on the plane at this point you are all part of the team and the rituals of the fist bumping and high fives before it’s time to jump. The green light is given and it’s time to step out and go to work. Watching these guys do this with no effort is just awe inspiring and you want to be a part of this over and over. Looking forward to the next mission that I get to document again with these individuals.

Marc Farb

Larry Grace

Steve Bigg

Larry Grace

David Shirah

Steve Bigg

Larry Grace

Hayman Tam

Belgian Air Force F-16 Solo Display Photos by Nicolas Limbioul

Nicolas Limbioul

One of the most impressive air shows the Royal International Air Tattoo was held this Summer at RAF Fairford in England. Over 120 aircraft from 30 nations flew in the skies during the weekend event. This year the Royal Air Force commemorated their 100th year all across the United Kingdom. For more than 50 years the RAF Red Arrows have been showing the world the best of British service and talent.

Jason Skinner

The Red Arrows fly the Hawk T1 jet from British Aerospace. Primarily a trainer the Hawk is in service with air forces around the world. However, the Hawk can show its talons and in variations can be armed with missiles or a center mounted gun. The Arrows use 9 planes in their routine. The show begins with the full team working through many different maneuvers. Creative and varied names mark the many

formations the team can make. A typhoon roll leads to lightning loop and then into a phoenix bend. A tornado, centenary split, circus and corkscrew are also in order. Extensive training and discipline are evident by gracefully moving the entire flight through complex iterations and then smoothly transitioning between them. The show then moves into a higher paced routine showcasing crossovers, high G turns and several break formations. The Red Arrows give an abundant performance. Their motto is “éclat”, which can mean brilliance or excellence. With the RAF Red Arrows, you get plenty of both! Keep a look out as the Arrows will be performing in the United States in 2019.

Royal Air Force Red Arrows Article and photos by Jason Skinner and Kevin Hong

Jason Skinner

Kevin Hong

In 2008 the Red Arrows crossed the Atlantic Ocean for a brief North American tour on the East Coast. For 2019, the Red Arrows announced they will be performing in the United States once again. With the impressive nine airplane aerial display, the team has dazzled the crowds and hopefully will perform at airshows and events across the country.

Kevin Hong

Patrouille de France Article and photos by Kevin Hong

Kevin Hong

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MEET OUR MEMBERS

MEET OUR MEMBER

Kyra Betteridge

My name is Kyra Betteridge and I am a photographer based out of the beautiful Pacific Northwest in Washington State. Currently most of my photography work is done on a freelance basis, though I am working hard to pursue a full time career involving aerial photography. I earned my bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University with a double major in Visual Journalism and Anthropology. In addition to having a central focus on photography and videography, my visual journalism education included editorial journalism skills such as writing, editing and audio recording. Much of my anthropology studies focused on topics of war, combat and trauma, which I frequently tied back in to my passion for photography through my research examining the ways in which combat is covered and documented. My interest in photography began at a very young age, between playing with my parents cameras and hearing stories of my great-grandfather’s career as a Boeing photographer, but I really began to get serious about it in high school. I started out learning to shoot on film and developed my own film and prints in my high school’s dark room before moving on to digital work. As I explored different photography styles documentary photography and photojournalism began to stand out to me. I went in to college with an interest in pursuing a career as a photojournalist or a combat photographer and eagerly applied to Western’s visual journalism department. While working on the staff of one publication I had the opportunity to invade the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team’s base of operations to write and photograph a story on the organization and its crew members. In addition to writing that story I also created a video piece examining a rare helicopter still in use for operations, and steadily began to learn more than I’d ever thought I would know about the Hughes 500P helicopter. From that point on my interest in aviation photography, particularly with a focus on military aircraft and crews, began to grow. Since then I have had the chance to photograph multiple military aircraft, including an EA-18G Growler training squadron, gained air-to-air experience, and obtained my FAA Part 107 UAS license. My first camera was a Nikon and as I have grown and added gear I have generally stuck with Nikon; though in college I used both Nikon and Canon interchangeably. My primary camera is a Nikon D750. For air-to-air shooting my go-to lens is a Nikon 24-120mm, and for ground and photojournalism work I use the combination of a Tamron 24-70mm and 70-200mm. I also utilize GoPro cameras in addition to DSLRs at times. For aerial work not around aircraft I have also recently been exploring drone use.

I am relatively conservative with my digital editing on images, a product of my visual journalism experiences, and prefer to stick with cropping and slight exposure and contrast adjustments. For video work I use Adobe Premiere and Audition. For photo processing I tend to use Lightroom a majority of the time because of its convenience for editing large batches and its preservation of the original image files. While it takes up much more space, I almost always shoot in RAW because of the information retention in the images. I first heard of the International Society for Aviation Photography through speaking with two photographers, both current ISAP members, who told me about organization and the work it does to connect photographers. Both photographers highly encouraged me to consider joining, and in November 2018 I finally did. The biggest piece of advice that I can share for photographers looking for opportunities to break into aviation photography is to not be afraid to put yourself out there and reach out. I have had the opportunity to talk to some fantastic aerial photographers who have generously taken the time to answer my stream of questions and offer much appreciated advice in pursuing aviation and aerial photography as a career. Networking and connecting, in my experience, has been such a vital part of making progress in the photography industry and I would be happy to talk with other photographers to answer questions, offer what advice I can, or just talk shop in the same way that so many have done for me.

DenisBetteridge Kyra Rouleau

MEET OUR MEMBER

Mike Bilek

Hi, my name is Mike Bilek. I am a 39-year-old medically retired firefighter/paramedic living in Orange County, CA (Ladera Ranch). My love for capturing images began at age 17 when I picked up my first Sony camcorder. In those days, I would capture my friends surfing or skateboarding, turning the footage into short highlight videos. My interest in photography didn’t take hold until I purchased my first DSLR, a Canon 60D, in 2012. Since then, I have mostly dabbled in photography as a hobby. It wasn’t until I was faced with early retirement in the Fall of 2018 then I decided to take photography more seriously and pursue it as a second career. My original Canon 60D was a great first camera. However, when I shot my first air show in October of 2018, I quickly realized I was massively under-gunned. I rented a Canon 5DIII and 100-400mm to accompany my 60D and 11-22mm lens. My first air show was an immense challenge. After shooting about 5,400 images that weekend, I only ended up with about 100 “keepers.” Although I only captured a handful of decent images, I was hooked. I began researching techniques on how to shoot airshows and what gear current shooters were using. It was during that search I discovered ISAP. I was doing research on Sony mirrorless cameras and came across Ted Forbes from The Art of Photography YouTube channel. In his breakdown of shooting the Miramar Air Show with Sony cameras and lenses, he interviewed Larry Grace and discussed ISAP. I knew right then that I had found a new calling. As a child, my interest in aviation was fostered while attending air shows at the former MCAS EL Toro and NAS Miramar. Prior to become a full-time firefighter, I spent four years active duty in the United States Coast Guard, where I served as an Aviation Survival Technician. During my time in the Coast Guard, I became qualified as both Air Crew Member and Helicopter Rescue Swimmer in the HH-65 Dolphin helicopter. While stationed at CGAS Traverse City, MI, I was privileged to participate as an air show performer, conducting helicopter rescue demonstrations at both the Cherry Festival Airshow and Chicago Air and Water Show. The 2004 Cherry Festival Air Show was one of the highlights of my coast guard career, having the honor to fly as a passenger in the US Navy Blue Angels C-130, Fat Albert Airlines. The culmination of all of my coast guard training occurred in August/September of 2005, when I was deployed to New Orleans, LA in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I spent eight days in the gulf coast, earning the Air Medal for my rescue efforts while deployed. After much research and speaking with other photographic professionals, I have since settled on Sony as my camera of choice. While I loved my Canon and almost made the switch to Nikon, I ultimately favored the

mirrorless system because of weight savings. I recently acquired the Sony A9 with 24-105mm f/4 G Master and 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master with 1.4x teleconverter. Although I am still testing the new gear, I am amazed at the image quality, focus system capabilities and high frame rate shooting. While the camera is capable of shooting 20fps compressed RAW, I have stuck with 12fps uncompressed RAW in testing. I shoot RAW because of the latitude it provides my while editing. Since this is a new camera to me, I am still learning all the bells and whistles but am excited for the possibilities. During the upcoming airshow season, I plan on renting a second camera body for more important shoots. I also own a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone which I previously used only for video work, but am now starting to use for aerial photography. Up until recently, I was solely using Adode Lightroom for cataloging and editing images. Since committing to photography as a second career, I am now learning to use Photoshop in conjunction with Nik software for retouching images. The learning curve has been steep with this new software, but I see the possibilities as endless. My photography education up has been mostly informal training. I frequently use CreativeLive.com for learning Lightroom and Photoshop and Rippletraining.com for video and color grading tutorials. After joining ISAP, I discovered Kelbyone.com through Mr. Kelby’s association with ISAP. In October 2018, I enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Art in Digital Photography program (online) at Arizona State University. So far, the program has been great, as it has challenged me to take on projects I normally wouldn’t have, as well as giving me those deadlines we all know and love. While I don’t have a ton of technical advice to give other photographers being that I’m so new at this, I do enjoy educating as much as learning and hope to guide and inspire others as my journey unfolds. I definitely consider myself an amateur at this point, but I did just sell my first piece of stock video footage a few weeks ago…does that count as Semi-Pro? Haha!! I am extremely excited to be part of this community and can’t wait for what is to come.

Mike Bilek

MEET OUR MEMBER

Simon Wong

My name is Simon Wong, living near Los Angeles and I just recently became an enthusiast in photography. I have taken photos at racing events before and loved the idea of capturing the actions in the moment. Earlier in 2018 I attended an air show in Beale AFB and was absolutely stunned by the F-22 Raptor demo. I fell in love with aviation photography ever since and hoping for more good moments to come. I have a Canon 7D Mark II body with several lenses : Canon EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM, Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM, Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 HSM Contemporary. The Canon 28-70mm is mostly used for static display objects and the Sigma 150 - 600mm for in the air photos.

I prefer shooting in RAW for the flexibility of obtaining all the information for later edits. I use Lightroom for organizing and editing the photos. Usually I would import the photos and use the auto tone setting for better color/contrast. I joined ISAP in late November 2018 after coming across some of the photos by Larry Grace. ISAP is the only photography association I have joined. I have been with friends at air shows and exchanged ideas on how to capture better photos. A real good tip my friend gave was to fill the frame with the subject plane and emphasize on the banking trajectory.

Simon Wong

AIRPLANE SILHOUETTES by John Ford

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Visit ExpertShield.com and select your items. Click “View Cart” before checkout and click “Use Coupon Code” For the coupon code visit the ISAP newsletter or member log-in section of the ISAP website.

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LIOE Design is a product company that manufactures their own product designs. Located in Seattle, WA all their products are aviation inspired from their Aero Ti Chopsticks Every product has a story. A reason why a product looks the way it does from function and practicality to aesthetics. All our products are designed with the belief that everyday goods can be extraordinary. We strive to ensure the user is getting the most unique experience and to create a everyday item in a completely re-imagined way. We design to spark imagination and creativity even in the most creative people. Creating products that inspire design. 1) Air Squadron playing cards This deck of cards has artwork of modern jets and aircraft. The inspiration was to create a deck of cards unlike other cards, the Kings and Queens are B-2 Bomber and SR-71. The Jokers are the A-10 and F-22. Every card is unique creating the perfect deck for an aviation enthusiast or card collector!Â 2) Stealth Pen The Stealth Pen has a unique, aluminum uni-body design with four total components making it lightweight as well as easy to assemble and disassemble. The slotted design offers a futuristic touch and cuts down on the weight of the pen while allowing the user a glance at the inside ink cartridge. 3) Titan Business card holder The Titan is aero-inspired minimalist light-weight card holder. The pattern on the front of the card holder is reminisce of a futuristic space door and inspired by the nose of the B29 Super Fortress. Titan has a dark gunmetal gray color and is made from aircraft grade 6061-T6 Aluminum.

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For the special offers visit the ISAP newsletter or member log-in section of the ISAP website.

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ISAP Merchandise

If you wish to purchase any ISAP merchandise please email info@aviationphoto.org Send your name and current address and you will be invoiced via PayPal. Shipping cost will be added to your invoice. Members with an international address will have a higher shipping rate. ISAP Challenge coin - $10 + shipping ISAP safety vest (Small to X-Large) - $38 + shipping (An additional $10.00 will be charged for a 2X-4X size vest) ISAP membership patch - $5 + shipping Limited patch version with Velcro backing - $10 + shipping

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ISAP Board Members President and Board Chairman Larry Grace Vice President and Vice Chairman Jim Wilson Treasurer Gary Edwards Past Treasurer Bonnie Kratz Secretary Mike Collins ISAP Board Member George Kounis ISAP Board Member Kevin Hong ISAP Staff Member John Sepp ISAP Staff Member Craig Swancy Chairman Emeritus Jay Miller ISnAP Editor Kevin Hong ISnAP International Editor Mike Green The ISnAP is a periodic publication of the International Society for Aviation Photography (ISAP) 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 newsletter are those of the authors and should not be construed as the views or opinions of the International Society for Aviation Photography (ISAP). Please contact us at info@aviationphoto.org, isnap@aviationphoto.org or isappresident@aviationphoto.org ISnAP is a publication to showcase our members work in capturing aviation events. Anytime you have images or would like to inquire on doing an article for ISnAP contact us via email at isnap@aviationphoto.org Images should be sized at 3600 x 2400 @ 300 dpi (12â&#x20AC;? x 8â&#x20AC;?) in a landscape format only. Submit up to 10 images per article and submit your text in a word document and email a link by using www.wetransfer.com and send to info@aviationphoto.org (Up to 2GB). You can also submit images for review for a future cover or back page display. If any questions you can email us as well to isnap@aviationphoto.org. We look forward to your submission and to showcase your articles and images.

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The conclusions of the graduation ceremony at the Annapolis Naval Academy with a fly over by the Blue Angels.