Pictures Of The Week
Week 43, October 2010
Clockwise from top left:
We've established by now that Slawek is a truly talented photographer, and it's also no secret that AXALP is one of the worlds best air events for photography. Add the two together, and the results are spectacular, as his thread of stunning shots ably demonstrates. Slawek tells us that he'd ascended Wildgarst Mountain - more than a four hour climb up to 2892 metres - to capture the airshow from the opposite side of the valley. Well, it certainly seems that the effort was justified and we've picked out an inverted F/A-18 as this week's main photo.
Image © Slawek Krajniewski. Nikon D300 + Nikkor AF-S 500mm f4 VR lens
Koen Hartkamp returns to the POTW pages with a terrific flood-lit study of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on a busy evening. This line-up of KLM 737s parked at their gates was taken from the observation deck which is opened to enthusiasts and photographers each day throughout the summer until 8pm and this was one of the last days of the year to gain access until it re-opens next April.
Image © Koen Hartkamp. Nikon D300 + Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 lens
Low level photography is a game of patience and a little luck. Mark picked a perfect day last Wednesday to watch the action from Bluebell Hill in Wales and was rewarded with a huge variety of traffic, but our favourite was this shot of one of Lakenheath's finest. A flight of six F-15Es made their way through the valleys in the late afternoon and not only was the light golden, but so too was the autumnal backdrop.
Image © Mark Rouse. Canon EOS 1D MkII + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 lens
The 'Nightshoot' has become an increasingly popular format in recent years and Newark Air Museum held one of their own after-dark events recently. Martin Needham's eye for something different, typified by this detailed abstract study of NAM's Blackburn Buccaneer S.1 at dusk, made his thread of photos stand head and shoulders above all the others from this event.
Image © Martin Needham. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 75-300mm lens
With the MR.2s retired and the MRA.4s now cancelled, the R.1s at Waddington represent the only flying examples left of the venerable Nimrod and, as with Harriers, now is very much the time to be savouring this classic shape before they're gone for good. An hours stop off at Waddington on Monday evening was fruitful for Kevin as he managed to bag this one busy in the circuit, wonderfully illuminated by the setting sun.
Image © Kevin Bell. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L lens
The POTW roll call keeps on growing apace. Ryan Dorling was another one out and about on Monday, making the most of the good weather and he makes his debut on these pages with an unusual shot of a rare beastie. This RS-135S from Offut AFB spent Monday afternoon in the pattern at Mildenhall and Ryan was in the right place at the right time to catch this subtle topside that just about shows the all black starboard wing.
Image © Ryan Dorling. Canon EOS 400D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Once again, Fred Martin has delivered the goods for the time machine that is UKAR's Golden Oldies forum. We're all feeling a little nostalgic about our Harriers with the recent news of their withdrawl from service and this thread full of beautiful old FRS.1s from 800 Naval Air Squadron grabbed almost as much attention this week as they did back at the Yeovilton Airshow of 1980, at which these photos were taken. These particular airframes were in the spotlight back then as they were making their public debut alongside 899 NAS's Sea Harriers that weekend.
Image © Fred Martin. Nikon FM + 50mm lens on Kodachrome 64 film
Pictures Of The Week
Week 42, October 2010
Clockwise from top left:
Forget Vulcan to the Sky's latest tin-rattling, what we'd not give to see a Lightning terrifying the pants off everyone! Sadly it seems, not even in the crazy South African skies will we be able to see English Electric's supersonic monster, with the news that Thunder City in Cape Town has ceased operations. From Gerard Griessel's terrific thread showcasing the company's wonderful fleet, we were rather smitten by this shot of XP693 ripping the skies apart.
Image © Gerard Griessel. Canon EOS 400D + Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L lens
November is drawing near, and we think fireworks are great. Catherine Wheels, Roman Candles, even the humble sparkler. The Swiss Air Force would be a welcome addition to any Guy Fawkes party, so long as they did something along the lines of what Simon George has captured here. This great shot of a flare-belching F/A-18 Hornet almost certainly made the tough climb worthwhile for Simon, on his fifth visit to AXALP.
Image © Simon George. Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS lens
That's neat, that's neat, that's neat, that's neat. We really LOVE that Tiger Meet. Our own Staffer Mike Hall travelled to Volkel and came back with a typically high-class set of images. This pairs departure by a brace of RNLAF F-16s really got us hot under the collar. Grrr! Easy, Tiger!
Image © Michael Hall. Canon EOS-1D MkIII + Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L lens
Bono, eh? Such a sanctimonious do-gooder with his silly sunglasses. We really don't like U2. They've released nothing to UKAR's tastes since The Joshua Tree. We do, however like the Lockheed U-2, from which Bono's mob take their name. The "Dragon Lady" is a relatively common visitor to RAF Fairford, rather more common than the crystal-clear skies that greeted this example, caught for UKAR by Lee Hathaway.
Image © Lee Hathaway. Nikon D80 + Sigma 70-200mm lens
The key to great photography is to go the extra mile to get that prime position to capture the moment. Bob Tomlin made the extra thought and leg-work pay off with this atmospheric head-on departure of an Emirates Airbus A380, captured from the Mobberley "05" end of Manchester's runway. We liked this very much.
Image © Bob Tomlin. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS lens
Japanese aircraft are among the most photogenic of any air arm, anywhere in the world. Dino van Doorn absolutely nailed the composition on this one - a brightly camoflaged Mitsubishi F-2 streaming the braking 'chute, at the Hamamatsu air display last Sunday. A worthy shot to complete this week's impressive line-up.
Image © Dino van Doorn. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-200mm f4 lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 41, October 2010
Clockwise from top left:
Celebrating 65 years but in no mood for retiring yet, all of us at UKAR towers hope that she will remain a stalwart of the UK airshow scene for a good few more years yet. Nick Blacow captured this stunning image at Duxford's Autumn Airshow.
Image © Nick Blacow. Canon EOS 1D MkII + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
UKAR Staff member Dan O'Hagan was another to make the most of the Duxford sun with this stirring image of Plane Sailing's Catalina. For this aircraft, bright weather can be to the photographer's disadvantage, with the white paint easy to overexpose. It was much easier, jokes Dan, when she was painted as the "Rasta Cat" a few years ago!"
Image © Dan O'Hagan. Canon EOS 30D + Sigma 50-500mm lens
The October sunshine provided the ideal conditions for capturing the somewhat purposeful lines of the AH-64. Andrew Shaw picked the opportune time to get this three-quarter head-on shot of the Apache as it lifted off for its superb display at Duxford.
Image © Andrew Shaw. Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Rumours continue to abound that the Golden Apple Operations F-86 Sabre is off to foreign climes. Tom Hill made the most of the opportunity to shoot this wonderful aircraft before if may be gone from these shores for good.
Image © Tom Hill. Nikon D2x + Hubble Telescope
Neil Jones' love of the Mi-8 helicopter has taken him all over Europe, but for this week's picture of the week we have picked this quite superb image of this Finnish army MD-500 from the helicopter battalion of the Utti Jaeger Regiment, which we here at the judging panel this is even more tasty than the delicious welsh cakes that normally live in his camera bag!
Image © Neil Jones. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L IS lens
The humid conditions at Oceana can make for some interesting atmospheric photographic opportunities as Krzysztof Zielinski demonstrates with his photograph of the F-22 Raptor.
Image © Krzysztof Zielinski. Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L IS lens + Canon 1.4x Teleconverter
It's Tiger Meet time again! This year it is the Dutch hosting the meet at Volkel. Picture of the week regular Hans Heemskerk was on hand to capture this Armée de l'Air Mirage 2000 from EC01.012 from Cambrai decorated with the usual French flair.
Image © Hans Heemskerk
Pictures Of The Week
Week 40, October 2010
Clockwise from top left:
When the weather's poor it's time to get creative and that's exactly what Hesja did during a rainy visit to the TLP at Albacete, Spain. Utilising the reflections on the concrete, a wide-angle lens, a 'wonky horizon' and some strong editing he created a striking image with a perspective that draws the viewer in.
Image © Slawek Krajniewski
Northolt Night Shoot time was upon us again and it would be remiss not to feature a shot or two from the event. First up is a shot not of an aircraft but of a marshaller standing patiently with a Jetstream out of focus in the background.
Image © Kevin Jackson
Our second shot from Northolt is a slightly abstract study of one of 32[TR] Squadron's BAe 125. Afforded extra time to photograph the aircraft compared to an airshow Peter was able to experiment and captured this off-centre head-on composition. Add to this the subtle use of B+W with a 'colour popped' red cheatline and we had a shot that we couldn't fail to include in the week's selection.
Image © Peter Reoch. Pentax K20D + Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 lens
From a deepest darkest Ruislip to sunny Chile, Antonio treated us with a real rarity in the form of a thread full of Cóndor shots. This particular shot shows the Phalcon-equipped Condor on finals for Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport and was taken when the aircraft was participating in a flypast for the Chilean Army Day and Bicentennial celebrations.
Image © Antonio Segovia Rentería. Canon SX-10is
Staying abroad our next shot comes from Malta. Gill was on the Mediterranean island for the airshow and during her time there went for a walk along the cliffs at the tip of Malta that look over to Gozo. Whilst there she was treated to passes from the visiting Dutch F-16's, Armed Forces of Malta Islanders and an Italian Cl-415 water bomber. The climate certainly looks more favourable than the 'Loop'.
Image © Gill Howie
Standing in the back of a Hercules with the ramp down and photographing fast jets flying behind you has got to rank pretty high on most aviation photographers wishlists and that's exactly what Cristian got to do during Fighter Weapon Instructor Training 2010. These Dutch F-16AM's of 323 Squadron were acting as 'Red Air' during the course and came up to Crizz's ride, a Belgian C-130, for a photoshoot when they offered him this break.
Image © Cristian Schrik. Canon EOS 1D MkIII + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
We finish off this week's lot in South Africa with a colourful Hawk of the SAAF. Taken during the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2010 Expo held in Cape Town, Gerard managed to catch this topside as the aircraft flew past sucking vapour out the air.
Image © Gerard Griessel
