Pictures Of The Week
Week 39, September 2010
Clockwise from top left:
Ubiquitous is a word often associated with the Chinook. Here the mighty Wokka supports that definition, showing its go anywhere, carry anything capability. The helicopter proves why it is Royal Netherlands Air Force mount of choice, carrying two under slung loads in this beautiful sunset shot.
Image © Alex van Noye. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Talk about forward planning! Mark describes how he had planned this thoughtfully composed Heathrow sunset shot; "I had this type of sunset shot in mind for sometime and found the ideal spot as well, it was just a case of waiting for the right time of the year so that the sun would be setting straight down the 27L runway. So when I saw that the perfect conditions were forming for a great sunset and the aircraft were landing on 27L I decided to give it a go". We're glad you did Mark.
Image © Mark Kwiatkowski. Canon EOS 350D + Sigma 50-500mm lens
The supercarrier has long since been the symbol of US power projection, few photographers are luck enough to have hitched a ride, and when they do they can aspire to take a shot like this. Here we can see a super shot of a flight deck buzzing with activity, an F/A-18C assigned to VFA-37 can be seen during a launch from the steam catapult of the ship, the USS Harry S. Truman.
Image © Giovanni Colla. Nikon D300 + Nikon 80-200mm f2.8 lens
Here Ben looks out of the window of his flight to capture a rainbow, a lucky man and a beautiful image. The image was taken whilst banking away from 27L on flight UL506 to Colombo International Air Port, Sri Lanka.
Image © Ben Montgomery. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 17-85mm lens (with Polarising filter)
If rumours are to believed this spectacle is soon to become assigned to the past. David Cameron's foreboding axe hangs over the Tornado fleet, only time will tell if it survives. If it is to be chopped one of the most exciting and dynamic European aircraft of all time will be sorely missed, not just by the crews that fly them but also by the aviation enthusiasts. This shot portraits the Tornado smothered in vapour, in full reheat, a really exciting image.
Image © Jörg Stange. Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS lens + Canon Extender EF 1.4x II
The Harvard has to be one of the classic trainer designs ever, with a grace and style all of its own, not to mention the unmistakeable sound of its Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine. Nick, of our very own UKAR staff, was lucky enough to take this Harvard for a spin and then proceeded to capture this lovely head on image of his mount, some guys get all the luck!
Image © Nick Challoner. Canon EOS 30D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
From the sublime…! Here an aircraft or 'aereo' of the Italian Air Force is put through its paces on September 11th at Rivolto Airbase in Italy. The airshow was to celebrate 50 years of the display team the Freece Tricolori. The Freece have entertained thousands of UK airshow goers over the last 50 years and one can hope that they enjoyed this display of a Eurofighter of the IAF. As the Italians may say; in avanti ed in salita per il prossimo cinquanta anni!
Image © Philip Preindl. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 400mm f4 L lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 38, September 2010
Clockwise from top left:
Kicking off perhaps the strongest week yet in Pictures of the Week history is this stunning image of an F-15E Strike Eagle in full afterburner at sunset. Robert captured this aircraft, from the 492nd Fighter Squadron, in incredible orange light just before sundown departing its home base at RAF Lakenheath.
Image © Robert Starling
This next shot was taken at around 23:00 and during a full moon at the Tannkosh Fly-In at Tannheim Airport, Germany. Mathias has expertly caught this atmospheric looking Luftwaffe C-160 Transall with the help of a flash light and a 90 second exposure. The Tannkosh Fly-In is the largest general aviation fly-in in Europe, with just under 700 aircraft attending this year.
Image © Mathias Grägel. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 18-55mm lens
This shot of the Klu AH-64D Apache Demo Team was taken at the Sanicole 'Sunset Airshow' in Belgium earlier this month. Peter has captured the dramatic moment as the team released flares at the top of a loop. It looks more like a firework display than an airshow. If only we could have a similar event in the UK!
Image © Peter Steelhouwer. Nikon D3x + Nikon 400mm f2.8 lens
RAF Leuchars is a notoriously difficult airshow venue to shoot the flying display when the sun is shining. However, on occasion, it can work in your favour and offer some unusual opportunities. Tom took this shot as the RAF Typhoon solo display flown by Flt Lt Tim Clement, pulled away from the crowd line in full afterburner, the resultant efflux effect and moody sky combined to produce a marvellous sight.
Image © Tom Gibbons. Canon EOS 30D, Canon EF 300mm f4 L IS lens + Canon 1.4x Teleconverter
A sad albeit brilliant sight and one which may never be seen again. This was the last planned airshow appearance of the F-111 Aardvark before its imminent retirement from RAAF service by the end of the year. Taken at the Australian Defence Force Airshow at RAAF Williamtown the F-111 is seen here performing its signature move, the spectacular dump and burn - where fuel is deliberately vented from the rear of the aircraft and ignited. Richard has masterfully captured the result.
Image © Richard Ennis. Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
In September, the annual remembrance of Operation Market Garden took place near Ede, close to Arnhem in the Netherlands. USAFE C-130J Hercules' from Ramstein AFB in Germany performed a parachute drop. Antonie saw the opportunity of a perfect composition with the paratroopers floating down as the two Hercules departed in the distance and nailed it brilliantly.
Image © Antoine Bosboom. Canon EOS 30D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 37, September 2010
Clockwise from top left:
The Belgian F-16 is a perennial UK Airshow performer and 2010's "Vortex" liveried machine is perhaps the most eyecatching yet. Here, Tom has frozen a spectacular moment in time, with the shockwave producing a cloud of vapour as the aircraft performs a high speed pass. To capture such an image takes a combination of weather conditions, light and, of course mastery of your photographic equipment.
Image © Tom Sunley. Canon EOS 5D MkII, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L IS lens x Canon 1.4x Teleconverter
Carrier operations are amongst the most spectacular sights of aviation. Sean Wilson was lucky enough to spend time on HMS Ark Royal for a photographic assignment whilst the ship was on deployment Auriga 2010. Amongst a thread of outstanding shots of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm was this close shot of a 1 Sqn Harrier GR.9A as it hovered over the deck prior to landing vertically.
Image © Dr Séan Wilson (Prime Images). Canon EOS 1Ds MkII + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS lens
The beautiful setting of Rivolto Air Base in Italy was the location for the Frecce Tricolori's 50th Anniversary celebration, an event with display teams aplenty and appearances from Italian Air Force aircraft you might not usually see in a flying display. Here we have chosen a superb shot of one such aircraft - the Aermacchi MB-339CD which Kevin captured in fantastic weather conditions.
Image © Kevin Martin. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
The Sikorsky S-38 is such an unusual aircraft that without the Zebra-style livery it would still grab your attention! A number of factors lead Ian's image of the float plane to be chosen - panning, sharpness and the monochrome presentation are just a few that set this apart from any "regular" side on shot, and it came amongst a thread that showed imagination and great composition.
Image © Ian Le Sueur. Canon EOS 1DS Mklll + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
It takes a special skill to make a photograph of a parked aircraft grab the eye of the beholder. Dan Butcher's photography has long been of this imaginative, thoughtful, high standard and this image is no exception. Using the shape of The Vampire Preservation Group's Vampire T.11 WZ507 to good effect, with shallow depth of field and a rotated horizon, Dan produced yet another masterpiece.
Image © Daniel Butcher. Canon EOS 20D + Canon EF 70-300mm IS lens
The Spitfires and Hurricanes of the "BBMF" are very much in the public eye during the 70th anniversary year of The Battle of Britain. Here, Stuart has shown a very well composed shot of two of the flight's aircraft -Lancaster B.I PA474 and Hurricane Mk.IIc PZ865 - as they sat on the tarmac at Jersey's 2010 Air Show.
Image © Stuart Thurtle. Olympus E3 + 90-250mm f2.8 lens
USAF B-52s are regular attendees of the Leuchars Battle of Britain Air Show. Here, Barry chose not to go for the regular three-quarter angle on the approach, but used the approach lights to good effect for this excellent head-on shot.
Image © Barry Farquharson. Nikon D90 + Sigma 50-500mm OS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 36, September 2010
Clockwise from top left:
With the Battle of Britain anniversary being such a strong theme through the 2010 airshow season, there has been a noticeable attempt amongst the photography sections of UKAR to capture contemporary images of the era, and this shot by Rob Howarth at Duxford's show stands out, as our heroic RAF pilots try to pass the time whilst contemplating what their futures might hold. For many as we know, there wasn't to be one.
Image © Rob Howard. Nikon D3 + 70-200mm f2.8 lens
An unusual subject from the photographic pages, but well worth a look, this set from Kev Sullivan came from a visit to Chatsworth House for its country fair and balloon meet. Despite early mist threatening to deflate their hopes, the weather improved, allowing Kev to capture some really pretty images.
Image © Kevin Sullivan
Neil Jones made the trip to Finland to fly with the Utti Jaeger Regiment and their Mi-8T Hips, before their imminent replacement by new NH-90s. Seen here hovering over the water, and creating its own rainbow effect through the disturbed moisture, Neil has clearly come home with a fitting tribute to these outgoing work horses.
Image © Neil Jones. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L IS lens
Self-proclaimed new member of the 'Grinning Idiots Club', Rob Leigh managed to squeeze his six feet wide smile between the cockpit glazing of Peter Holloway's Storch during a recent flight. Re-engined with an Argus unit, and looking good enough to spread on your bread, the Shuttleworth based machine has only been flying in this guise since June of this year.
Image © Rob Leigh. Canon EOS 5D MkII + Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 L lens
Another classic in the twilight of its career, and again thankfully captured in action for posterity, the Corsair was targeted by Hans Breuer at their base in Araxos, Greece, a somewhat austere looking base. Hans quotes the base commander as saying that they may be around for a further four to five years. Let's hope so.
Image © Hans-Juergen Breuer. Canon EOS 300D + Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens
Harking back to the classic RIATs of the nineties, this image of two Mil Hinds making an opposition pass was taken by Bartosz Bera at the Czech International Air Fest 2010, at Hradec Kralove, in the Czech Republic.
Image © Bartosz Bera. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Not all "civvies" are bland metal tubes full of chavs off to Benidorm. Boeing's 747 remains the Queen of the Skies. Neil Bury returns to POTW with a terrific study, remarkable for the near head-on angle, and runway reflections on the polished underside.
Image © Neil Bury. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 300mm f4 L lens
