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To take half-decent air-to-air shots, it was often a case of being in the right place at the right time. Looong before the days of digital multi-shot and post production editing, I used my trusty Canon T-70 with a 35-200mm zoom and Ektachrome 200. I always used 1/500 speed priority and spot metering - compose, zoom, trap settings and shoot! No getting the subjects to pose either!
In June 1987 we were trailing some Lightnings out to Akrotiri for the last Lightining APC detachment. A formation of 2 x VC10K plus 4 x Lightnings. One VC10K did the first couple of brackets before returning to Brize and we took the 4 x Lightnings the rest of the way. I was lucky enough to capture this shot of the 4 x Lightnings and the other VC10K over the Alps - underexposed for 'atmosphere': https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....77b928f563.jpg This was quite a popular photo and I sold several having found somewhere which would make good quality large format prints at a decent size. As with all my air-to-airs, the other pilot was flying the jet at the time A little while later, OC101 was entertaining the famous aviation photographer, the late Arthur Gibson RIP. Arthur saw my photo and aksed the Boss who'd taken it. So at his behest I went through to the crew room and Arthur said "Did you enter that in the RAF Photographic Competition?" I said that I hadn't, as I didn't know that there was such a thing. To which Arthur replied "That's a pity - I'm the chief judge and I would have insisted that it won!". He saw my advert on the crewroom wall and asked if I had any left (The prints were v. expensive and I'd set the price to break even, with an allowance for damaged prints). He insisted on paying me and wouldn't accept any change! What a nice chap - but his comments had been priceless! I took quite a few air-to-airs during GW1, which appeared in various publications. I 'loaned' some for various purposes, but only AFM returned them after use. When some ar$e at Group started trying to demand them for their use under some 'Crown Copyright' pretext, I told him that they were my property and I'd disposed of them..... An aviation artist asked for some (from which he made a painting..) and never returned them. Airfix even used one on the 1/72 GW1 Tornado GR1 box art without my permission, but I wasn't that fussed I was disenchated with early digital due to the time delay between pressing the 'shutter release' and the camera firing; a change of my situation meant less opportunites anyway, so I stopped bothering with air-to-air photgraphy. Nowadays a lot of shots are ultra pin sharp, but seem to lack imagination.... |
Herein some of the best shots of aircraft ever taken. Richard Cooke sadly died a few years ago.
https://www.richard-cooke.com/aircraft-libary.htm |
BEagle,
That's a wonderful picture, and an equally good story about Arthur Gibson to go with it. I also took a lot of photos in GW1; the Regiment we were supporting asked if they could borrow some for a painting that was to go in the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess to mark the day that A and D Squadrons drove back into Saudi via a border fort. Stupidly I sent the negs, which of course I've never seen again - but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that the people who deserved it have the picture to remember the occasion by. |
Got that one on the wall Beagle! What great memories, weekends in Palermo. I was in the final part of that trail, they wanted to take a T bird, to take people/ nurses etc I expect. Anyway, it constituted an extra wave, just coasting out south of Nice the french told us we had no permission to refuel, and sent up a Jaguar to make sure we didn’t! A T bird was always fuel critical so we landed with him in Corsica, so we had a pleasant night stop waiting for a C130 to get him going again!
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BEagle
I was looking at my example of your photo and thinking I might post it (but it is a photo and not a print as in this thread). It is regularly admired by all who see it. It is also evocative of the many, many days of enjoying the sunrise over the Alps en route to days "relaxing by the pool " in Palermo or Akrotiri. To my mind it is the second best Air to Air shot ever. Only surpassed by Andy Cubes photo of 2 VC10K and 8 Jaguars in close formation over the Iraq/Turkey border after an Operation in Iraq. It was taken through the top of the canopy as he was inverted, in the ninth Jag, over the formation. Andy if you are reading this, where is the copy you promised me? Anybody got a copy to post? |
TT, I heard about that 'event' and it sounded rather too sporty for my liking. I think that was in the early post-GW1 days when I was back QFI-ing at the UAS?
Yes, those early morning trails across France were always great. In the days of fixed AAR areas, you could always count on an excellent 'post bracket 1' breakfast knocked up by the groundcrew if we'd been able to take dry rations. On-base Akrotiri was fun for a single night - brandy sour, kebabex at Chris's, gentle trip home the next day, possibly with a Palermo overnight thrown in. At 'not-Mondello' usually. Better still were the C1K training trails with the receivers going to Akrotiri for the weekend whilst we stayed at Palermo - the 10 sqn loadies and cabin crew were great at sorting a minibus to Cefalù for a very civilised Saturday or Sunday lunch. I understand your 'poolside' Akrotiri reference! Although Gulli once sorted out an excellent bondhu barbi' lunch of halloumi, lountza, sheftalia, pitta etc. No doubt such things simply don't happen any more? What a pity.... |
I have four Rondot prints on my wall. I think he has a knack of capturing the movement of the aircraft in a way which really brings them to life. Unfortunately the lighting doesn't work out to get decent close up photos of them and they're a pain in the arse to get off the wall, but they are, in order from left to right:
https://www.collectair.co.uk/buy-onl...er-hunter.html - Hunter landing in spray https://www.collectair.co.uk/buy-onl...y/gazelle.html - picture of a Gazelle with Dave Whiteley, ex AAC, now living in Wiltshire, flying the Gazelle in this picture https://www.collectair.co.uk/buy-onl...-farewell.html - a remarque print, one of 25, that I bought when Concorde retired https://www.collectair.co.uk/buy-onl...r-kilduff.html - bought as a raffle prize for a PPrune Bash down near Gatwick, many years ago, and signed (with Lomcevak's help) but tutors at ETPS who had flown the Jaguar there. And bought for me as in the raffle, by my wife, so it cost me twice! My brother also has https://www.collectair.co.uk/buy-onl...en-jaguar.html |
An interesting day: I was at school with Mick Rondot; last saw him on a grotty day in December 1978 when half the Air Force was diverted to Valley - an epic piss-uo; and today is the 89th birthday of the best pilot I ever flew with - he was latterly on 10s - A--- Ch-----.
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Another vote for Mike Rondot, my print being the incomparable Buccaneer.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....378c995fb6.jpg I've also got a David Shepherd print of its older Blackburn brother , the Beverley, creating its own smokescreen during a landing in West Aden, watched by two indifferent camels. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....24fe33e592.jpg |
And watched by me on my wall.
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https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....06c278cf9e.jpg
Nr Fairy,is this the Lightning one ? (sorry about poor quality) BTW,ORAC,when I ordered this print from Rondot,I mentioned that I used to live near him in East Dereham,and he sent me ,gratis,a copy of your Lightning T5 print,along with it..Very decent of him I thought. |
This might bring back a few memories for the `older dogs` ,taught on the `constant thrust,variable noise` machine..let loose for solo GH mischief....
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a5cc774e83.jpg c'opy.Paul Coupar GAvA |
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....693fd09254.jpg
This was the first aviation print I bought - 1978,last year of the 'Ark' i think. |
ex82watcher I don't have a Lightning print, I'm afraid. Hunter, Jags, Concorde and Gazelle. My brother has the Bruggen Jag landing in spray, with a streamed brake chute.
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Ah,just realised I misread your post,you were commenting on the LIGHTING,rather than Lightning.Sorry!
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Apologies for the quality of the photos.
First one is 50th anniversary signed print .https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9224bee093.jpg 50th Anniversary signed print Second I think looks really cool. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....906ad101f2.jpg In my "hero" room (the downstairs loo). Took the guy flying in the back of a Tonka when we were in Bahrain. He reciprocated very nicely with a Sea King for 7 of us, 3 aircrew and 4 groundcrew, hosting us on board the Abe. Don't let anyone tell you US warships are dry, cos the Abe certainly wasn't as we were offered drinks in his cabin/stateroom then had a grand tour. Love the pic.....such power in one shot! https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4f0e23e343.jpg |
Stunning picture,my copy has been on the wall for 38 years.
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