Actually, now that I look at it, it' s the same P40 Tim shot. And Tim, WOW! How about having a Grandfather that was a FT!! Did I photograph him in Dallas at their 50th? If so, I'll get you a print.
I can't believe how our thread here has taken on a life of it's own! I've got some good friends brainstorming about how we could make our events lot's of fun and a great learning experience for all of us! How about a North Texas based Friday evening, Saturday and Saturday evening with a field trip to a nearby private gass strip. We could have the opportunity there to shoot ground and ground to air of a pristine Waco Taperwing, Stearman, Pitts, Cubs, and a T-6 or two.We could also talk about and demonstrate an air to air session. Combining this with enough meeting room discussion of equipment and techniques and including time to process and review your shots from the field trip, maybe Saturday evening over dinner. Do you think that would make for a memorable weekend? Please bear in mind this is all very "wet paint" but I'm writing this at 4:54 am so you've got me excited!
All your enthusiasm and kindness means a great deal. I hope we have the opportunity to become friends through this developing scenario!
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:15 PM GMT
The thing that I would like to be able to impart if we do these seminars, is the ability to bring these aircraft to life. I'd like to be able to bring each and every attendee to a new level of expertise and enthusiasm for both photography and aviation. You all know that there's nothing like bringing home that image that just blows you away. The point will be to bring each person to that next level, to impart tips and techniques that will allow your "Kill" ratio to improve as you apply and practice them. Everyone has knowledge, equipment (read financial) constraints, and not everybody is going to be allowed in the "scatter radius" (that's a scary term isn't it?!) at aviation events. The point is that given all those constraints, we each want to be able to capture the best possible images, and keep progressing to that next level. What "wowed" me ten years ago in my work might not now because I wasn't shooting with an additional decade of experience and a longer more expensive lens. It's a growth process and that's really much of the fun of it! I would find it very rewarding if there were a bunch of you out there a year from now just shooting and grinning at that little preview screen on the back of your camera because of what we were able to learn together.
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:16 PM GMT
So, do you like to stay up late? Or are you an early riser? I'm early to bed, early to rise (not by choice though). However, I do enjoy the early morning hours for the peace and tranquility (and photo opportunities!)
What you mentioned about the goals of the event - I couldn't have stated better myself. Private grass strips (where I live) are a lot more fun and offer a lot more freedom than do the more commercial airports nowadays. I'm getting more excited about this all the time. Let's just make sure we can try to hold one of these things before next season's airshow season gets underway! If there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
I am absolutely speachless... Great photo! Outstanding photos! All of them! I have never seen aircraft photos as good as any of these, and I doubt I will ever see better. My grandpa was a gunner in the back of plane, that I do not know the name of off hand, In WWII. He was in the the Pacific theater as a U.S. Marine. Maybe you have an idea of what plane he flew in? It was only a 2 seater. Pilot, and gunner. I know it also had folding wings for aircraft carrier storage. I wish I had the name of it. You probably have shots of it considering I don't think anythings been in the air that hasn't been shot by you. Have any UFO shots? Haha...
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Actually, now that I look at it, it' s the same P40 Tim shot. And Tim, WOW! How about having a Grandfather that was a FT!! Did I photograph him in Dallas at their 50th? If so, I'll get you a print.
JW
Thanks for the shots Jim and Tim. Unfortunately my grandfather passed away a few years back so he wasn't at the 50th. Still, I would love a print if you can tell me where to order. I try to collect P-40 shots and even had my flight jacket painted with a P-40 on the back (in fact....it may be that aircraft )
He used to tell me about flying with Tex Hill and Chennault, he loved it. In addition to the P-40s he used to fly the Gooney Birds over the Hump into Kunming.
Weather is windy and overcast so no shoot this morning! I misread your post and thought it was Tim's Grandfather, that's what happens when you're reading posts at 3 am. Sorry he is gone. I'll find my file from that shoot and scan a couple of shots so I can post them here. Anything you'd like, you're welcome to.
Weather is windy and overcast so no shoot this morning! I misread your post and thought it was Tim's Grandfather, that's what happens when you're reading posts at 3 am. Sorry he is gone. I'll find my file from that shoot and scan a couple of shots so I can post them here. Anything you'd like, you're welcome to.
Your Grandfather pobably was a gunner on a Dauntless SBD-5. I don't have a photograph of one and I can't recall seeing one fly. There must be one in a museum somehwere. I'll keep my eye peeeled and let you know. The other possibility is a Grumman TBF or TBM and I do have a shot of one of those, but they carry more than two.
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:17 PM GMT
Just about everyone in WWII that flew anything spent some time in one of these, they nicknamed it "The Yellow Peril". Then they went on to the T-6 which earned it's moniker as "The Pilot Maker". Both of them were appropriately named. One of the reasons that WWII training bases had triangular runway configurations was because of the landing characteristics of these trainers. If there is much of a crosswind when I'm coming in in the T-6 my throat gets real dry towards the end.
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:17 PM GMT
That Grumman looks simular to the plane I've seen in some of his photos but the SBD rings a bell. I'll ask him next time I talk to him. He's 83 now. Somewhere, I have some photos that he took from an aircraft carrier of Japanees planes hitting the water and being shot down. Also some photos of the aircraft carrier he was on, on fire after being struck by a Japanees plane. I'll see if I can find those and post one or two... They're pretty historic.
I would definately go to a workshop. I'm in San Diego, but would fly just about anywhere in the lower 48 for such an event. If you get serious, please put my name down. I have a bunch of pictures myself, but nothing in this class so I won't humble myself.
Thanks! I'm sure you have some great shots. If I can get this organized an important facet would be bringing a dozen of you best/worst so we can anlayze them together and fill your "Best" folder with lots more images.
JW
Edited by JWilsonphoto on Sep 04, 2007 at 06:18 PM GMT
JW -
Loved the second shot. The P-51 Mustang is my favorite plane of all time.
- Ken
I wrote my reply post after seeing only the first page. Now that I spent the last who knows how long to look through the entire thread................. I had to come back and edit my post to say,
WOW!!!
I'm usually on the Nature and Wildlife forum because of my love for photographing the raptors. I've always loved planes, but have not had the opportunities to go photograph them. You just may have fueld another obsession with your fantastic aviation images.
- Ken
These images continue to thrill me and excite the imagination. On this Veteran's Day 2006, a special thanks to all the "combat air jockeys" you saved my "six" while on 2 combat tours of Vietnam 1967-1969 on many, many occassions.
Dan
I'm early to bed, early to rise (not by choice though). 
However, I do enjoy the early morning hours for the peace and tranquility (and photo opportunities!)
)