Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Aircraft
Doc’s Nose
This is a close-up of Doc’s nose. Doc is the name painted on the side of this historic aircraft; a vintage Boeing B-29 Superfortress. If you look closely, you can just barely see a painting of Doc, the character the plane is named for from Disney’s animated movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
This is an HDR image (three bracketed shots) that helped bring out the darker, interior of the aircraft. I find the intricate glass on the nose and metal frame a very cool design. I also like the way you can see reflections of people and surroundings in the polished stainless steel body of the aircraft. The polished metal surface and unique design elements highlight the historical significance of the airplane.
You can read about the history of this plane and the story of its restoration here: The B-29 Doc Story.
You can see a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
Close Formation
In the air or on the ground, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds are impressive. Not only do they fly with precision, they park with precision too. (I’ll post a photo of them flying sometime soon.)
In this image the Thunderbird’s F-16 fighters are parked on the tarmac at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, MO where later in the day they will be the featured performers at the Sound of Speed Airshow.
You can see a larger, wider version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Lethal Apparition – B-2 Spirit
The Northrup B-2 Spirit was flying low at the Sound of Speed Airshow. This American heavy, strategic aircraft is known as the Stealth Bomber. It features low-observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses.
It is incredible to witness one fly by. Very quiet on approach and it just seems crazy that this odd shaped thing can be airborne, much less attain a top speed of 628mph.
You can get a more detailed look at this winged wonder by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Air Show Wall of Fire
The “wall of fire” provided a dramatic backdrop to the Thunderbird’s F-16C Fighting Falcons at the Sound of Speed Airshow at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, MO.
Tora, Tora, Tora – a reenactment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor – uses pyrotechnics to simulate the dropping of bombs from vintage warbirds and the wall of fire is their finale.
The Unite States Air Force air demonstration squadron Thunderbird jets are parked on the tarmac awaiting their part in the airshow. Notice the Thunderbird’s crew member who is kneeling to take a photo of this cool (or should I say, HOT!) moment.
Get a better look at the details by clicking on the photo. When you do a new browser tab will open with a full-screen version.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Directionally Challenged
This aerobatic pilot performed an amazing series of loops during one of the air shows at EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Some images just make me smile. This is one. There is not much to it, but it conveys an interesting idea in a minimalist way.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Talk about a wild ride! This spectacular light painting was created by a pair of acrobatic airplanes flying huge loop-the-loops in the night sky while shooting fireworks off their wings. Though this long exposure image gives the impression of a colorful chaos, it is actually very graceful and beautiful to watch. This was part of the night airshow at the EAA’s AirVenture 2019.
Because this is a long exposure shot, the people on the ground have a ghostly/blurry quality to them caused by them moving during the 26-seconds the shutter was open. The airplane on the ground didn’t move, so it remains sharp.
The night, fireworks-enhanced air show has improved over the years. You can view some long exposure shots I took at AirVenture 2013 by visiting this earlier post – Pathway to Glory.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
The Flight Brothers
A beautiful historical display – these two venerated ,war birds flew together through the blue skies over Oshkosh, Wisconsin during an airshow at the EAA AirVenture 2019. The upper plane is “Quick Silver, a P-51D, Mustang. The lower plane is a Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair.
One of the aspects of AirVenture I appreciate most is their emphasis on honoring our veterans and the hardware our true heroes used to protect and serve. Both of these were used to protect and secure the freedom of others. You can learn more about these vintage war planes through their respective websites – Quick Silver P-51D MUstang and Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Dracula vs Shockwave
“Dracula,” the aerobatic biplane, swoops in to race with “Shockwave,” the jet-powered Peterbilt semi. This scene, captured at EAA’s Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is played out at airshows across the United States.
The flashiest of this match up, of course, is Shockwave. It is a semi truck outfited with three Westinghouse J34-48 jets that give it a total of 36,000 horsepower. Shockwave holds the world record for jet-powered full-sized trucks at 376 miles per hour! The smoke, the flames, the roar and speed all make quite an impression…even more so at night.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo. When you do, a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Sudden Downpour
This amphibian, firefighting plane, operated by Viking, demonstrated it’s ability to smother a wildfire with water at this year’s AirVenture airshow.
After take off, this unique aircraft would skim the surface of nearby Lake Winnebago for ten seconds and scoop up 15,000 gallons of water and then return to the airfield. The total time to make its circuit and deliver a drenching to its target was only two minutes. Amazing technology and service.
You can view a larger, full screen view of this image by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Festival of Flights
Fireworks are a favorite, and fitting, way to end the evening air show at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture.
This is like a little slice of photographer heaven for me – combining fireworks, aircraft and long exposures. I almost didn’t get any fireworks shots on this trip because I forgot to bring my tripod with me. Thankfully, I was able to improvise a suitable camera platform by strapping my monopod to folding lawn chair. It was not a very sturdy/stable set up but, fortunately, there was no wind to speak of. Of course, I use a remote trigger when shooting long exposures to avoid even the slightest movement of the camera.
The blurring of people in this image was caused by their movement during the time the shutter was open; about 23 seconds.
As always, the best of this image can be experienced by viewing the larger, full-screen version. To do so, simply click on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.