Pops Digital
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.
Angel on Assignment
A United States Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet is seen climbing against the backdrop of a tumultuous summer sky.
This photo the combination of an airshow performance, a setting sun and a billowing thunderhead in the distance. As the jet was quite a distance away, likely banking to return to the delighted airshow fans. The storm front was miles away, causing no threat but providing majestic beauty. The setting sun colored the clouds in an orange-ish hue, making the scene more dramatic.
If you look real close, you can see the fire of the jet engines trailing the aircraft. I’d like to have a better view of the Jet, but the real star in this shot is the sky. To see a larger version (and get a little better view of the jet) just 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.
Good Morning Oshkosh
The United States Air Force’s Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, a transport plane that ranks as one of the world’s largest aircraft, greeted visitors at the EAA AirVenture 2019 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Shortly after this photo was taken, they allowed visitors to walk through the plane. The angle of this photo makes the plane seem much smaller than it is. This is a behemoth! The cargo compartment is 121 ft long, 19 ft wide and 13.5 ft high. It is capable of hauling nearly every type of military equipment. The nose and aft cargo-bay doors open the full width and height of the cargo bay to maximize efficient loading of over-sized equipment. Full-width ramps enable loading double rows of vehicles from either end of the cargo hold. Aside from the cargo hold, the plane also has an upper deck that can accommodate 75 pasengers.
The lens flare, created by the sun in the background, was an unexpected artifact in this shot. I’m not sure I like it. On one hand, it’s kind of cool. On the other, it’s kind of distracting.
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.
To the Crowd’s Delight
The crowd’s were delighted, and clearly captivated, by the fireworks display that closed out EAA’s Airventure 2014.
Looking forward to AirVenture 2019, I was looking through my past images and found this one. This is a cool image to view in the larger, full-screen format (click on the photo to see) because of the variety of people – many of which are recording the display with their smart phones. Also, if you look close, you will notice a couple of small planes parked amidst the crowd.
This was a long exposure (2-sec) and most folks were still. However, you can see two ghost like blurs in the lower right of the frame who happened to move while the shutter was open.
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 Heavens Declare
A dramatic, summer storm rolled across the skies of rural, northeast Wisconsin.
These clouds were forming for a predicted, early evening storm. In order to capture as much of the sky in one frame, I snapped this one with my wide-angle lens at about 11mm. I wish I would have had the opportunity to set up my video camera for a time-lapse view of these clouds rolling in.
By the way, this storm really didn’t turn into much of a storm; just a bit of rain.
To get a more dramatic and larger view of this image, 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.
Yellow Flag Iris
I found this healthy collection of Yellow Flag Irises while strolling through the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. They lined the edge of a large pond.
In the “wild” these plants can be very prolific; to the point where they are considered an “invasive aquatic plant.”
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by simply 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.
Wondersome One
This darling seemed to have a look of serious thought the moment this image was snapped.
This is an image from a child portrait photo shoot. This is not the photo I would expect the parents to choose as a favorite, but it is one of my favorites from the session because of the child’s expression. To me, it conveys innocence and wonderment with a twinge of uncertainty. I also enjoy the vivid colors, the wispy curls of hair above this cutie’s ears and her holding the blade of grass.
This was a quick, portrait session. We had a baby. We had a rural setting on a spring day. We simply added a colorful blanket and found a spot in the grass with an open field and distant tree line for a background.
To view a larger version of this image, 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.
Mona Lisa Smile
On a recent trip to the Columbus Zoo, in Ohio, I snapped this image of a flamingo. I titled it, “Mona Lisa Smile,” because the bird seemed to have a look in the eye and crook in the smile that reminded me of a much more famous work or art.
This is an American Flamingo. These birds were found in southern Florida by early European explorers but their populations declined until they were gone by the early 1900s. However, in the 1950s they were added as a decorative addition to the Hialeah Park race track in Hialeah, Florida. The current wild populations of flamingos in southern Florida are believed to be the result of escapees from the race track.
The elements of this photo that I like most are, of course, the vibrant color, the detail in the plumage and the unusual shape and symmetry of the bird and its plumage.
To better view the detail in this image, click on the photo and 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.