St. Joseph
Daring To Be Different
Two United States Air Force Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcons jets perform a synchronized aerial maneuver against a backdrop of soft clouds. One of the fliers is upside down, showcasing the Thunderbirds precision and skill.
This image is not up to the quality standards I like to work within. The day of the airshow was mostly overcast with a bit of fog – essentially, low light conditions. Having to keep the shutter speed high (to avoid motion blur) resulted in more digital noise in the image than I would share. In removing the digital noise, it gave the image a bit of an unrealistically smooth character. Not my favorite style but I like the image enough to share. This is not an AI generated image, but I could understand how one might think it could be.
You can get a better view of the image, and the “smooth” character I mentioned, by clicking on the image.
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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Glory of the Snow
These delicate blue flowers are known as Glory of the Snow. (Formerly, Chionodoxa). They are a joy to find with their white and yellow centers blooming amidst early spring grasses.
This image was captured on an early spring visit to Krug Park in St. Joseph, Missouri. I went specifically looking for early spring blooms. There was little to find in the park, but these were a pleasant surprise. I don’t think I’ve photographed this kind of flower before. I thought they were wildflowers but later learned they are grown from bulbs…so, someone planted them at some point in the past.
You can get a better look with a larger 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Gear Up
This is the “H2” variant of the Lockheed C-130H Hercules tactical airlift aircraft rising above the runway at Rosecrans Memorial Airport during the Speed of Sound Airshow in September of 2024. This is one of many aircraft of the 139th Airlift Wing (139 AW) of the Missouri Air National Guard at Rosecrans.
There is a phenomenon displayed in this image that I don’t believe I’ve photographed before. Notice the white spiral lines behind the propellers. They are tip vortices formed by the propeller. I found this description of what causes these lines on the web: “The pressure in the core of a vortex (such as that shed at the tip of an operating propeller, rotor, wing or extended flap) is reduced well below ambient pressure. The temperature is also lower than ambient because of the lowered pressure. If the temperature is lowered to the dew point, the water vapor will condense and become visible revealing the vortex core.”
I have seen the tip vortices trailing a jet’s wing tips, but I don’t recall seeing them from the propeller blade tips. I’ve learned it’s a fairly common occurrence. I didn’t notice them the day I was taking this photo, so I was surprised to see it when I viewed the photo on my computer screen.
By the way, I should have been using a slower shutter speed when capturing this image. A slower shutter speed would have given the propellers a bit of a blur, indicating movement. When the movement is frozen, as in this image, it seems odd to our brains and belies the incredible speed in which they rotate. I needed the faster shutter speed to better capture jets at this airshow, but should have had the presence of mind so reduce the shutter speed when shooting aircraft with propellers. (I guess I’ll have to keep my amateur status.)
You can get a better view of this image and the and the vortices by clicking on the photo to view a larger, more detailed 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Felix and Seventh Jazzed
A colorful mural of Jazz greats from the area adorns brightens up Coleman Hawkins Park located at the corner of Felix and Seventh streets in downtown St. Joseph, Missouri.
I used fish-eye lens to achieve the curved effect. I think it adds a unique perspective to the urban atmosphere.
The vibrant colors on the wall feature saxophone jazz legend Coleman Hawkins, Blues favorite Bugsy Maugh, well-known musical artist Jeff Luxa, a musical father and son duo Larry and Lin Buck, and Steve Walsh who is known for singing lead with the group Kansas.
You can get a better view of the detail in 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Joined at the Hip
Four Thunderbirds F-16 fighter jets fly in a tight formation against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds. The Thunderbirds, a flight demonstration unit of the United States Air Force, were performing at the Sound of Speed Airshow at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Click on the photo to view a larger, more detailed version of this image.
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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
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 ([email protected]) 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 ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.