Photographic Portfolio of 2008
Images and photographic notes of my successes for the year |
| Each year I like to
produce a collection of my best and favourite images. I will try and explain why I like them and how I came to get the image, with camera settings and technique employed. Some will have been published in books and magazines and possibly in conjunction with features, so you can say those were also chosen by the editor in question. I hope you like my work from 2008. I was using a Canon EOS 20D and EOS 40D camera throughout the year. |
F-15E Strike Eagle on the 'round-about' in the early morning sun, October 2008.
(DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f.5 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200). |
| Air to air portfolio - Click here for more images and reports. |
| Control & Automation Magazine - 'Flying without wires' (July 2007). |
Images for the The Friends of XXV(F) Squadron Day and for XXV(F) Squadron Disbandment brochures RAF Leeming - One last day with XXV(F) Squadron
25(F) Squadron Tornado F.3s ZE755/-, ZE254 'UD', ZE831 'XQ' and ZG780 'WF' callsign 'Javelin 1-4' in July 2005. Tornado F.3 ZE755/- in July 2005. |
| The back cover of 'European Air Arms 2008' by Ian Carroll of Mach III Publishing. Six Italian AMX meet up over Mediterranean during Spring Flag 2007 exercise. |
Loop Magazine, November 2008. RAF VC-10 Captain over Sardinia during Spring Flag 2007 exercise, for an article entitled 'With the Force behind you'.
Loop Magazine, December 2008. BBMF Hurricane IIc (LF363 'YB-W') shot air to air over Lincolnshire in 2007, for article entitled 'The foolish and the brave'. |
Left to right: E-3D Sentry (ZH101 '01') over North Sea in March 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105L IS (58mm) f2.8 1/1000th f.11 -1 exposure compensation ISO 100).
Typhoon T.1A and T.1 (ZJ813 'BL' with ZJ807 'BF') using callsign 'Triplex'. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105L IS (73mm) f2.8 1/400th f.11 -1/3 exposure compensation ISO 100).
Typhoon F.2 (ZJ936 'QO-S') while air refuelling over North Sea (AARA 5). (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105L IS (65mm) f2.8 1/640th f.10 -2/3 exposure compensation ISO 100).
Harrier GR.9s (ZG480 '70' with ZG859 '91') of 1(F) Squadron using callsign 'Jedi'. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105L IS (100mm) f2.8 1/500th f.10 -2/3 exposure compensation ISO 100) |
| Low level flying portfolio - Click here for more images and reports. |
RAF Yearbook 2008, 50,000 circulation published May 1, 2008.
Left to right: Tornado GR.4A (ZA400 '011') still in Operation Telic 'Scud Hunter' markings complete with shark's mouth in June 2007.
E-3D Sentry (ZH104) callsign 'NATO 20' on a crew training air refuelling mission over the North Sea in AARA 7 on May 13, 2005. DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 28-135mm IS (85mm) 1/350 f9.5.
Tornado GR.4A (ZG729 'M') of 13 Squadron using callsign 'Marham 23' in April 2007.
The first display at RIAT of the new Nimrod MRA.4 (ZJ518 '18') from BAE Systems at Warton in July 2007.
Four 25 Squadron Tornado F.3s in July 2005.
Harrier GR.9s (ZD406 '35') in the now joint 800/801 Naval Air Squadron markings of the Naval Strike Wing in November 2007.
Dominie T.1 (XS728) of 55(R) Squadron which is part of 3 FTS based at Cranwell in July 2006. |
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Centre page spread in Aviation News May 2008. 'Nine decades of excellence!', Philip Stevens illustrates the front line of the RAF as it celebrates 90 years of almost continuous service to the nation.
Tornado GR.4A (ZG729 'M') of 13 Squadron.
Harrier GR.7A (ZD404 '33A') in 1(F) Squadron markings and multiple mission markings, nose art of 'Lucy' has been replaced by plain panel.
VC-10 C.1K (XV105) in special '101 Squadron 90th Anniversary' markings see 101 Squadron's 90th Anniversary.
C-130K Hercules C.3 (XV202) of Lyneham Transport Wing. |
Air Forces Monthly April 2008 two images for feature 'Agile, Adaptable, Capable?'
Left to right: Dominie T.1 (XS737 'K') of 55(R) Squadron low-flying through Cumbria in December 2005. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 1/500 f5.6-f7.1 -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200).
Tornado GR.4 (ZA551/AX) in full 9 Squadron markings at low-level in Cumbria at 18:10 in August 2006. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f7.1 with -1/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200). |
| The front cover of Air Forces Monthly February 2008 and Aviation and Time 'Plus' Magazine F-15 versus Su-27. |
Images for the front cover and inside of 'UK Air Arms 2008' by Ian Carroll of Mach III Publishing.
Left and right: Tornado GR.4A (ZE116 '116') of 13 Squadron at low-level in Wales in June 2007. Air to air image of AAC Westland Lynx AH.7 (XZ663) of 671 Squadron, 2 Regiment landing at Middle Wallop. |
| Royal Air Force 2009, The Official RAF Annual Review. Double page spread for article 'Mud Movers'. Unmarked Tornado GR.4 (ZD745) at low-level in Cumbria at 18:14 in August 2006. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f8 with -1/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200). |
| Some of my favourite low-level images of 2008 |
Left to right: French Air Force Alpha Jet E (E7 '314-TU') was one of four deployed to RAF Valley in May 2008. The Tours based jets were operating from RAF Valley and were flying with Hawks from 208(R) Squadron as part of Exercise 'Garlic Lemon' where by agreement the French and British Air Forces can conduct joint low-level training exercises in each country. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L plus a x1.4 extender at 1/800 at f.9 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200).
Tornado GR.4 (ZD810 '102') it has 'Spirit of Tayside' nose art and was in XV Squadron markings in October 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f.7.1 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200).
Dominie T.1 (XS731 'J') of 55(R) Squadron on a low-level pilot training exercise through Wales in October 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/500 at f.9 with -1/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200). |
It has been a great year for catching F-15E Strike Eagles at low-level.
Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0332 'LN') of the 492nd Fighter Squadron (FS), 48th Fighter Wing (FW) from RAF Lakenheath in February 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f.5 with -1/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200).
F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0324 'LN') of the 494th FS, 48 FW in October 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L plus a x1.4 extender at 1/640 at f.8 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200).
F-15E Strike Eagle (96-0205 'LN') of the 492nd FS, 48 FW in October 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f.5 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200).
F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0309 'LN') of the 492nd FS, 48 FW in December 2008.(DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/640 at f.5 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200). |
| On base portfolio - I visited a number of bases in 2008, click here for more images and reports. |
Red Flag 08-4 Russian Fighters Over Nevada Nellis AFB, Nevada, August 11-28, 2008.
Left to right: F-15C Eagle (78-0506) lifting off from Nellis (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 70-200mm (190mm) f2.8 1/640th f8 -1/3 stop exposure compensation ISO 100).
Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagles (02-040) roles out after landing. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 1/200th f.8 -1/3 exposure compensation ISO 100).
EA-6B Prowler (163525 'AC-501') of VAQ-130 'Zappers' from NAS Whidbey Island/CVN-75 USS Harry S Truman (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 1/640th f.5.6 -1 stop exposure compensation ISO 100).
Sukhoi Su-30MKI 'Flanker-H' (SB042) flown by 20 Squadron ('Lightnings') Indian Air Force departs with a with a Litening III advanced targeting pod fitted. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 1/640th f.8 -1 stop exposure compensation ISO 100). |
| Tornado - A History by Peter Foster (13 Squadron Tornado GR.4A (ZG709 'V') at TLP 2006-4 at Florennes, Belgium in July 2006). |
Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) Out of Region Course 2008-1 at RAF Kinloss, January 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105L IS (100mm) f2.8 1/500th f.9 -1 exposure compensation ISO 100).
RAF Leeming - One last day with XXV(F) Squadron Emerging from HAS '13' Tornado F.3 (ZG780 'XXV') in February 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105L IS (55mm) f2.8 1/250th f.8 -2/3 exposure compensation ISO 100).
Spring Flag 2008Decimomannu April 1-18 2008. Specially marked Tornado IDS (MM7006 '6-31') of 6° Stormo, 154° Gruppo departs Decimo' (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8 1/800th f.6.3 -1/3 exposure compensation ISO 100).
RAF Cottesmore Harrier GR.7A of 4(AC) Squadron about to depart into the sunset in December 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/1000 f11 ISO 100, exposure manually set for the sunset). |
| Air shows portfolio - I covered a number of fantastic air shows in 2008, click here for more images and reports. |
| Book: Bommenwerpers Tactisch en Strategisch by Pieto van Buysen ISBN: 978 90 6013 301 9 Uitgeverij De Alk BV. Soko J-22A Orao (25207) of the Serbia and Montenegro Air Force at the Kecskemet air show in 2005. |
| Flieger Revue March 2008 Front Cover and three images for article 'J-22 Orao - Exot vom Balkan' with Heiko Thiesler on Serbian Air Force J-22 Orao's. |
