Photographic Portfolio of 2009 Images and photographic notes of my successes for the year

Each year I like to produce a collection of my best and favourite images, most have been published in books and magazines and possibly in conjunction with features and as such were chosen by the editor in question. I hope you like this snapshot of my best work from 2009.

Portfolios by Category

The Vulcan Operating Company's (TVOC) Avro Vulcan B2 (XH558/G-VLCN) at the Windermere air show in July. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/1000 at f.8 and ISO 200).

Air to air portfolio  -  Click here for more images and reports.

Double page spread in Air International magazine in February 2009 for article 'Aircraft of the RAF - Sentry AEW.1'. E-3D Sentry (ZH101 '01') over the North Sea with a 43(F) Squadron Tornado F.3 in March 2008. Combat Aircraft October 2009. Double page image of Nimrod R.1 (XW664) air to air for article; 'Decision Time for Nimrod R.1'.

RAF Year Book 2009, image for article '41(R) Squadron - The Evaluators'. Tornado GR.4 (ZD739) fitted Brimstone anti-tank missiles over the Irish Sea in October 2008.  Image for article 'Multi-role Typhoon' Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ921 'QO-H') using callsign 'Nightmare 22' of 3(F) Squadron this was the latest FGR.4 to be returned after its upgrade at Warton. It was carrying a Litening III Laser Designator Pod in September 2008.

'Aircraft' magazine March 2009. Two images, including one full page for article 'The Aircraft Defence Review'. Left to right: Harrier GR.9s (ZG480 '70') with ZG859 '91') of 1(F) Squadron using 'Jedi' callsign while air refuelling over North Sea (AARA 5) in March 2008. Tornado GR.4 (ZA473/-) in 12(B) Squadron colours at low-level in mid Wales in October 2008 (also see notes below). Air International December 2009 Image for article 'Still bombing at 95'. Tornado GR.4 (ZG771 'AZ') of 9 Squadron using callsign 'Batman' over North Sea in 2004.

Air Forces Monthly March 2009. Two images for article 'RAF - Under Pressure?'. Left to right: A Typhoon from each active squadron; Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ930 'AA') of 17(R) Squadron Typhoon F.2 (ZJ927 'QO-M') of 3(F) Squadron and Typhoon T.1A (ZJ811 'DZ') of 11(F) Squadron in October 2008. Harrier GR.9 (ZD402 '31') of 1(F) Squadron at RAF Cottesmore in December 2008. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L with x2 extender at 1/640 f7.1 -1 exposure compensation ISO 100).

Bold Avenger 2009 Left to right: Royal Nederlands Air Force General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon (J-869) callsign 'Scarlet 02' on the wing of the tanker after receiving fuel on the way to the target. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105mm (47mm) f4L IS 1/640 at f8 -1 exposure compensation and ISO 100). Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon (297) using callsign 'Wolf 03' closing in on the KC-135. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105mm (32mm) f4L IS 1/500 at f8 -1 exposure compensation and ISO 100). Danish Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon (E-107) callsign 'Coyote 07' pulling away from the tanker after receiving 5,000 pounds of fuel. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105mm (55mm) f4L IS1/1000 at f8 -1 exposure compensation and ISO 100). Turkish Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon (89-0035) callsign 'Izmir 42' breaking away after receiving fuel for the return journey to Karup. (DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 24-105mm (90mm) f4L IS1/640 at f8 -1 exposure compensation and ISO 100).

Low level flying portfolio  -  Click here for more images and reports.

'Aircraft' magazine April 2009. Image for article 'The Aircraft Defence Review'. The front cover of 'Jaguar - Detail Series' by Willy Peeters. Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ921 'QO-H') using callsign 'Nightmare 22' of 3(F) Squadron this was the latest FGR.4 to be returned after its upgrade at Warton. It was carrying a Litening III Laser Designator Pod in September 2008. Two-seat Jaguar T.4 (XX841) was operating with QinetiQ at Boscombe Down in July 2006.

The Ministry of Defences report to Parliament entitled, 'The Pattern of Military Low-Flying Across the United Kingdom 2008-2009' using 19 of my images, including the front cover. Left to right: Tornado GR.4A (ZA400 '011') still in Operation Telic 'Scud Hunter' markings complete with shark smouth in June 2007. Harrier GR.7A (ZD376 '24A') from the then recently reformed 800 NAS in April 2006. Sea King HU.5 (ZA134/-) of 771 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) based at RNAS Culdrose, hovering in front of the control tower and at the end of one of the four runways at Predannack airfield in July 2008. Tucano T.1 (ZF349) in September 2004. C-130K Hercules C.3 (XV202) of the Lyneham Transport Wing low-flying in LFA 7 in August 2007. Apache AH.1 (ZJ190) of AAC 662 Squadron 3 Regiment in June 2006.

Air Combat magazine April 2009. Featuring two full page images and one double page image. Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (96-0205 'LN') of the 492 FS, 48 FW from Lakenheath in October 2008. Harrier GR.7A (ZD431 '43A') of 4(AC) Squadron on the final sortie of the day, departs from RAF Cottesmore as the sun was setting in December 2008. Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ921 'QO-H') using callsign 'Nightmare 22' of 3(F) Squadron this was the latest FGR.4 to be returned after its upgrade at Warton. It was carrying a Litening III Laser Designator Pod in September 2008.

Aircraft (Illustrated)'s 100 Best Pictures. My image of a 12(B) Squadron Tornado GR.4 flying at low-level, was selected by magazine editor Allan Burney, as one of the 100 best images to be published in Aircraft Illustrated in the last five years. see Low-level photography My five page article 'The United Kingdom low-fly System (UKLFS)' for Bulgarian magazine 'Club Wings'. Tornado GR.4A (ZA400 '011') in 'Operation Telic' markings complete with 'sharksmouth' at low-level in Wales in June 2007.

Some of my favourite low-level images of 2009

Left to right: Unmarked Harrier GR.9 (ZD375 '23') at low-level in Wales in June 2009. DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/800 at f.5.6 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200. Alpha Jet (ZJ645 '45') in the new black and white QinetiQ scheme in June 2009. DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L plus x1.4 extender at 1/640 at f.4.5 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200. Red Arrow Hawk T.1A (XX253) using callsign 'Red 11' was on its way from RIAT at Fairford to RAF Valley before continuing on to its home base at RAF Scampton in July 2009. DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L at 1/800 at f.5 with -2/3 exposure compensation and ISO 200. F-15E Strike Eagle (98-0131) of 492 FS, 48 FW in October 2009.  DSLR x1.6 sensor + Canon EF 300mm f2.8L f.2.8 -1/3 exposure compensation, 1/640 and ISO 200.

On base portfolio  -  I visited a number of bases in 2009, click here for more images and reports.

Air International July 2009. Three images for the article, 'The RAF at 91 - Support Helicopters'.

Air International December 2009. Nine images and 5,000 words for my four page article, Bulgarian Cougars - Forge NATO Interoperability.

Air shows portfolio  -  I covered a number of fantastic air shows in 2009, click here for more images and reports.

My five page article Flying Legends 2009 at Duxford in July for Bulgarian magazine 'Club Wings' in September 2009. The Vulcan at the Windermere air show in July. Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Fairford in July.

Air International October 2009, image for article 'Exercise Merlin Vortex', 28(AC) Squadron Merlin HC.3 (ZJ131 'P') at RIAT in 2005.

Loop magazine March 2009 Imaginative angle on de Havilland Vampire T.11 (G-VTII / WZ507 '74') on show at North Weald in June 2008. It is thought to be the only airworthy Vampire T.11. The Vampire Preservation Group which operate WZ507, used my image to advertise their Open Day at 'The Squadron' at North Weald later in the year. Aircraft Illustrated April 2009. Image for 'Air Events 2009'. Three Delta Jets Hunter T.7s (G-BXFI / WV372, G-FFOX / WV318 and G-BXKF / XL577) performed their combined debut flying display at the Kemble Air Day in 2005.