Photographic Portfolio of 2023 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 published and best work from 2023.

Portfolios by Category

SEPECAT Jaguar GR.1A (XX741 'EJ') painted in 6 Squadron markings during the 'Blue Hour' at the Bentwaters Cold War Museum.

Low-level portfolio - click here for more images and reports. This is my real passion. Finding a steep sided valley and waiting for some fast jet action is very relaxing. You might only get one or two jets in a day, but who cares? The scenery is often stunning and when you are alone it gives you a good chance to unwind from the pressures of life. The anticipation of a jet flying up your valley is exciting. The thrill of capturing a jet with the ground as a backdrop is more than you can imagine.

Left to right: Eagles Rock is a high quality hardcover book produced by HMH Publishing, written by aircraft enthusiast and airline pilot Michael Stephan. This book is an extensive look at the 48th Fighter Wing, based at RAF Lakenheath and more specifically the F-15s operated at the base. The author interviewed commanders of all 48th FW units and assembled a huge number of unique photographs for this publication. He even had the incredible opportunity to fly backseat in an F-15E Strike Eagle of the 492nd Fighter Squadron. My contribution is 15 F-15C/E images above taken between 1993 and 2022.

Duke Hawkins - Aircraft in Detail - Boeing F-15E/K/SG Strike Eagle. This 196 page book shows just about everything of the jet in closer detail than ever before: a huge cockpit chapter is included as well the top fuselage, speed brake, open landing gear bays, vertical tails and much more. Impressive action shots from all over the world show it flying fast, low and in full afterburner. My contribution is 22 F-15E/K images above taken between 2006 and 2019.

Military Low-Level Flying From F-4 Phantom to F-35 Lightning II: A Pictorial Display of Low Flying in Cumbria and Beyond by my friend Scott Rathbone. Left to right: Two of my images used in the book. Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) Pilatus PC-21 (A-107), operating from RAF Valley in August 2015. Based at Emmen the PC-21 were ordered to replace the Northrop F-5F Tigerfrom 2010 in the fast jet pilot training role. BAE Systems Hawk 100 demonstrator (ZJ951) in a new paint scheme applied specially for the SBAC show at Farnborough. It was photographed the day before the show on July 14, 2006, this was the only occaision this aircraft was photographed flying at low level.

My '9G' Hawk XX162 image was used for the poster produced by the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection.

On air base and exercises portfolio - I visited just a few air bases in 2023, click here for more images and reports.

Westland Apache AH.1 (ZJ210) with 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps at RAF Wattisham, visting RAF Northolt.

Photography Week, Issue 571 August 2023. It was based on me as an 'expert' with my 'apprentice' Shoot with a Pro' article on Ascent Flight Training at RAF Valley. A few of my people shots as an 'expert' photographer.

Duke Hawkins - Aircraft in Detail - Boeing B-1B Lancer. "For this book, we visited the bases where the B-1B operates from in the US and were able to photograph it in incredible detail. Getting up the ladder, located behind the nose landing gear, brings you to the crew compartments. The B-1B has a crew of 4, which is few considering the size of the 4-engined jet. No detail is overlooked in this book, from the three bomb bays to the huge landing gear, engine nacelles and long variable wings with their long slats and flaps." My part in this publication involved visited to Ellsworth and Dyess resulting in 17 images.

The newsletter of the 101 Squadron Association '101 Matters!', my image donated with pleasure.

Air shows, Museums and Classic Aircraft portfolios I attended very few displays, concentrating on museums (for my new book) in 2023, click here or here for more images and reports.

A panoramic image shot taken from a drone flying over Lake Bracciano. It shows the whole of Vigna di Valle and the museum hangars or halls along the shore line in April 2023. From right to left: Hangar 100, Skema Hall was added in 1993 with an annex added to it in 2009, Badoni Hall (1930) is connected to Troster Hall by Velo Hall, built in 1976 for the opening of the museum. Photo credit: My friend, Fabrizio Sanetti-Italian Air Force Museum of Vigna di Valle.

My article 'Ready for the 100th Anniversary?' for Aviation News (2,100 words and 8 images) on the re-opening of the museum as part of the Italian Air Force's 100th anniversary. Left to right: Blériot-SIT XI-2 (BL246). Lohner L-1 (L-127). Ansaldo SVA-5 (11721).

Left to right: CRDA Cant Z.506S Airone (MM45425 '84-4'). Reggiane Re.2002 Ariete (MM8669 '5-239'). Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero (L-112). Panavia Tornado IDS MLU (MM7071 '71').

Left to right: Front cover image of Avro Vulcan B.2 (XM655) at Wellesbourne for the book; 'Top Secret Warwickshire' by Michael Layton and Androulla Christou-Layton published by Brewin Books.

Left to right: Dorling Kindersley (Penguin) produce a series of books; 'Knowledge Encyclopedia - Transport!' is the latest addtion to the range. For this book on transport my image has been used on the front cover (if you look carefully) and within the book. The 1918 Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft LVG C.VI (7198/18 registered G-AANJ) completing its last ever flight at the Shuttleworth Trust in 2003.

Left to right: Dansk Landbrugsflyvning (Danish Agricultural Flight) by Rolf Brems. A wonderful piece of research, written in Danish, on quite an obscure subject. I was happy to provide one image for the 110 page book, an PZL Mielec (Antonov) An-2R (LZ-1408) with Air Mizia crop spraying in Bulgaria.