Ever since 2004, I’ve had a passionate love affair with photography. And come to discover that I have a fondness for photos that come with a story. Over the years, I have shot a few of them. Here’s the next installment in “The Story Behind an Image” series.
Part 10: The Space Needle
After my two epic helicopter flights over LAX, I was hooked and wanted to do one over Seattle. I had envisioned a shot of the Space Needle with the Seattle skyline in the background from high above. The flight was booked via Seattle helicopter tours and was what they called an “Instagram Photo flight”. Which was an hour-long sightseeing flight with my choice of subjects. I scheduled mine for 5pm so I could take advantage of the afternoon light. I arrived in Seattle at about 2pm, giving me plenty of time to get my rental car and do some sightseeing downtown.
I remember being excited about once again navigating through a city that I had never been to before. And I jumped right in, heading straight to Pike Place Market for some street photography, which I came to thoroughly enjoy. I then made my way to my hotel and had a late lunch before heading to Auburn Municipal Airport for my flight. It’s a good time to mention that I live in Michigan where we are 3 hours ahead. And after a long travel day, I could feel the fatigue slowly creeping in.
I arrived 30 minutes early to meet up with Craig, the pilot of my flight. After a safety briefing and a brief description of our flight path, we started our photo flight in a Robison R22 with the doors off for better visibility. Our flight was to take us north to Seattle to orbit the major landmarks, including the T-Mobile Park, the headquarters of Starbucks, and the Space Needle. Then we were to head over to Union Lake and Gas Work Park, Husky stadium followed by Snoqualmie Falls then back to Auburn Municipal Airport to complete the flight.
As we made our way to Seattle, we flew over Blue Origin headquarters and Boeing field which was littered with various brand-new aircraft. As we got closer to the downtown area, we were informed that a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) was about to go into effect over the downtown area due to a Mariners baseball game. Meaning, that once the TFR goes into effect, we cannot enter the affected area which includes the T-Mobile Park and the Space Needle. Fortunately for us, we were allowed to enter the area before the TFR took effect, but we were told to hurry up though. With little time over the downtown area, my priority was to try to capture the envisioned shot that sparked this whole photo mission, the Space Needle with the Seattle skyline. Not being a sports fan, I wasn’t really interested in seeing the stadium. But we did do one quick orbit of the stadium then hauled ass over to the Space Needle.
With the TFR about to start, we made it to the Space Needle just in time. We managed to do two super close and energetic orbits. To put into perspective how close we were, I was using my 18-135mm lens and at 18mm was just barely wide enough to show the whole needle from its base to the top. With the shutter blasting away at its maximum frame rate, I was caught up in the excitement of photographing from a helicopter with the doors off, the brisk pace of the orbits, along with being tired from the time difference, I felt that I had missed my shot I had envisioned. The rest of the flight was incredible but still felt unsure about my results and bummed about the rushed timing above the Space Needle. And I wasn’t going to review my photos in flight and miss any photo opportunities because I was chimping. Safely back at Auburn Municipal, Craig and I talked for a bit, thanking him for the photo flight before I left.
It wasn’t until I was back in my hotel looking at my photos, that I did indeed capture the shot I was after. I was so intensely focused on the Space Needle and trying to squeeze it into the frame that I never saw the Seattle skyline in the background. Man, talk about target fixation!
Canon or Nikon? DSLR or mirrorless? Full frame or cropped sensor? Prime or Zoom? New or used? How about if you are trying to capture a full-frame, tack-sharp photo of the Moon with your cellphone camera? Or walking around a major city doing street photography with a 600mm prime! How much and when does “Gear” really matter? Along with are you using your gear within its limits? I know having the latest and greatest gear does very, very little when it comes to taking better photos. Then there’s the aspect of using one’s gear the wrong way. I can think of only two scenarios in which gear matters. The first is when one has substandard or inadequate gear that inhibits their ability to capture an image that they envision. And the other is there is something about your gear that you dislike so much, it discourages you from using it.
Gear doesn’t matter but the wrong gear does because it hampers your abilities. It would be like having Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton drive a Tesla Model S Plaid at the Grand Prix of Monaco. Yeah, it’s a fast car but it is not the proper car for a Formula One race. And the same goes for you and your photography. Having the wrong or inadequate equipment can be very detrimental to your growth as a photographer. If as a photographer who has an understanding of not only exposure and light but a working knowledge of the elements of the arts, and if you are using gear that is preventing you from reaching your creative potential then it is bad for you and your ability to create images. It could be gear that doesn’t allow you to change lenses, or manipulate various settings, or you do have enough focal length.
Back in 2004, I was shooting aviation events with my Digital Rebel. And was using a function that still is necessary for aviation photography today (if you’re a Canon shooter) is AI Servo. This auto-focus mode is for tracking fast-moving subjects. When you half depress the shutter button, with your AF point on a moving subject, the camera will continue to keep the subject in focus. The only downside is that on the Digital Rebel, you could only access AI Servos in Sport mode which prevents you from selecting your aperture and shutter speed as well as locking the ISO at 400. Back then 400 was super noisy due to the tiny 6.3-megapixel sensor. But it wasn’t an issue when I was shooting jets because the camera maintained a fast enough shutter speed to capture them. But my love was for WWII warbirds, which requires control of the shutter to prevent freezing the props and get what is known as prop blur. Because of this lack of control, which was hindering my ability to photograph what I love, I chose to upgrade to the Canon 20D which allowed me to select AI Servos in any mode without locking the ISO.
Gear that you’re so dissatisfied with it, that you no longer want to use it matters as well. It should be noted that a lack of understanding of how to use your gear properly and misusing it does not count here. It would be similar to a painter who dislikes a certain brand of paint or a sketch artist who doesn’t like a type of marker or pencil. When it comes to your gear, it could be a lens that just doesn’t perform well, a tripod that can’t support your setup or you just hate the way your camera body feels in your hands. As a photographer, your tools are your gear. And being hampered by one’s tools can destroy one’s confidence along with enthusiasm to continue to capture images. There has to be a good level of comfort along with enjoyment with your gear that keeps you excited about photography.
Years ago, I purchased both the Canon 100-400mm zoom (the push-pull mark 1) and the 400mm F/5.6 prime. Both were L series lenses that “promise of professional quality in image reproduction performance, operability and reliability.” I intended to use the prime as my main lens and the versatility of the zoom as my secondary. But the images from the 100-400 were constantly soft. And when the images were in focus, the clarity was nowhere near the 400mm prime which was always tack sharp. I used it at multiple airshows but was never able to get results that I was happy with. Because of its soft focusing and how inconsistent it was, I didn’t want to shoot with it. I was so disappointed with the fact that it was supposed to be of professional performance. In the end, I lost all enthusiasm for that lens, and I eventually sold it.
The art form of photography is not about the gear but rather the images that we create and share. The camera, lenses, light meters, and tripods… are all just tools that allow you to capture photos. And about 98% of the time, it doesn’t matter. I’m willing to bet that a large portion of your audience doesn’t care about what gear you use. But if your gear is harming your growth, by either obstructing your development and abilities or is causing you to lose enthusiasm and confidence in your ability to create images, that’s when gear matters.
How do you feel about gear? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Since I’ve given up on New Years Resolutions years ago, I’ve found setting some personal goals for myself to be not only satisfying but fulfilling. They are, for me, far more meaningful and manageable to accomplish. I can add to them and edit them to suit my situation. As well as outright delete them. Some are completable, some are reminders, and some are something for me to continually work towards.
What did I learn in 2024?
Life has a way of teaching us lessons through both hardship and growth. I’ve come to realize that there are some mean spirited and fucked up people out there —individuals who, without hesitation, bully and cause harm to others, whether through reckless actions like causing a car accidents or through deliberate cruelty. And because of my experiences with these individuals, it has taught me the value of distancing myself from those who don’t give a shit about their actions. 2024 has also shown me the importance of friendship and the memories we create together, grounding myself in the relationships that truly matter. Along with time, my most precious and non-renewable resource has taken on new meaning as I try to spend it wisely—at work, at home, and in play—choosing carefully who and what deserves my attention. And finally, I’ve come to embrace the value of exploring the quirks of my own mind, even though it doesn’t seem to function “properly.” I’ve come to accept it with a sense of humor and a willingness to grow, knowing that understanding myself is an ongoing journey worth taking.
Where did I go and see in 2024?
This was a bucket list year which included a bunch of firsts for me. Beginning with a mini road trip with my best friends down to Toledo, Ohio to see our first Total Solar Eclipse. It was stellar. (Pun intended 🙂) Our next group outing was celebrating Star Wars Day (May the Fourth) in downtown Detroit.
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Then in July, I began my epic England aviation vacation. My first time “Crossing the Pond”, driving in England along with my first air-to-air photo flight. I struggle with describing how fucking exhilarating it was to photograph World War Two fighters over the iconic English countryside from the back of the famous pink Skyvan. While racking up 1400 miles on a rental car, I had to go and see the infamous White Cliffs of Dover along with one of my favorite all-time aircraft, TSR.2. She is such an amazing larger than life aircraft. And yes, I had to do some plane spotting at London-Heathrow while I was in England. Then I heard London calling, so I answered with another day trip via the train, which I found pleasing to ride. Seeing such iconic and historical landmarks felt like a dream.
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And since I fell in love with helicopter flights, you know I had to book a flight over London. And as long as I have been attending and photographing airshows, the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) has always been on my radar. And after 5 days of RIAT, I can say it is a far superior experience to Oshkosh AirVenture. A week after I got back from my England trip and with jet lag in full force, my sister along with my best friend and I headed to Las Vegas for some serious nerding out at the Star Trek convention. The best was saved for last. Two of my best friends got married, my other bestie officiated, and I was the “Best Man” (another first for me). From the rehearsal to the ceremony all the way through to the reception, we had an absolute blast.
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What did I Lose in 2024?
My good friend, Shawn Yost. Tragically, cancer relentlessly took him from us. My wonderful friendship with him started back in 2004 at the Grosse Ile Airshow. I had arrived early and scoped out a spot on the taxiway to shoot from. Shawn walks up and sets down his chair a couple of feet away from me. Opens up his camera bag and I noticed he pulled out the same camera body that I had, the Canon Digital Rebel. And that started our friendship with our shared love of aviation and photography that lasted for 2 decades. Over the years, we traveled coast to coast, shooting tens of thousands of photos, and creating countless hilarious and meaningful memories. We had so much fun together.
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As time passed, we had different paths in life, and our lives slowly separated further and further apart. I was in England when I got the news of his illness. It was two weeks later that I spoke to him, and the first thing he said to me was that it didn’t matter what happened to our relationship, life happens. But now we are starting over. And our conversation picked up right where we left off. We talked about shows and events we attended, shared photos back and forth, just like old times. Sadly, 35 days later, he passed. If I’ve learned anything from this, it is that Life is short. Use your time doing what you love with the people you love being around. Someone once asked me, “What are the images that you shot that makes you smile?” Not your best or favorite. Mine are of Shawn and my fellow aviation photographers goofing around at airshows over the years. I miss you, my friend.
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What did I Gain in 2024?
I’ve had better mental health in the past 6 months than I ever had in the past 40 years. Why now and what caused this huge positive shift? Well, for years now I’ve been putting a lot of effort and dedication into bettering my mental health. And I can say with confidence that looking back at my life, I’ve had poor mental health for years and didn’t know what to do about it. To a point of just accepting and struggling with it. I journaled for years, and it helped temporarily and had no lasting impact. Then I started listening to self care podcasts and philosophy audiobooks, applying what I learned to my life. Some of it suck like glue and some just wasn’t right for me. But as I slowly got to know myself and my triggers, my outlook on life changed as well as having fewer and fewer days of having a noisy and chaotic mind. Then with the death of Shawn, it dramatically altered my perspective. I started to see who and what is profoundly important to me and on the flip side, who and what does not. Also expelling myself from the super massive black hole of death scrolling through social media and the News has been so liberating. It’s a gravity well of anxiety and fear that is relentlessly damaging and tremendously toxic to my peace of mind. This ongoing spiritual journey has helped me discover and realize a meaningful purpose in life.
How I met Cielo
Early this year, I got into a car accident which was caused by another driver’s road rage. Fortunately, no one was hurt but my car of 10 years was damaged. It was repairable but I knew sooner versus later, things were going to start failing and I wasn’t going to start dumping money into her. So, this was my reasoning for getting a new car. From the start of this, didn’t know what kind of car I wanted, just features I knew I wanted. Turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, heated steering wheel, Apple CarPlay along with the newer technology that my old car didn’t have. Did quite a bit of searching online and found a few possible candidates. While at the dealership looking at various Genesis G70 models, I spotted the Hyundai Santa Cruz, which checked all my boxes. And after a test drive, I told my sales representative that I wanted a blue one. The dealership didn’t have any in blue. But she would contact their other dealerships and if they had one, it could be transported here. The next day, she called and told me that she found one with the same trim level I wanted. A week later, I got my Cielo. Which is “Sky” in Spanish.
Looking back on 2024, it had its profound life lessons, bucket list adventures and strengthening meaningful friendships. From witnessing a solar eclipse and fulfilling lifelong aviation dreams to embracing better mental health, this year’s ups and down has been instrumental in changing the way I live my life. Finding a sense of purpose, cherishing my friendships, and continuing on with my life long spiritual journey are my most valuable takeaways from 2024. So, what’s in store for next year? You’ll just have to stick around and find out.
Departure day, a full day of aviation and photography for the ultra-passionate. Since this was going to be my last opportunity at capturing this year’s attending aircraft, I struggled with how I was going to capture them. On one hand, I can use settings that will pretty much guarantee the shot and the other is riskier but produces a much more striking image. That is to shoot with a slow shutter speed while panning the aircraft as it is taking off. The result is an image where your subject is tack sharp and the background is blurred due to the panning motion. The sense of speed makes the subject appear to leap out of the photo. And after three days of off and on practicing this, I felt confident and comfortable with my panning abilities. I found the key was to shoot within a certain range of shutter speeds.
My range was as slow as 1/80th and my safe zone was 1/200th. A factor that you must keep in mind is the speed of the aircraft as it is taking off. The faster the takeoff, the faster the shutter speed you can get away with. This also means the slower the takeoff, your shutter speed had to be slower as well to show a sense of motion. Something else to keep in mind is that it is far easier to successfully pan with a small lens versus a larger one. For example, I had no problems shooting as slow as 1/60th of a second with my 18-135mm. But compared to my 100-400mm, the slowest I comfortably shot at was 1/125th. Unfortunately, shooting a large telephoto zoom at such slow shutter speeds, my keeper rate drops significantly. Remember, all you need is one to be spot on.
I’m not going to say it was an easy decision and to execute it. Shooting aircraft with slow shutter speeds, handheld with a large telephoto lens, sitting down on the next to last upper row of the grandstand, was so unnerving. Especially knowing there’s sure-fire technique just one turn on the main dial away. I was super hesitant to shoot the Greek and Turkish Phantoms with a slow shutter. But I had to trust in my abilities and knowing that the outcome would be totally worth it. So, without further ado, here’s 45 of my favorite images from Departure Day at RIAT 2024. Enjoy!
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