bucketlist – An Adventure in Awesome

“Navigating 2024: Personal Growth and Bucket List Adventures”

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.

Until next year,

Steven

Links to this Year’s Post

“Between Clouds and Legends: My Air-to-Air Journey Over the English

Countryside”

Spotting at LHR

“From the Thames to the Clouds: My Memorable London Adventures”

“Seeking Unique Shots on Arrival Day at the Royal International Air Tattoo

2024”

“The Royal International Air Tattoo: Redefining Awesome for Aviation

Photographers”

“Departure Day: Capturing the Magic of RIAT 2024”

“Finding Purpose: A Personal Journey Through Solitude, Creativity and Real

Friendship”

“The Art of Sharing: The Importance of Thoughtful Interactions”

“Capturing Hearts and Clicks: Growing Your Instagram to New Heights”

The Royal International Air Tattoo: Redefining Awesome for Aviation Photographers

As a seasoned aviation photographer who has attended both the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) and Oshkosh Airventure, I can say with confidence that RIAT is a far superior experience. I’m sure some would argue that you can’t compare the two events. Because one being the world’s largest military airshow and the other is the world’s largest fly-in. But both are world-renowned events that draw thousands of aviation photographers. And that’s how I’m going to compare RIAT with Oshkosh Airventure, as an aviation photographer and not as an airshow enthusiast. My reasoning is threefold. First, the unparalleled variety of attending aircraft. Second, the nonstop and lengthy flying displays, and finally, the unmatched quality of the catering to photographers. It is because of this unique combination that sets RIAT apart from AirVenture.

Let’s start with the unparalleled variety of attending aircraft. Holy fuck! Where do I begin? How about the 20-plus F-16s on the “Viper Line” from 8 different Air Forces. Or the stunning pairs of F-4 Phantoms from Turkey and Greece. What about the two new F-15QA Advanced Eagles from Qatar. Plus, the six national aerobatic teams, which included Swiss Air Force Patrouille Suisse, the Saudi Hawks, the Finish Air Force Midnight Hawks, the RAF Red Arrows, the Royal Jordanian Falcons, and the petite Yellow Sparrows from the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Let’s not forget the single-ship demos. Starting with the Eurofighter Typhoon demos from the RAF, the Luftwaffe, and the Italian Air Force. Alongside two Gripen demos from the Czech and Swedish Air Forces. Also, those beautifully painted F-16 demo teams from Turkey and the Danish Air Forces. Along with the stunning Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 Hornet in it’s 100^th anniversary livery. Last but not least, the two noise makers. The RAF F-35B and the Spanish Navy EAV-8B demos.

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Most airshows and aviation events start flying about 11:30 to 12 o’clock and the show wraps up around about 3:30 to 4 o’clock. RIAT on the other hand, starts its flying displays at 9 AM and goes nonstop to 5 in the afternoon with little to no downtime in between demos. There’s not even a break for lunch! Quoting Top Gun, it’s a target-rich environment. Some of the highlights from this year for me were the Royal Danish Air Force F-16 demo that sported an amazing 50^th anniversary of the F-16 liveries, the Qatar agile fly by wire-controlled F-15QA, and the impressive fighter-like aerobatics of the Italian C-27J Spartan. It was refreshing seeing numerous European fighters as well as the rare bonus of the USAF flew two U-2s during Saturday’s show.

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Last but not least, the unparalleled level of catering to photographers.The Friends of RIAT (FRIAT)package provides the best access I’ve ever seen at any airshow or aviation event. It not only gives you entry to the show but also includes access to arrival and departure days with choice of various shooting locations including an elevated Grandstand along with flying programs available daily. No need to wait in long lines for food and restroom breaks. Within the FRIAT area, there is dedicated catering, private restrooms and not the standard port-a potty. There’s also luggage facility to securely keep your camera bag overnight, so you’re not having to lug it in and out of the show each day. Also, for protection from Mother Nature, the FRIAT enclosure has a large tent with plenty of tables and chairs to get out of the elements if need be. Conveniently, there is also a lense rental service within the FRIAT area with tons of big & fast glass for Canon, Nikon, and Sony mounts. Other included amenities are an official RIAT souvenir program, and exclusive FRIAT gift. This year’s gift was a gold-colored F-16 pin to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Fighting Falcon.

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Let us recap, the Royal International Air Tattoo offers an unparalleled variety of attending aircraft, nonstop and lengthy flying displays and the unmatched services that caters to photographers. Oshkosh’s Airventure is an event that every aviation enthusiast and photographer should experience at least once in their lives. And if it blows you away, then go to the Royal International Air Tattoo to redefine awesome.

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Gear used:

Canon 90D (X2) shot in Shutter Priority from 1/60^th to 1/200^th with Image

Stabilizer turned off.

EF-S 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS ST

EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

EF 500mm F/4.5L USM

iPhone 11 Pro Max

If you missed Arrival Day, follow the link below.

“Seeking Unique Shots on Arrival Day at the Royal International

Air Tattoo 2024”

Also check out Departure Day

“Departure Day: Capturing the Magic of RIAT 2024”

Until next post,

Steven

“Seeking Unique Shots on Arrival Day at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2024”

This is the start of the most intense and diverse aviation venue I’ve ever attended. The Royal International Air Tattoo also known as RIAT, has been an event that has been on my bucket list for quite some time now. It is the world’s largest military airshow that goes from Wednesday to Monday. I Missed Wednesday due to My helicopter flight over London.

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Despite the scale of this show, the diversity of the flying displays along with the sheer number of attending photographers, capturing a unique image is going to be nearly impossible. But I can make a few of my images stand out by changing my shooting technique. It’s a widespread practice to shoot fast jets with the highest possible shutter speed to ensure freezing the motion to get the shot. I chose the gutsier move, to shoot much slower to give my images a sense of motion.

The major disadvantage of this is my keeper rate drops significantly which increases the chance of missing a shot. When I shoot with higher shutter speeds, my keeper rate is about 85 to 90% depending on the quality of light. The more light, the higher the keeper rate. But shooting with slower shutter speeds, it drops to 30 to 40%. It makes reviewing photos extremely painful. But when it’s done right; the sense of motion makes the subject jump out of the frame and it’s so rewarding. It should be noted that I wasn’t brave enough to do this the entire show and mainly used it during take-off and landings. But the more I did it, the more confident I became outside of my comfort zone. Enjoy my perspective of Arrival Day at RIAT 2024.

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Gear used:

Canon 90D (2X)

EF-S 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS ST

EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

Be sure to check out Show Days

The Royal International Air Tattoo: Redefining Awesome for

Aviation Photographers

Also check out Departure Day

“Departure Day: Capturing the Magic of RIAT 2024”

Until next post,

Steven

“Between Clouds and Legends: My Air-to-Air Journey Over the English Countryside”

This unforgettable story begins back in January of 2024 when I was proudly reviewing my photos from my 2023 adventures. I had far surpassed my expectations and my personal goals for the year. In the process of capturing these moments, it pushed me well beyond my comfort zone. As I was sitting there marinating in my accomplishments, I heard myself ask, “What the hell are you going to do next year?” At first, I had no idea about what I wanted to do in the coming year. But then I quickly realized that there were a few things I wanted to accomplish. First off, I wanted to travel internationally. There’s a whole planet to explore with tons of different cultures, places to get lost in and I want to see it. Secondly, I’ve always wanted to do air-to-air photography but never knew how to go about it. Fortunately, at Thunder over Michigan, I caught up with a fellow aviation photographer who shared his experiences working with various air-to-air services. Long story short, it’s “Pay to Play”. Meaning, if you got the coin, you can go fly & photograph. And it is not cheap. The fact is you’re paying for a unique if not rare photo opportunity that’s professionally organized that has limited availability and hard to duplicate. And after a bit of googling, I came across the Aviation PhotoCrew. They offer what I feel is the most appetizing and diverse selection of subjects in various locations including North America. And of their 2024 projects, there is “Warbirds UK”! The thought of photographing iconic World War Two fighters over the English countryside gave me goosebumps. To add to the excitement, the following weekend is the Royal International Air Tattoo also known as RIAT. According to Wikipedia, it is the world’s largest military airshow, and it has been on my bucket list since I started my journey in aviation photography. Seeing the countless European demo teams and numerous exotic fighters from various air forces would be absolutely incredible. So, doing my first air-to-air photoshoot with warbirds over the English countryside along with going to the world’s largest military airshow within a span of a week. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do this year!

Fast forward through six months of the chore like routine of work, patiently saving, strategically planning, nervously booking, and confidently reserving. Surprisingly, everything worked out perfectly. The overnight flight across the pond was pleasant and comfortable, my first time driving in England was not as difficult as I imagined and navigating to the hotel was easy with Apple CarPlay. Getting checked in and having dinner was relieving after such a long exhausting day of traveling. The next morning woke up to overcast skies and scattered showers which is not ideal for an air-to-air photo shoot. According to the Aviation PhotoCrew email, the photo mission could be cancelled if the cloud ceiling were too low and rainy. And during my drive over to the Old Warden Aerodrome, the rain and mist just added more doubt to the day’s adventure. Fortunately, the weather at the airfield was slowly clearing up and soon enough our photo aircraft arrived, the famous Pink Skyvan. Eric and his enthusiastic crew came over and introduced themselves. And what a bunch of great guys. After the meet and greet, we got our safety gear on along with whatever photo gear we were taken on the flights and headed over to the Skyvan.

With the Skyvan being a turboprop, it requires jet fuel which was not available at the aerodrome. So, we based the rest of our flights out of Turweston airport. This gave us a place to grab a bite to eat, collectively nerd out about our love for aviation and photography, along with refuel the Skyvan before the next flight. After the first flight, we were much more relaxed and talkative as a group. And before we knew it, it was time for the next flight. My next location was in the middle of “Business Class”. This was a row of padded benches instead of the hard floor of the Skyvan. The second flight was the shortest, with only one subject, an amazing Hawker Hurricane. But oh my god he flew in super close formation with us. Then it was back at Turweston airport, refueled the Skyvan and we were back in the air for our longest flight with two Spitfires and two P-51s. Capturing breathtaking photos of World War Two fighters dancing over clouds, combined with the vibrant color of the English countryside was immensely exhilarating and truly unforgettable. Even though we all had smiles from ear to ear during that longer flight, I think everyone couldn’t wait to be back on the ground to warm up. Back at Turweston for the last time for fuel and with nothing else to photograph the rear door was closed and we headed back to the Old Warden Aerodrome. Words fail me at completely describing how incredible this whole experience was. It is something you must experience for yourself. Big thanks to all the amazing members of the Aviation PhotoCrew for organizing such an extraordinary event.

Enough talking, enjoy the photos.