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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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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I came across this quote about valuable things on Instagram that resonates with me. “Things that fulfills you intelligently, emotionally, spiritually, and lovingly.” Since I’ve heard this, everything that does not fit into one of these categories feels more like an unsatisfying routine or chore. But it does shine a refreshing light on what’s important to me. And because of this newfound knowledge, I now have a new sense of meaningful purpose and a lasting peace of mind I have been lacking and seeking for so long. So, what do I Value?
My Time
Time is my most valuable nonrenewable resource. Once it is gone, I will never get it back. And to say, “I fucking hate wasting it is a huge understatement.” The simplest way I can define using one’s time is to dedicate it to a purpose. Ideally doing something that you find meaningful and enjoyable. Not every purpose is going to be fun and exciting, such as doing chores or running errands but are at least productive. Boredom is powerless over you when you wisely choose how to use your time. Fortunately, I learned long ago how to occupy my time purposefully and creatively. Such as working on my various projects and hobbies, learning something new from listening to audiobooks and insightful podcasts, and connecting with friends. I can’t think of a truer statement than that time flies when you are having fun.
My Solitude
The world has always been and will always be shit. But my solitude offers me a brief but refreshing escape from it. Where I can go untouched by its ever-present madness and constant distracting noise. My mind becomes quiet and still, allowing me to recenter on what is important to me. Such as my creativity gets a chance to re-energize and is free to run wild. In my solitude, time dilates making hours seem like days. Making a weekend feel more like 3 days and 4 if I’m lucky. I can recall a time in my life when my mind was so loud and constantly fixated on meaningless things that silence was rare and foreign to me. Now I’m able to appreciate the rejuvenating and calming nature of silence.
My Peace of Mind
I can’t talk about solitude without mentioning mental health. The cultural definition of happiness that is constantly being marketed and promoted is bullshit to me. That fantasy state of perpetual joy and lasting fulfillment, I feel is out of touch with reality and is unreachable. But if I replace happiness with peace of mind, that’s far more realistic and obtainable. The cheat code for managing and maintaining any kind of good mental health is knowing what your triggers are and having the tools to healthfully cope with them. Such as meditating, journaling, reading, exercising or practicing your spiritual and or religious beliefs. Whatever calms your mind and brings you clarity. If you have the means, find and talk to a trained professional. Life is too short to constantly have a noisy and cluttered mind.
My Creativity/Passions
I can best describe my creativity and passion by, it’s a fire that burns in my spirit. When it is lit, I can tell you what color the flames are along with how hot they are. Doubt and frustration can quickly snuff out its flame. But I love feeding it and enjoying its heat. I must be careful and not put too much fuel into the fire. When I do, I start to neglect other parts of my life. And finding that balance is crucial for me to have that life I love and enjoy. Writing, photography, and building scale models are my current passions.
My writing has become one of the most powerful ways for me to connect with myself and the world around me. It’s more than just putting words on a page; it’s a process of discovery and expression that challenges me to think deeply, confront my thoughts, and articulate ideas to share with others. Finding my writing style has been a challenging journey in itself, one that’s both intellectually demanding and rewarding. For me, writing is a creative outlet that allows me to share my passions, perspectives, and inner world to life in a way different from my other passions. Writing has taught me patience, persistence, and the importance of embracing imperfection—it’s a journey I’m grateful to be on and a passion I must continue to nurture.
My photography is the most cherished of my passions. I’ve never had a bad time behind my camera. Not to say, I don’t bitch up shots. (Which I still do 🙂) But even after nearly 20 years, I’m still deeply in love with the art of visual storytelling. I’ve been trying to capture a collection of images that are unique to me since I started this love affair. A portfolio of photos that tells a story of some sort that would be very hard, very expensive, or impossible to duplicate. As pretentious as that sounds, it’s something that I feel compelled to work towards. And not all my photos that I share fall into that precise definition. It’s about enjoying the photographic journey and not its destination. Look here to view My Photography.
My scale model building is my oldest creative passion. I started building models as a kid because there weren’t any toys of the airplanes that I wanted to play with. As I grew older, I built for model competitions. But after years of doing the necessary research and the tedious nature of correcting kits, I lost interest and didn’t build anything for years. While away in college, I studied industrial design focusing on model making. There I was exposed to a tremendous amount of new building techniques and materials that propelled my building creativity into a new level. After graduation and starting my new career, it was about 8 years before I felt the urge to build anything again. But I gave myself two conditions about getting back into the hobby. First, I wasn’t going to build anything real. My builds are 100% fantasy but deeply rooted in reality. And second, I was only going to build when I feel like building and not whenever I had the time. I’ve found working on projects while not inspired, leads to disappointment and frustration. Look here to see My Modeling Madness.
My Adventures
“I thought I wanted a rewarding career. But come to find out, all I wanted was a paycheck to pay for plane tickets!” Each adventure, whether it’s a short road trip or a journey halfway across the world, offers the thrill of discovery and the chance to step into the unknown. There’s nothing quite like wandering the streets of Tokyo, observing the pulse of life in a city that never seems to sleep, or plane spotting from a helicopter over LAX, photographing the world from a new perspective. Some of my most memorable moments come from these unique, sometimes one of a kind experiences—like hanging out of the back of a Sky Van, photographing warbirds over the countryside of England.
These adventures aren’t just about seeing new places; they’re about capturing memories that can’t be recreated and moments that feel like they belong only to me. I love collecting souvenirs like refrigerator magnets and Starbucks mugs from each place I visit, little reminders of those incredible moments. Traveling reminds me of the importance of living fully and embracing the unexpected. Even though I don’t get to explore as often as I’d like, each trip enriches my life, fuels my creativity, and reminds me that there’s always more to see and learn in the world. Head over here to see “My Adventures”
My Music
Music is comfort food for the soul and a playlist that can drive your mindset. Music that resonates with your spirit and is joyous to your heart. Music that ignites your imagination where you are free to explore new ideas. Listening to music due to mood and or when trying to alter it to be a better place. Also, to drown out the stupid, the condescending, the incompetent and the entitled. Heck, sometimes I have to drown out my own irrational and destructive thoughts to maintain my peace of mind. It should be noted that music can also be harmful to your wellbeing. Just like coffee, it can amp you up especially when it’s not needed. But being in tuned with one’s emotions can helped you weed out and remove music that is toxic to your mindset.
My Friendships
“People are like books. Some deceive you with their covers and others surprise you with their content.” And I love my friend’s content which are beautiful with their own unique flavor, seasoned with the ups and downs of life. Unapologetic about who they are and the lifestyle they choose to live, and a creative couple that make relationships look easy with their loving understanding and gentle support for each other. Making tacos together, taking road trips and especially when I have to draw 15 while playing Uno, my friends truly mean the world to me. Friends that won’t co-signed my bullshit, who genuinely cares about each other’s feelings and wellbeing. Who you choose to surround yourself with plays a substantial influence in the quality of your life.
In embracing these values—time, solitude, peace of mind, creativity, adventure, music, and friendships—I’ve come to realize that a fulfilled life is one built on intentional choices and meaningful connections. Each of these elements shapes my days, grounds my purpose, and brings a sense of calm and clarity. By focusing on what truly matters and letting go of what doesn’t align to me, I’ve found a path that feels both authentic and rewarding. Life is hard and its difficulties will never go away. But living with this newfound awareness has given me a peace of mind, reminding me daily of the beauty in a life guided by purpose and passion.
Even though I rented a car during my trip to England, I didn’t feel comfortable driving into the heart of London having to deal with traffic and parking for my sightseeing adventures. I feel I would miss so much having to stay focused on driving. This meant from my hotel in Reading, I could take the bus to Pennington station, and from there ride the train into London. To venture into the unknown of such a large and world-renowned city was super exciting.
It was early Tuesday morning and with the help of Google Maps, it was time to answer the call to London. The bus to the Reading train station picks up in front of my hotel. After a short ride into downtown Reading, it was a brief but pleasant walk to the train station. Shoutout to Google Maps, it makes traveling abroad so much easier. It shows you what train to take (along with times), and how to get to the right track. And while on the train (same as when on the bus), it tells you how many stops until you reach your destination. I got to be honest, I thoroughly enjoyed the train ride into London. Was so peaceful and calming considering I’ve never been to London and my levels of excitement were growing as I got closer.
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Once off the train, I made my way through the stunning open space of Pennington station to begin my adventure. My goal was to try to experience the city by seeing the most iconic landmarks of London. Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and a lesser-known point of interest, the Graffiti Tunnel off Leake Street. Mother Nature was being kind, and the weather was picture-perfect. I spent the day navigating the city, had lunch on the Thames, bought souvenirs for my friends, and even rode on the underground a few times, which I found noisy but convenient. After a long but memorable day and a shit ton of walking, I made my way back to my hotel in Reading.
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After doing helicopter flights over LAX and Seattlelast year, I had to do one over London. On very short notice and with the help of Wingly, I was able to search and book a site seeing flight. The day after my bus and train trip into London, I drove down to Blackbushe Airport to meet Simon, the pilot of my scenic flight. After a quick safety briefing, pre-flight checks of the Robinson R-44, and clearance for departure, we were in the air and headed to London. From Blackbushe airport, the planned route was to join up with the Thames, fly on the southern side up to the London Eye, and turn back on the northern side. Simon was very professional and informative about numerous points of interest up and down the Thames. The only downside of the flight was due to where we took off from. It took more time to get to London than the actual time we spent over it. This was due to my last-minute booking which really limited my choice of flights. Most of the longer scenic flights with closer departure locations were already booked well before I even had this idea. But it was still very exciting and got a unique perspective of London. Time for me to cut the chatter and let you to check out some photos from this adventure. Enjoy!
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If you missed my first two post about my London Adventures, look here…
