P-51 Mustang "Man O' War"
P-51D Mustang flown by Steve McCartney with Tuskegee Airman Marion Rodgers in the back seat.
P-51D Mustang flown by Steve McCartney with Tuskegee Airman Marion Rodgers in the back seat.
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Sep, 2014Views
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Awards
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Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
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Behind The Lens
Location
I was in a T-6 Texan (WWII trainer) that orbited over the ocean near Ventura California to await this shoot. This was a special shoot as the man in the back seat of the airplane is a 93-year-old Tuskegee Airman (Marion Rodgers) who flew 69 combat missions in WWII in a P-51 Mustang like the one in the photograph. Both the aircraft I was in and the P-51 Mustang are based at the Camarillo Airport with the Commemorative Air Force, Southern California Wing. It is always a treat to shoot classic WWII fighters, but to add to it a person who flew them in combat made it even more special.Time
This was taken at 11:46 AM on September 6, 2014. The schedule was very fluid as it was all dependent on the strength of our subject and his stamina. There was a question of whether or not we could get Mr Rodgers into the airplane at all. The volunteers at the CAF went to great lengths to make it happen. Once we were sure that he was able to get into the airplane, we took off in the photo ship to orbit above the beach area. The mid-day lighting ensured that we were able to see Mr Rodgers in the cockpit.Lighting
I typically prefer the "golden hour" (one hour after sunrise or one hour before sunset) time for photographing airplanes, but the mid-day lighting is perfect for being even with little to no shadowing. I also wanted to make sure that the even lighting would make everyone visible in the cockpit, so the mid-day was perfect for this shoot. To be able to see Mr Rodgers smiling as I looked through the viewfinder made me smile too.Equipment
This was shot with a Nikon D300, using the 18-200mm VR lens. This is my standard air-to-air setup as the 18-200 gives me good range while being a compact size, which is important because there is little room in the old airplanes for additional gear.Inspiration
I have been blessed in life to not only find my passion, but to be able to put 2 passions together, aviation and photography. I have enjoyed capturing historic airplanes and want to capture a moment in time with my camera. Airplanes are interesting and historic, but without the people that fly them, they would just be collections of metal. When I found out that Mr Rodgers would be taking a flight in a P-51 Mustang for the first time in 50 years, I knew that I had to be there to capture the moment. If I can evoke an emotion or memory with a photograph, I feel that I have done my job. People like Mr Rodgers are living history. This moment needed to be captured and preserved for future generations.Editing
Yes, the day was a bit hazy, so there was some haze that lightened the colors a bit. I did a little contract adjustment in Photoshop and some boosting in the color saturation to pop the colors back into the airplane.In my camera bag
I carry the Nikon D300 as my main camera body and the Nikon D200 as my backup. I always carry the 18-200mm lens as my mainstay for aerial shoots and static aircraft. If shooting aircraft from the ground or subjects at a distance, I also carry the Sigma 50-500mm lens. If subjects are closer in, I have the 50mm f/1.8. The 50mm prime is a very sharp lens. I can get some great vignetting for closeups.Feedback
Above all else when doing a shoot like this, safety is the number one priority. Being prepared and focusing on safety is of key importance as flying in old airplanes carries some risk. Wearing proper attire (nomex flight suit, leather boots/shoes and a helmet) is important. Make sure that you know and trust the person flying the photo ship, and the airplane. You don't want a shoot like this to be your last. Stay vigilant through the flight and occasionally watch for traffic and call out any potential interference. When doing a shoot like this, carry one camera and one lens. You will likely not have space for anything more than that. Stow the lens cap before departure and secure any loose items, especially if the canopy is to be opened. Using a lens with stabilization is very helpful, but not necessary. I typically shoot shutter priority, starting at 1/400 speed and adjusting downward depending on conditions in the air (turbulence, etc). If shooting through a closed window, you may need to move around a bit to avoid glare as much as possible. Have the aircraft fly an orbital pattern so that you can get different lighting, and you can see where glare is an issue and where it is not. If shooting through an open canopy, there is typically a "sweet spot" where the winds through the cockpit are minimized to make it more steady. Brief the flight before you go up so that all aircrew involved know what to expect. Agree on hand signals with the subject aircraft pilot that can be used to move the subject aircraft up or down, fore and aft. Keep comms chatter to a minimum. Shoot lots of photos. It is inevitable that turbulence or unexpected changes in the flight will give some bad results. Change your shutter speeds, going lower to get good prop blur. With fuel costs rising, it is important that you nail a few on the shoot, as a re-shooting is expensive and difficult. I use a zoom lens (18-200) to provide me flexibility of wide to close in shots. This also gives you a comfort zone for pilots who don't want to get too close.
