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Cat and Mouse with the Draken (_93V2771_1 smart copy-Edit)



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Coming off the deck at 3,000 feet a J35 Draken ("Dragon") turns on the power as an AJS 37 Viggen ("Thunderbolt") begins its pursuit. Special...
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Coming off the deck at 3,000 feet a J35 Draken ("Dragon") turns on the power as an AJS 37 Viggen ("Thunderbolt") begins its pursuit. Special thanks to Aviation PhotoCrew for shoot coordination and planning.
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6 Comments | Report
jimhelmick
 
jimhelmick September 02, 2017
So much fun - fantastic photo.
bigblocphotographyllc Platinum
bigblocphotographyllc September 09, 2017
Thanks!
FredericMONIN Platinum
 
FredericMONIN September 03, 2017
Magnifique shot !!!
bigblocphotographyllc Platinum
bigblocphotographyllc September 09, 2017
Thanks!
rebeccaclyma
 
rebeccaclyma September 03, 2017
Nice
bigblocphotographyllc Platinum
bigblocphotographyllc September 09, 2017
Thanks!
MKoelen
 
MKoelen September 11, 2017
What badass, razorsharp photo Awesome... A little crop would also be nice...
bigblocphotographyllc Platinum
bigblocphotographyllc September 11, 2017
Thanks
Shamrocks71
 
Shamrocks71 October 31, 2017
Awesome!
bigblocphotographyllc Platinum
bigblocphotographyllc January 15, 2018
Thanks!
Fame_Bright_Photography Platinum
 
Fame_Bright_Photography November 15, 2020
Absolutely stunning shot, what were you shooting from?
bigblocphotographyllc Platinum
bigblocphotographyllc November 26, 2021
Thanks for the compliment. I was flying in a Short Brothers twin engine transport to get the shot.
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Behind The Lens

Location

This air to air moment was shot over the Belgian countryside while flying with the Aviation Photo Crew during the 2016 Sanicole International Airshow. The Saab Draken and the Saab Viggen are the only remaining airworthy examples of these classic Swedish air superiority fighters.

Time

This was a busy morning. We had just finished a session with another classic Swedish fighter the J29 Tunnan, when the Draken and Viggen came out a cloud bank. With the Draken's high closure rate of over 200 miles an hour even with her throttle at idle, we didn't have many passes before she had to break-off contact. This shot came from her second pass with the Viggen in close pursuit on September 9, 2016.

Lighting

It was a welcome relief to be in the air on this morning. The sun was bright with some clouds, but it was unseasonably warm and there was a fair amount of haze over the countryside.

Equipment

This was shot handheld with a Canon 1D X, using an L series 100-400mm IS USM II.

Inspiration

Inspiration is pretty easy with aviation photography. It is all about capturing an aircraft in its most natural element, flight. It is amazing how man has transcended the limitations of earth and taken flight like birds. I think John Magee said it best in his poem "High Flight"....Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings, Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth, Of sun-split clouds, and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of and.....Put out my hand, and touched the face of God...."

Editing

Yes, because of a number of villages and residential dwellings in the foreground and background, there was a lot of time taken to isolate the two aircraft so that the houses would not become a distraction.

In my camera bag

It really depends on what I'm shooting. I try and be as versatile as possible with my equipment.

Feedback

Patience is really the key. It also helps to have access to aircraft to shoot from. I do a lot of my air to air photography in Europe with Aviation PhotoCrew.

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