Thursday, June 21, 2007

Open, Sesame

Like R. Kelly, I Believe I Can Fly

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


I guess I was looking for a different aviation image. I didn't want a stock-standard, side-on fuselage shot. The Royal Australian Air Force F-111 is a swing-wing fighter with updated avionics and this one was sitting on a tarmac under a lead-grey sky. The open canopy gave me something to work with and once I'd decided what I wanted, the shot composed itself. In all honesty, I don't think this frame would have worked so well under a clear blue sky.

13 comments:

Brian in Oxford said...

I see the antennae....but where are the thorax and abdomen?

That's nice, the way it sorta looks like a beetle.

david mcmahon said...

Hi Brian,

Jeez, you're quick! I was about to photograph the abdomen, but the pilot woulda given me a rocket!

Cheers

David

Cuckoo said...

That's an amazing shot !! Yes, looks like a beetle.
But what were you doing there?

fuzzbert_1999@yahoo.com said...

David,
I think you should consider putting some sort of watermark on your shots...they are very good and susceptible to "borrowing!"

I use a freeware product from icegiant.com.

Lin said...

Fabulous head-on confrontation with the F-111! I always thought them to be a handsome craft and a friend recently noted that they were superbly handling flyers.

FHB said...

Very cool shot. Love those planes. Built here in Texas.

Anonymous said...

great shot! rare to find a person who can shoot as well as write really well!
you are unique! so is this blog!

keep trotting & shooting
cheers
rk

david mcmahon said...

Hi Cuckoo,

Glad you liked the shot - and the angle at which I took it.

It was at an air show and although the weather was pretty bad, it was a special challenge to shoot in murky conditions.

Haven't visited your blog for a while as I've been incredibly busy, but will do so today.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Mushy,

Thanks for that compliment and the advice. I will sort out that issue once I've finished this novel.

Will have some spare time to kick up my heels then!

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi Lin,

Thank you for your compliment. They are wonderful to photograph and are superb in flight, especially during the dump-and-burn routines.

Stand by for some shots of WWII Mustangs as well!

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi FHB,

Yes, that's right. They are a McDonnell-Douglas product, if I remember correctly.

Pretty amazing that they're still going strong.

Cheers

David

david mcmahon said...

Hi RK,

That is very kind of you. I am very proud to have received that comment.

In all honesty, I enjoy photography as much as I enjoy writing. I guess that is why you consider this blog unique.

My heartfelt thanks.

Cheers

David

SJ Wildlife said...

Great pic, David! I love the unusual angles.

Good job!!

~ Sonora