Friday, September 11, 2009

Up, Up And Away

I Feel The Need, The Need For Speed

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


It was a very murky dusk when I shot this series of images of a US F/A-18 Hornet as part of a sequence at the Australian International Air Show at Avalon in March this year.

These are all uncropped images. Aviation photography can be very testing, because you seldom get a second chance for a shot. But in the top left-hand corner of the image below, you can see the slightest hint of a cloud wisp.


The bad light really tested me that evening, because the weather conditions deteriorated very quickly. The next day, however, it rained constantly, so I guess I was very lucky to get any shots at all!


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.

29 comments:

darsden said...

beautiful shots of freedom!

James said...

Bad lighting or not these shots are really cool.

Rudee said...

I love the top photo with the lights in front. The conditions may have been poor, but the photos certainly are not.

imac said...

Nice post David, love the 1st shot, with the plane banking.

ArtistUnplugged said...

Oh, 'Goose', these are great!!!

Catmoves said...

"But in the top right-hand corner of the image below, you can see the slightest hint of a cloud wisp."
Beautiful shots David, but on my computer the clouds are in the left corner of my screen.
(Must be why you blokes walk on the bottom of the world?) >)~..^(<

Daryl said...

Pilot to tower .. cool shot!

clairz said...

These shots took a lot of skill! Thank you for sharing.

Sylvia K said...

I agree with the others, the conditions weren't the best, perhaps, but your shots are always wonderful!

Have a great weekend, David!

Sylvia

Hildegarde said...

The name is Hornet ?! That's exactly the first insect I was thinking of when I saw your first shot. That is an awesome photo !

Colin Campbell said...

Blast off!

ChrissyM said...

regardless of the weather and lighting these are great shots.

Photo Cache said...

great post. nice photos.

Mimi said...

Bad conditions, fabulous shots.
I love the first one too, the lights really give you a feel foe how bad the conditions were.
I thought it didn't rain so much in Australia??

Rosaria Williams said...

Even with bad lighting, your shots are crisp and sharp, and always catch the subject.

Jim said...

Greta shots.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Anonymous said...

You go, Maverick! Jets are tricky to catch when they are in motion, particular on such a low-light day.

Deborah Godin said...

I'll bet it only looked murky. The noise mush have brought goose-bumps! Cool shots!

Anonymous said...

Great shots. You can't beat the experience of having one of those planes flying low and fast above you.

Beth said...

David, I noted the date of 9/11 on your airplane photos. Airplanes on 9/11. Hmmmm. Yesterday, my real estate agent showed me condos at "The Hamlet" in Delray Beach, FL (I moved here from NY). Suicide bombers rented condos there in 2001 while training to fly at the local airport.

Now, I'd like to change the subject a moment, and ask you if you've ever seen a Melaleuca tree or bush in Australia. Please let me know. Thanks, Beth

Smart Mouth Broad said...

I'm going to have the TopGun theme in my head all night. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, David - great shots!!! My favorite one is the first one. There's just something special about it...

DeniseinVA said...

Incredible photos. I used to love watching the Top Gun jets take off the runway at the navy base when we lived in San Diego. These bring back a lot of good memories.

Pietro Brosio said...

Nice and interesting images!

Pietro

Wendy said...

Ooooh, uncropped and all. Mine wouldn't turn out that good with all of the editing in the world ;-P

Anonymous said...

Great shot!

Anonymous said...

Great shots! They look good even in the dingy weather.

Unknown said...

Wonderful images; I could hear the big engines purring. I was definitely a man in my past life.

Linnea said...

Fantastic captures...you can see how powerful that jet is. We sometimes go out on SF Bay and watch the Blue Angels perform their stunts...so fun to watch and feel the thunderous roars pass overhead...