Photography by Ian L. Sitren

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Harrier Jump Jet

Sunday and Monday around Palm Springs you could hear a distinctly different jet aircraft sound. United States Marines Harrier “Jump Jets” were in and out a number of times. On Sunday, from a few miles away, I could see a couple of them in the pattern using the more vertical abilities they have as they used minimal amounts of runway length. Monday morning they left in the more traditional take off mode. It can be very exciting to hang around the Palm Springs Air Museum, always something going on!

P-51 Mustang Flight

Taking Off In Bunny

Taking off in the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. On the way to do flyovers in honor of Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend, special guest in the President’s Day Parade at the Riverside County Fair in Indio California. Pilot Tom Nightingale. Always something going on at the Palm Springs Air Museum! More photos and video coming this way shortly!

 

Kiki The Cossack

Coming to a town near you! A giant movie lobby card for Billy Wilder’s “Irma La Douce” in 1963. At the Modernism Show Palm Springs 2017 yesterday in the display of Early California Antiques Gallery.

From the gallery website… Kiki was actress Grace Lee Whitney. She started out as a singer with Billie Holiday, Buddy Rich, Spike Jones and Fred Waring. However “Kiki” later became Yeoman Janice Rand in the original “Star Trek” television series and four of the “Star Trek” motion pictures. I sure remember her very well from all of those Star Treks. But “Kiki The Cossack” has it beat by a long way for me!

Kiki, The Cossack

Big Print

A big print rolling off my Canon Pro-2000 printer. From one of my photographs of a T-28 Trojan airplane at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

 

Do Stripes Make Me Look Fat?

So what do you think he would be saying here…

“Do stripes makes me look fat?”

“Do you always have to be doing that?

“Is this art?”

Last night at the opening of Art Palm Springs 2017 for Modernism Week. Pablo Picasso by Jamie Salmon. The Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Booth at the Palm Springs Convention Center.

Pablo Picasso

Hasselblad At High Speed

I was asked if the Hasselblad camera, my H4D-40 would keep up shooting flying at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The answer is yes as you can see in these photographs. I will say that my experience has shown me that any camera system is challenged when you are shooting objects coming at you, flying by close and leaving in the 300 mph range. I have shot with most and still the leader has been my Canon cameras. However for pure image quality, especially when shooting more general photographs, the Hasselblad is just amazing. I am now looking forward to getting more in the air for some shooting with it.

PSAM

PSAM

The Beautiful Wicked Fairy

When you closed your eyes did you see her in your dreams? You probably will tonight as you lay your head down on your pillow. Model Severine in our photo shoot. Styling by master Makeup and Hair Stylist Blanche LeBeau. Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting.

Séverine

More P-38 Fun

Starting up and rolling out, a P-38 Lightning fighter plane from World War II. One of perhaps fewer than six still flying in the entire world. You can see from my video that the Palm Springs Air Museum visitors get an up close experience like none other. Not as close as I am, but right there to get their hats blown off their heads and get a good whiff of the spray of motor oil. How fun is that!

 

A Scene From WWII

Makes you think that you are looking at a scene from World War II. One of the very few remaining flying P-38 Lightning fighters taking off for flybys at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photographed just yesterday against the scenic backdrop of the San Jacinto Mountains. Something to see all the time at the Air Museum and special programs and flight demonstrations on Saturdays. Be there!

P-38 Lighning Flyby

P-38 Lighning Flyby

P-38 Flying On Saturday

There might be only six or fewer P-38’s left flying in the world and you can see one of them tomorrow, Saturday Feb 11th. At the Palm Springs Air Museum following the 1:00 PM program. Do not miss this rare opportunity. I will be there and bringing my cameras like I did here in 2015. So if you are the pilot, remember to smile as you go by. See you there!

This one is a Lockheed P-38J Lightning of World War II built in 1943. Two 12 cylinder 1,425 hp turbo charged Allison engines will take this plane to 402 mph and it has a service ceiling of 44,000 ft. It was armed with four .50 caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon. Some versions could carry two 1,000 pound bombs. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft that saw service from the beginning of the war at Pearl Harbor to V.J. Day.

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