Alt Photo Media
I forgot how much I enjoy alternate photography media such as instant films. My buddy, model, Noel VanBrocklin in a behind the scenes photo using a Fujifilm Instax Camera. I am also really liking doing short video clips both behind the scenes and as a feature along with the photography. Great fun and I love the look!
The actual photo shoot was done with Broncolor lighting and a Hasselblad digital camera system. This photo with a Fujifilm Instax wide camera. But I also use Polaroid cameras with film from the Impossible Project. I shoot my video clips with Fujifilm X Series cameras. Thanks!
Beating Rush Hour Traffic
What do you do when you both fly in but left your cars at the Chino Airport? You fly back! Michael Nightingale flew our T-28 Trojan in first in the morning. Then Tom Nightingale followed a little later in our P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. At the end of the day, back to Chino Airport in a T-6 trainer, a really nice one too! Interesting that all three planes were made by North American Aviation. They sure created some great aircraft! Interesting things going on at the Palm Springs Air Museum all the time! I am the Air Museum photographer, great fun! Thanks!
Bunny Coming Home
Bunny is the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” who resides at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You find me there often, I am the Museum photographer and also manage their social media. Thanks!
Long Skirting The Issue
More behind the scenes posing fun with Kajira. We have more videos that you will only be seeing here and not on social media. Somewhat revealing. Think chic. “Porno Chic”…
A term created by New York Times art critic Hilton Kramer in the 1970s to describe the work of fashion photographers Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Chris von Wangenheim. Editorial and advertising photography that uses nudity, eroticism… sexual and sultry to be more than pornography. I also refer to it as “edgy lifestyle” and think it is great fun. That is why you see it in my photography. It is not just being naked.
Video on my Fujifilm X-Series X-T1. The strobes firing are Broncolor. The actual photo shoot on Hasselblad digital. Always the best! Thanks!
Splash House 2017 After Parties
One of the biggest Summer events right here in Palm Springs, Splash House! A rockin’ hard three days of pool parties at three great hotels and two after parties at the Palm Springs Air Museum. And who is the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum… ME! And who was at both Splash House After Parties this weekend with a few thousand good looking people having great fun… ME! Outstanding!
Flight Ops
A very busy day at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Memorial Day 2017. Lots of historic aircraft for flight demonstrations and the very important “Flower Drop” to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day. How much fun did I have! It’s good to be the Air Museum photographer!
I’m Flying!
Extra benefit of being the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum is flying! Yesterday in a World War II Mitchell B-25 bomber. The United States Marine Corps version PBJ, the only one still flying in the world. My duty station for the Memorial Day weekend, the Palm Springs Air Museum. Come on out!
Twin Beech
Always something fun going on at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Yesterday the B-25 bomber crew arrived to fly their plane for the Doolittle Raid On Tokyo flight demonstration. And they arrived in style in this vintage 1952 “Twin Beech”.
This is that 1952 Beechcraft D18S “Twin Beech” starting up and departing. Continuously produced from 1937 to 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were produced, making it one of the world’s most widely used light aircraft. These aircraft saw military use as light transport, light bomber (for China), trainer (for bombing, navigation and gunnery), photo-reconnaisance, and “mother ship” for target drones. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators trained in these aircraft.
It Flies!
From Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Watch this plane takeoff in barely the length of a couple of regular home driveways. Owner and builder Steven Lund doing a flight demonstration in his replica World War II Fieseler Fi 156 “Storch”.
Way Fun!
Great fun yesterday at the Palm Springs Air Museum photographing Steven Lund fly his replica Fieseler Fi 156 Storch World War II airplane! Will be posting some really cool video tomorrow.
The Storch Has Arrived
You must come see this airplane and watch it fly! At the Palm Springs Air Museum today, Saturday April 15th. It is really interesting in person! Owner and builder Steven Lund will talk about his replica Fieseler Fi 156 Storch World War II airplane at 1:00 PM and then do a flight demonstration after the program at about 2:00 PM. With a stall speed of only 21 mph and a little headwind he could be in the air for a long time! It looks like it would be like flying a greenhouse with a rear machine gun! And yes indeed, Steven Lund built it! Come see the Storch for sure!
Not The Usual
When we think of historic wartime aircraft we think of planes like the P-51 Mustang and the B-17 Flying Fortress. But there are so many other interesting and unusual aircraft that have flown in air combat services. And tomorrow Saturday, April 15, 2017 you can see two of them at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
The Grumman Tigercat F7F was the first twin engine fighter to be used by the United States Navy. It missed combat in World War II but flew in the Korean War as a night fighter and attack aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps. Too big for smaller carrier service, it required the Midway class of aircraft carriers. Actually a very rare plane, there were only 354 of them built and now there are perhaps only 12 still around!
From 10:30 – 12:30 you can sit in the cockpit of this huge Tigercat that flew at 460 mph and up to 40,000 ft! Think about firing off it’s four 20mm cannons or it’s four .50 caliber Browning machine guns. Get your photo taken too!
Then at 1:00 PM a really unusual military airplane, the German Fieseler Fi 156 Storch. Owner and expert, Steven Lund will talk about how this airplane, first flown in 1936 became pivotal in wartime events. In 1943 a Storch was used to rescue deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and it had a less than glorious role in the last dogfight on the Western Front. Very “prized”, one became the personal aircraft of British Field Marshal ‘Monty’ Montgomery.
Following the presentation at around 2:00 PM, Steven Lund will do a flight demonstration in his Storch replica! Come check it out! Tomorrow Saturday, April 15th at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Not the usual! See you there!
She Takes Off!
As a long time photographer in the bodybuilding and fitness business, the first thing I noticed is that she works out. The World War II Bomber “Pacific Princess” visiting at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You can watch her take off again on this April 18th to commemorate the day of the “Raid On Tokyo” on April 18, 1943.
Flying Corsair
Great fun yesterday watching this World War II F4U Corsair take to the air and do flybys. Always any aviation enthusiasts favorite airplane. And to see it fly close up is just fantastic. At the Palm Springs Air Museum.
By the way this plane has the distinction of being the oldest air worthy Corsair. It arrived in San Diego and was assigned to Navy Squadron VF84 in 1943. Thanks Planes of Fame for bringing it on out!
B-25 Over Palm Springs
The World War II B-25 bomber, Pacific Princess arriving and flying over Palm Springs for the Palm Springs Air Museum. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the famed Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, the Pacific Princess will fly again today Saturday April 1st and also on Sunday April 2 at 8:48 AM to mark the time that the B-25 bombers onboard the carrier USS Hornet left San Francisco on their mission in 1942. My pleasure here to photograph and fly yesterday on another historic aircraft.
Also at the Palm Springs Air Museum on Saturday at 1:00 PM, “Hell’s Angels: True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group during World War II”. Pacific Princess will fly following the program.
“At the outbreak of World War Two, the United States was in no way prepared to wage war. Although the US declared war against Germany in December of 1941, the country lacked the manpower, the equipment, and the experience it needed to fight. Even had an invasion force been ready, a successful assault on Nazi-occupied Europe could not happen until Germany’s industrial and military might were crippled. Because no invasion could happen without air superiority, the first target was the Luftwaffe – the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. To this end, the United States Army Air Forces joined with Great Britain’s already-engaged Royal Air Force to launch a strategic air campaign that ultimately brought the Luftwaffe to its knees. One of the standout units of this campaign was the legendary 303rd Bomb Group – “Hell’s Angels”. Presented by Jay Stout”
Last but not least, on Saturday morning between 10:30 – 12:30 you can take the seat in the cockpit of an AT-6 Texan, single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Force. You can have your photo taken too! All fun!
The Pacific Princess has an interesting motion picture career history. She was used in the classic film “Catch 22” and also “1941”. For the movie “Pearl Harbor” she took off from the deck of both the USS Lexington and the USS Constellation. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II she was flown off the carrier USS Carl Vinson.
Adult Superstore
On photo excursions we keep an eye out for old abandoned signs, unusual times gone past buildings and other oddities of Americana. Heading towards Tucson, the sun setting, we pulled off the freeway in the middle of nowhere to photograph an old restaurant sign and such. Darkness and an unmarked rough road and what is there on the way… The “Lion’s Den Adult Superstore for women, men and couples!”. On the edge of the Picacho Peak State Park with a Civil War battlefield. I guess unique to Arizona perhaps? Note the Saguaro Cactus all over the hillside.
The Bandit Queen
The “Bandit Queen” Pearl Hart… “Used her feminine wiles with both prisoners and guards alike, pardoned after 3 years.” My kind of woman! Poster at the Yuma Territorial Prison on a photo excursion.
“Of All The Gin Joints…”
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” Sadly only a photo on the wall and not actually at the counter. On a photo excursion and stopping for food at Lutes Casino in Yuma Arizona.
No Olive Garden
My kind of stop for food on a road trip! This ain’t no Olive Garden LOL! Lutes Casino in Yuma Arizona.
Sand Dunes Mirage
Out on a photo excursion last few days. No I did not bring them with me. They are just a sand dunes mirage.
Mr. Sulu WARP SPEED!
Fred Bell, director of the Palm Springs Air Museum, taking command of the 1928 Ford Tri-Motor. At start up, over the comm, he can be heard saying “Scotty give me everything you got! Mr. Sulu WARP SPEED!”. I know for sure, I heard it myself 🙂
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