MiG Invades Palm Springs
Yesterday, Friday, a day unlike any other! Because an airplane arrived that you really do not get to see, let alone see it fly. It is a MiG Flug L29, a Soviet era jet trainer that will be very spectacular to see fly today, Saturday, right after the 1:00 PM program. And the program is not to be missed…
The guys who flew the missions in the F-100 Super Sabre, the supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971. Pilots Al Dempsey and Bob Lilac at 1:00 PM today. These men made history and have the tales to tell! Be there!
Fujifilm Flying A+
Testing out a Fujifilm X-T2 camera this week. I own Fujifilm X-T1’s along with my Hasselblad and Canon cameras. Each with their own purpose for my shooting. More often than not on a daily basis, you will see me with one of my Fujifilm cameras on hand for most uses.
The X-T2 is the latest version and with only a couple of days with it so far, I am truly impressed with the improvements. The camera loaned to me has the power booster which makes for three of the camera batteries for all day power and boosts the speed up to 11 frames per second. A much bigger viewfinder that keeps up with fast shooting for those fast movers and much faster focus tracking. I won’t go into it too much but I am seriously impressed. There are numerous other technical refinements from the prior version that someone like me who uses a camera all the time under all kinds of circumstances really appreciates.
The final results however are the photographs. This is a tight crop of a Gulfstream jet landing in Palm Springs on a flight from Portland Oregon. For you photographers, this is actually from a jpg shot in Velvia film emulation mode. No retouching etc. My opinion… WOW! Thanks Fujifilm!
Skin Tones
Skin tones, white balance, color correct… part of what you look for when you are doing it right; photographs that is. Best verified and adjusted if needed with a known color source comparison like an X-Rite ColorChecker. However I must say that since shooting with my Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting, getting skin tones and colors and white balance right have become what I have always wanted it to be… Perfect! And one of my most favorite models ever, Aristodeme deserves nothing less. For comparison, the full photograph and a closeup crop. Check out the details on the closeup!
MiG Lift
Perfect timing to lift a MiG-15 to it’s display location at the new hangar at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Well maybe not perfect timing because it turned into one of the very few days it rains here in Palm Springs. But neither crane nor rain stood in the way of progress! Certainly not the thing you see everyday. By the way, if you are asking, a MiG-15 without fuel weighs 8,000 pounds.
Resplendent
Radiant, Dazzling, Gorgeous, Magnificent… Model Severine in front of my camera. Should I say captivating and sublime as well.
Makeup and Hair Styling by the ever so very talented Blanche LeBeau. The dress from Hot Miami Styles. Photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting by Broncolor. Only the best!
Lt. “Animal” Newman
No this is not one of those photos where Lt. “Animal” Newman got caught going through a red light. That is the name right under the canopy. A McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk trainer used by the United States Navy and you can see that it is an aircraft carrier capable jet because of the tail hook. It will do 645 MPH, well into the wow category! Another day of more fun at the Palm Springs Air Museum yesterday. By the way, I bet you were thinking that Lt. “Animal” Newman is a guy. Might be, might not be.
Take To The Air
I always love seeing this plane take to the air. You can too today at the Palm Springs Air Museum throughout the day. AND NOT TO BE MISSED! The guys who flew the missions in the F-100 Super Sabre, the supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971. Pilots Al Dempsey and Bob Lilac at 1:00 PM today. Yes I will be there!
Black & White Photography
Of course I love black and white photography. Here is an example of one of my favorites. There is black, which I must say fits her very well. And there is some white there in that bottle. Perfect! And my favorite cookie model, Maria Bertrand. Wonderful Makeup and Hair Styling by the equally wonderful Natalie Lyle. Photographed with a Hasselblad digital camera system. Only the best!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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 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.
Safety Crew
So I came up with this new idea for staffing and uniforms for the Safety Crew at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Professional model Gabriella Muttone was kind enough to volunteer for a few photographs and show us what I had in mind. It is my understanding that the concept is under full consideration and everybody would like to see Gabriella return as soon as possible for further demonstrations.
Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Only the best. And speaking of the best, Gabriella is one extraordinary photographer herself. Check her out at https://gabriella-muttone.squarespace.com
That Palm Springs Sun
Modernism Week Palm Springs is coming up. What will you be wearing? The feel of that Palm Springs sun is like no other. Ask Séverine as she stood in front of my camera out by the pool.
Makeup and styling by the ever “Mod” Blanche LeBeau. Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. So Good!
The Colonel’s 97th Birthday
Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Celebrating the Colonel’s 97th birthday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” flown by pilot Tom Nightingale doing flybys, restored as a replica of the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red-Tail” P-51’s.
In Person Living History
Today, Saturday you will have an opportunity like none other. A celebration of the 97th birthday of Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Another true guest of honor and Tuskegee Airman, Capt. Rusty Burns will be there too. Do not miss the chance to greet and meet these two American heroes. There will also be an honoring of World War II “Buffalo Soldier” George Edwards who recently passed away at the age of 96. At the Palm Springs Air Museum beginning at 1:00 PM. You will not only share in birthday cake but also see “Bunny” fly. The P-51 Mustang of Tuskegee Airmen fame!
Ever Ever
One of my all time favorite photographs I have ever shot ever. The incredible wonderful Tina Chandler during her Olympia bodybuilding competition.
T-34 Fly In
Eight T-34’s flew in yesterday and there will be more this morning, as many as sixteen total. A weekend fly in at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You can come out and see formation flying at around 10 AM and also around 2 PM following the 1 PM history program about Germany’s first Ace fighter pilot of World War I and considered the father of air combat, Oswald Boelcke. There will also be some flying on Sunday!
The T-34 was the trainer for the United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corp. They flew at Edwards Air Force Base, for NASA, and even for Argentina during the Falklands War. And the planes you will see here at the Air Museum are incredibly restored great looking airplanes. Be there! I will!
“Playing With Life”
From my friend JoAnne Windsand…. she said to me… this is “my version of your work, called “Playing With Life”; “the feeling of sensuality along with my own passion for Life”.
I must say that I think this is so very sexy beyond words! Now my goal is to have my photography live up to her kindness. Thank You JoAnne!
I had met JoAnne at the Palm Springs Photo Festival. Please visit her and her art and photography at www.joannewindsand.com Please do and Thanks!
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