Could He Have Imagined?
Sunday morning December 7, 1941 on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. A Japanese pilot starts the engine of his VAL Dive Bomber. The destination is Pearl Harbor. The mission is to destroy the United States Naval Pacific Fleet at anchor. He hears and feels the drumming of that aircraft engine. Could he have possibly imagined the everlasting world changing events that he would release as he began his takeoff?
The Face Of The Attack
Sunday morning at 7:48 AM December 7, 1941 you look up, and so close, see the face of a pilot of a Japanese VAL Dive Bomber unleashing the attack on Pearl Harbor. Commemoration of that day at the Palm Springs Air Museum just yesterday.
Shoot Down At Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 was done by two waves of aircraft. Two-thirds of the Japanese aircraft lost were during the second attack. American defenses would have been much more deadly during a third attack. This potential loss of more aircraft was one of the reasons Admiral Nagumo withdrew.
Clear Skies Pearl Harbor
In the clear skies over Palm Springs. Perhaps not unlike the view of the Japanese VAL Dive Bombers in the clear skies over Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Yesterday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. More photos and video to come today and the next few days. Thanks!
No Matter How Old You Are!
Always so very fun no matter how old you are! The sound and the power of this vintage aircraft taking flight. Just this past Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A World War II Navy fighter, the Bearcat F8F-2, here flown by pilot Steve Barber.
Bearcat
A Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Navy fighter plane on it’s way out for a flight demonstration at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Flown by Pilot Steve Barber. The Bearcat was a carrier based aircraft. It later still out performed many of the early jet fighter aircraft. Popular in air racing, they can exceed 500 mph and have held many world records.
Pretty Polly
Among my very favorite “Nose Art” at the Palm Springs Air Museum… “Pretty Polly”. This P-63 King Cobra from World War II is now a very rare aircraft and this one even more so because it is still flying.
I have been posting a lot of my aircraft photography over the last week and I have been asked by people when I was going to be posting more of my photography of beautiful women. “Pretty Polly” is my transition going into next week when I will show you more of those gorgeous women, and some guys too! So keep coming back! Thanks!
Canadian Invasion
It is actually very common to see military aircraft flying in and out of the Palm Springs Airport. So when everybody at the Palm Springs Air Museum saw a military cargo plane take off last Saturday, it was business as usual. I shot some photos and did not think about it again until now when I was going through all of them. And there it is, a Canadian Forces CC-130J Super Hercules transport. Well it is actually the “Palm Springs International Airport“.
Busy Day Flying
Last Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. One of the Museum’s premier aircraft, piloted by the equally premier Tom Nightingale, headed out for takeoff. Waiting while the Stearman biplane comes back in to pick up another happy passenger.
“Bunny” is a P-51 Mustang restored and dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And specifically to Lt. Col. Bob Friend. To this day you can find the Colonel often at the Air Museum and many times in the back seat of this very special aircraft.
First Class Seating
On this flight all seating is first class. And the passenger rides in front. You can too! How Fun! At the Palm Springs Air Museum just this past Saturday.
The Outside Elevator
There is an elevator inside the building at the Palm Springs Air Museum and then there are elevators outside the building. This is one of the outside elevators. I actually do not think she was waving to me when I shot this photo Saturday, but you can ride the elevator too. Check it out on the Museum website at http://palmspringsairmuseum.org
Flabob Express
Another view of the “Flabob Express” DC-3 that was flying over Palm Springs yesterday. Part of the “Props & Hops” craft beer festival at the Palm Springs Air Museum. And yes there was beer tasting going on while it was overhead. Not the pilots, I know for sure, I was on board for one of the flights.
Flying Craft Beer Tasting
The DC-3 “Flabob Express” rolling out to the runway from the Palm Springs Air Museum. You could have been onboard Saturday tasting craft beers during your flight around Palm Springs. How fun is that!
DC-3 Backseat Driver
Doing some backseat driving in a DC-3. The “Flabob Express” yesterday flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Can you believe there was craft beer tasting going on behind me! Too fun!
B-25 Mitchell Bomber
The B-25 “Mitchell” was the bomber flown off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942 for a bombing mission over Tokyo. It was intended to show that the USA could project power across the oceans and that Japan was vulnerable to an air attack. The mission was also retaliation for the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
This is a B-25J version which entered service in early 1945. It was used as a crew trainer and transport. Interestingly it appears in the 1970 movie “Catch 22” as “Vestal Virgin”. Now here flying out of the Palm Springs Air Museum on it’s tour schedule. The sound of those engines starting up is worth the visit all by itself!
Bunny P-51
The World War II P-51 Mustang “Bunny” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Restored to the configuration of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and dedicated to Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Piloted by Tom Nightingale.
Yes We’re Open
If I had a storefront business, in the morning I would come to work and put my roll down open sign in the front window. I think it would really be a big improvement in most downtown business areas.
One of my absolute favorite models, Aristodeme. Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Good stuff!
BTS
BTS, that means Behind The Scenes. I thought you might want to see what goes on in a few snapshot photos. The photo shoot with a worked out and wonderful personal trainer, Joanna Johnson. The location is World Gym in Palm Desert California. The tall blonde, also very worked out, is my long time Makeup and Hair Stylist Natalie Lyle. She is as well, a marvel with posing and wardrobe.
The camera is Hasselblad digital. My lighting is Broncolor with the Para 133 reflector with the Move 1200L pack. Even the light stand is important, it is a Matthews roller stand. Can’t have things breaking and falling over, despite carrying a multi-million dollar insurance policy. I make it an important point to use only the best gear. I want everything to work right and the best every time. Thanks!
By the way, these photos were shot by my very able assistant Clyde Sawyer. The guy who make sure that it all goes right from loading the car to setting it up to taking it down. Gets it all done!
Voting
Would you vote for this photograph of Kajira full-length or closer up? The dilemmas I face when editing from a photo shoot. My vote… Must have both!
Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system. Broncolor lighting with the Broncolor Para 133 reflector. Thanks!
Noel Pre Paris And Greece
She just returned from photo shoots in Greece and Paris. My buddy Noel VanBrocklin in her photo shoot with me before she left. Now that she is back I will have to see if she has changed any. Become more European perhaps? What would that be I wonder?
Photo shoot notes… Wonderful Makeup and Hair Styling by the world traveling, Estee Lauder featured Blanche LeBeau. Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting by Broncolor. Surrounding myself with the best people and the best gear!
Looking At Me?
Yes we are looking at you! It would be a tragedy not to! Amber Flowers in our photo shoot. Superbly wardrobe styled and makeup and hair by Amber. Hasselblad digital camera system and lighting by Broncolor. I am sure happy I shot some photos to remember all this!
Dance In Motion
Motion captured in a photograph with professional ballet, dance model Viktoria VikTory Hofstaedter. One movement that becomes a story all by itself.
Photo shoot notes… The beautiful makeup and hair styling by Natalie Lyle. Hasselblad digital camera system. Lighting by Broncolor with the Move 1200L Pack and Para 133 reflector. Only the best.
No Explaining It
There are not many photos of me but this seems to be one of everyone’s favorites. I am not sure why. Behind the scenes in studio for a print advertising, editorial and video photo shoot for Bodybuilding.com with Maria Rogers. One of my all time best ever!
Back Of The Closet
I always suggest to models that they should bring along the things they bought but have stuck in a closet or in a drawer because they never found the opportunity to wear those things. It can be so fun! in our photo shoot, Kajira had a few of those kinds of things.
Photo shoot notes… Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting.
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