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              [BTSV] Fighting G-Forces For An Air & Space Cover

              f16shooting [BTSV] Fighting G Forces For An Air & Space Cover This has to be one of the most awesome opportunities that could be granted to a photographer. Last fall, Ed Darack was asked to shoot a cover for The Smithsonian’s Air & Space Magazine, and decided to show the world how he did it.

              The assignment? Shoot a pair of Colorado Air National Guard F-16 fighter jets climbing vertical for the cover of Air & Space Magazine.

              Due to the exorbitant cost of making everything happen (according to my research, that’s about $6,000 per hour for each F-16, and that’s probably way on the low side) and the difficulty factor (it’s not often that you’re granted a handful of $20 million planes to take pictures of), missing the shot was just not an option. To make sure everything went off without a hitch, Darack took the vision in his head and modeled it on a computer in a 3d CAD program, and showed it to the pilots. This helped to give everyone an idea of what they were attempting before they went up in the air.

              After a brief “lesson” on ejection and what to do if something fails at 500mph and 15,000 feet (pray?), Ed set off on his journey to photograph F-16s in flight for Air & Space Magazine.

              One last note: don’t forget to take into consideration how heavy his camera becomes inside a plane like this due to G-forces. Climbs of 5Gs are not uncommon in a fighter jet, and a five pound camera setup (1d Mark III and 24-70) quickly turns into twenty five. That’s before we add in the rolls and disorientation that results.

              And you thought your camera was heavy!


              February 22, 2012
              Mike Kelley
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              • Justin Flynn

                were the photos shot at f16?????

              • Mike_Kelley

                 Ba-dum-cha!

              • http://www.facebook.com/erannachan Euan Rannachan

                Not to impressed with the final cover… I can see it must have been difficult to get the shot at such an angle only being able to move a little in the harness… but still the image they picked seems “boring” compared to the couple they showed before. If anything I might have photoshoped the planes slightly closer together…  I wold have died to get the opportunity to do this.

              • http://profile.yahoo.com/A73BCINWYWODYKSJBL3UL3WNDQ Billy

                A 3D CAD model seems like overkill.  Maybe there’s something I’m missing, but wouldn’t a simple sketch have been sufficient?

              • http://www.facebook.com/Jacob.Abrams1 Jacob Abrams

                You know why you shouldn’t shoot at F16? Because it might shoot back. 

              • http://twitter.com/TrampRoyal Michael Wessel

                Getting the opportunity to go up in those jets and take shots, that’s just awesome. Timing on a shot going at those speeds takes on a whole new meaning.

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