In his various jobs with the Air Force, McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Martin, Judson Brohmer photographed many of the highest testosterone aircraft the military had, such as the X-35A Joint Strike Force Fighter, the F-22A Raptor and the F/A-18 Hornet, and the results are often spectacular. The text is written by test pilots and others with whom Brohmer worked. The words are illuminating in describing exactly how such intricate photographs are made. Brohmer didn't have the luxury of photographing from relatively roomy aircraft with the doors or windows removed. He was usually stuffed in the back seat of an F-15 or F-16 following an exquisitely planned mission he had choreographed with the pilots beforehand.
When the F-16 chase plane from which Brohmer was photographing crashed in July, 2001, he had already begun work on this book. Alessandra, his wife, finished the project with the help of publishing professionals. It is a magnificent volume, and a fitting tribute to one of our top talents.
For information, 888/275-1202 or www.ThinAirPublishing.com; $85; ISBN 0-9729609-0-2.
