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How did you get that picture?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Aerial photography for aviation publications and advertising is a meticulously planned and coordinated effort, prioritizing safety, precise formation flying, and extensive collaboration with pilots and manufacturers.
  • The process utilizes specialized equipment, including a B-25 bomber as a versatile photo platform, and requires both photographers and pilots to endure challenging physical and environmental conditions during shoots.
  • The author's goal is to create emotionally impactful "Flying Sculptures," a demanding yet highly rewarding career described as the "best job in aviation" due to the unique experiences, travel, and camaraderie it offers.
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One of my early childhood memories from growing up in Southern California is of my dad showing me a litho print of the A4-D Skyhawk in flight that he’d brought home from work at the Douglas Aircraft Company. As I looked at the image, I thought to myself, “How did they get that picture?” never bothering to ask my dad and certainly never considering that decades later I would be immersed in the process.

Have you ever wondered how the aerial photos are taken for the articles and ads you see in Flying? Well, after over 1,000 magazine cover credits, and countless advertising campaigns for OEMs, I can tell you that although my name may appear on the credit line, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes people who helped the images come into being.

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