As absolutely necessary as it is to engage in our current events, there’s also a time to add in something else that has nothing to do with anything else. And this is that. My father gave me a little Kodak Brownie camera when I was 10 and I started taking pictures of everything. I graduated to his old 35mm Kodak “Pony” with a Leica rangefinder when he upgraded in my teen years. Somewhere along the line - as I had done by going to the movies at the old Park Theater on South Gaylord Street every Saturday afternoon from age 6 on - I serendipitously discovered the definition of “good work.” By the time I was in the Navy, armed with a Nikon-F I bought in Japan for cheap cheap cheap, the Chief Photographer’s Mate on the old USS Rustbucket told me I had the one thing that couldn’t be taught: an “eye” for a photo. After getting fired at Rolling Stone and getting such bad writer’s block that I had to go back to college and finish my degree to become employable at anything, another photographer friend suggested that - since I couldn’t write - I ought to take my photography more seriously. I studied composition formally, and fortuitously read the most important article ever written about photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “On The Decisive Moment.” It turned out I had been doing that naturally, but when one sets out with it in mind, and how to open oneself to it, the success rate increases.
Well, not nearly as nutty, but since the subject is up: I grew up in the city of Linkoping, where the Saab aircraft factory is situated. I saw all their new models tested in the air from the 50ies and on: 'Tunnan', 'Lansen', 'Draken', 'Viggen', 'JAS-Gripen'; the names are still a bit magic for me. I had my first summer job at the Saab crafts school and got to work with aluminium and acrylic plastic. For flying I never got further than model aircraft, and not even as advanced as radio control. One day one of my free flying planes had a bit too much fuel and disappeared in the clouds. The next day a jeep turned up at our house and two men delivered my plane, that had landed at the Saab airfield, 3 kilometres away. And sorry, no photos.
Really great article today TC. The story is good but those pictures are award winning! I love seeing people talk about their passion. It’s a heartening way to connect. Plus … current events have worn me out and I got my second booster … I’m achy and whiney and not very good company today, but my cats have followed me to bed and my dog is always in the room with me unless he’s in the backyard… so, it could be worse.
Wonderful!! Thank you for this "uplifting" piece! And you are so right about Vince Gilligan. My son worked with him on both shows, and I had the honor of meeting him here in Northern Michigan. Nicest, kindest guy.
I've always liked warbirds too. Sadly, I don't usually get to ride in them, but I try to get up to Oshkosh for the EAA Fly-in, or Air Venture as it's now known. Here's a pic I like from one of them that in my addled brain, evokes something of 1944 over Europe.
A heavenly afternoon surprise, TC. Thank you for the flight over great vistas. Kudos to the photographer! You spurred my interest in the sounds of the planes. Below are a few links, which you inspired.
Enjoying your life(s) story(ies). These are beautiful ... from someone who lacks that eye, knows it, and still will point, shake, and shoot, capturing memory in all its blurry moments. That is working out pretty well as my mind gets its newest take on everything around. Honestly, these are great.
Weeeeeeeeeee! Fabulous ride. Up, up, and away. Thank you TC. And for reference to Cartier-Bresson and “decisive moment”. Shared with a few shutter friends.
Thank you. I enjoyed this. Your stories reminded me of an experience in November 1969. I was driving east in I-40 north of Roswell NM. Glancing north, I saw a plane heading our way and kept expecting it to fly over fairly soon. But it didn't. It kept coming but didn't seem to be getting any closer for quite a long time. I was stunned by its size when it finally flew over us descending for a landing; it was *immense*! Later learned it was one of the first Boeing 747s, flying out of an airpark south of Roswell on test flights.
Thank you TC for a delightful diversion. I did chuckle at the idea of you hurring out to check on which plane you heard. My husband was Air Crew (AO1) on P2's and P3's. The sound of them flying became so familiar that I was sure I heard a few overhead now and then now that I live next to NAWS China Lake
(Sweden)
Well, not nearly as nutty, but since the subject is up: I grew up in the city of Linkoping, where the Saab aircraft factory is situated. I saw all their new models tested in the air from the 50ies and on: 'Tunnan', 'Lansen', 'Draken', 'Viggen', 'JAS-Gripen'; the names are still a bit magic for me. I had my first summer job at the Saab crafts school and got to work with aluminium and acrylic plastic. For flying I never got further than model aircraft, and not even as advanced as radio control. One day one of my free flying planes had a bit too much fuel and disappeared in the clouds. The next day a jeep turned up at our house and two men delivered my plane, that had landed at the Saab airfield, 3 kilometres away. And sorry, no photos.
Really great article today TC. The story is good but those pictures are award winning! I love seeing people talk about their passion. It’s a heartening way to connect. Plus … current events have worn me out and I got my second booster … I’m achy and whiney and not very good company today, but my cats have followed me to bed and my dog is always in the room with me unless he’s in the backyard… so, it could be worse.
Wonderful!! Thank you for this "uplifting" piece! And you are so right about Vince Gilligan. My son worked with him on both shows, and I had the honor of meeting him here in Northern Michigan. Nicest, kindest guy.
I've always liked warbirds too. Sadly, I don't usually get to ride in them, but I try to get up to Oshkosh for the EAA Fly-in, or Air Venture as it's now known. Here's a pic I like from one of them that in my addled brain, evokes something of 1944 over Europe.
https://www.pretty-good-photographs.com/Events/AirVenture-2017/i-DhzqwbM/A
A heavenly afternoon surprise, TC. Thank you for the flight over great vistas. Kudos to the photographer! You spurred my interest in the sounds of the planes. Below are a few links, which you inspired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je3sZmyR2jE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCi10K0dXgY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hm6cYA0tgA
This is so cool! Thanks for the stories and photos.
very cool! and super photos. Wow!
Enjoying your life(s) story(ies). These are beautiful ... from someone who lacks that eye, knows it, and still will point, shake, and shoot, capturing memory in all its blurry moments. That is working out pretty well as my mind gets its newest take on everything around. Honestly, these are great.
Weeeeeeeeeee! Fabulous ride. Up, up, and away. Thank you TC. And for reference to Cartier-Bresson and “decisive moment”. Shared with a few shutter friends.
Thank you. I enjoyed this. Your stories reminded me of an experience in November 1969. I was driving east in I-40 north of Roswell NM. Glancing north, I saw a plane heading our way and kept expecting it to fly over fairly soon. But it didn't. It kept coming but didn't seem to be getting any closer for quite a long time. I was stunned by its size when it finally flew over us descending for a landing; it was *immense*! Later learned it was one of the first Boeing 747s, flying out of an airpark south of Roswell on test flights.
As an old Marine aviator trained on the Terror -28 I appreciate your great photos.
Very beautiful! My father trained in that type (SNJ version) at Pensacola in 1943.
seriously beautiful photographs.
Really, really well done TC. Thanks.
"O-pane!"
Thank you TC for a delightful diversion. I did chuckle at the idea of you hurring out to check on which plane you heard. My husband was Air Crew (AO1) on P2's and P3's. The sound of them flying became so familiar that I was sure I heard a few overhead now and then now that I live next to NAWS China Lake