Great work Harry, these are some fantastic captures

Love the shots of this giant plane. I've always liked the paint jobs on the Coast Guard planes too.

My favorite is the fourth one down, backside of the props.

Really excellent series of shots, Harry, and I also particularly like the 4th one, the view from beneath!

Love this plane Harry and thanks for the second collage. The under the wing #4 shot is a beauty and I like the look into the cavernous belly!

Is this the same as the C130? I was under the impression this aircraft was a cargo plane. The search & rescue comment threw me off. With your extensive knowledge of aircraft, One day you'll have to explain the differences to me. Nice pics too !

Great looking, colourful 9for a reason) aircraft Harry! Only problem with taking these pictures (though you ARE lucky to get this close) IS the people.. I don't often have this problem.. The top one is the best shot by far, because lack of folks! lol Super study.. Well taken.. The 4th shot is interesting as a close up study because you don't often see the engines from this angle, good one as well.. Nicely done mate.. Rob

Having had little time to photograph, I've been studying like crazy, and I'm beginning to get a much more intimate sense of your work with planes. So this comment will be long. (Take it in two sittings, it's ok!) Fascinating to read Rob, because I have never photographed planes and don't know any of the hazards. Yes, if you want to get the planes 'pure', you would have to go there on the worst weather day, I assume, or on Election Day, or something like that, so people wouldn't be present. I can understand how a plane-lover could feel that. But you've used people very strongly here, they flow in and out of these beauties like water in a river. And I'd think that strong sunlight---which appears to be the case here (directly or diffusely)---would make these shots a challenge for devoted photographers like yourself. Ie, because of the tendency of strong light to bleach the planes' hues, shapes, etc. (Or its tendency to create too much flare off the metal...) I'd imagine you'd have to control your aperture and shutter speeds grandly, and then do some serious cell-level postwork at home, to both keep the light and control it. In fact, I assume this is a challenge with ANY large metallic captures---your carshots included. The old rule, "do most of your shooting in the first and last hour of the day" (because of the nuanced light at those hours) comes to mind; except 1) how many fields like this are open at 6 a.m., 2) who wants to get up at 4 so they can get there on time, and 3) most importantly, magnificent beasts like this demand great light, so dawn would probably defeat the purpose---ie, of monumentality. You handle light in these captures with real ease. I must say, I don't envy you the task. If I haven't said this before, captures like this convince me that if any photographer deserves top-of-the-line equipment, it's you. You should be handed 15K by the photography gods, to get those 'flagship' cameras that run 5G for the body, with 3 or 4 lenses that cost 3K a piece (from super wide to super tele). Nice dream, huh? Why do I wish it on you? Because your monumental eye deserves it. I see photographers---some no older than 20---with 12G kits, who wouldn't know what to do with these planes if someone paid them; who get technically fine shots, but without vision of any kind. Your plane shots are monumental. Even the second shot---where the people are small and milling---has a monumentality because of the gaping jaw of the plane. You do wonderful work with these beasts, always have: My wishes for the 'ideal' setup is a compliment, not a critique. The more I learn, the more I appreciate how you tame these most difficult subjects, and make them sing. Like opera... Your montage has your usual fine variation---from side to back view, etc. The people blend naturally with the beasts on the field. And the last shot feels huge while intimate as well. I've gained great respect for planes from your gallery---and anyone who doesn't Zoom is out of their minds. These are marvelous full size, and there's all kinds of motion and music in them too. I'll go revisit #1 very soon...