As promised a post about the “semi” part of my semi-retirement, my aviation photography. While most of my content here is is related to Geography and the technology of making the invisible maps that power the modern world, my passion is, and has always been, Aviation and over the last few years in particular Aviation Photography.
Aviation photography demands a brutal balancing act between technical precision and hostile environmental conditions. Photographers must wield heavy, expensive telephoto lenses to bridge the distance to subjects tearing through the sky at hundreds of miles per hour, requiring masterful panning techniques and lightning-fast autofocus to maintain sharpness.
Even with perfect tracking, jet exhaust and atmospheric heat haze frequently distort the air, turning meticulously composed frames into a blurry mess. Exposure presents another constant battle: metering a dark metallic fuselage against a brightly backlit sky often underexposes the aircraft, while finding the exact shutter speed to capture the rotational blur of a propeller—without introducing camera shake or freezing the blades into static, lifeless sticks—requires relentless trial and error.
Beyond the camera, simply navigating strict airport security perimeters and chain-link fences to find an unobstructed vantage point makes the logistical preparation as demanding as the shoot itself.
Aviation photography is both a hobby and a “side hustle” as a Professional Aviation Photographer, working on particular aircraft and event projects.
This summer I worked with the organisers of the bi-annual Farnborough International Air Show creating content that was used by their social media and sales teams in the week running up to the airshow itself.
This you tube short gives you come idea of the environment, it was both hot and noisy !
I had an interesting conversation on attending Farnborough with the “All the Gear podcast” which was fun but certainly made me feel my age remembering going along to the show as a teenager in the 1980’s ! If you are passionate about capturing aircraft, the “All the Gear Podcast” is an essential listen because it strips away the pretension often found in specialized photography communities. Hosted by four experienced aviation photographers—Dave, Keiran, Bradley, and Aled—the show delivers honest, “no gatekeeping, no fluff” discussions about the realities of the craft. Rather than just boasting about perfect shots, the hosts openly share the moments that don’t go to plan, offering relatable insights for both beginners and seasoned shooters.
I was also able to get in a few overseas trips over the summer visiting Air Shows in Poland and Sweden and visiting an operational Polish Air Force helicopter base to see some of the last Soviet era Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopters still in military service. Working with active service personnel is always fascinating, as they seem to be made of the same “stuff” wherever they come from and (shocking I know) whatever they fly..
Highlight of my summer was an Air to Air opportunity to photograph an F-15E of the USAF based at RAF Lakenheath over the Llŷn Peninsula of North Wales, a field trip destination I remember for my undergraduate student days. For an Aviation Photographer this is the ultimate type of trip, the opportunity to fly alongside a military aircraft from an “open door” aircraft is a rare and expensive undertaking, but is also highly addictive.
I still have a trip of attend Fleet Week in San Fransisco next month, so my photographic adventures are not finished yet for the year, but it will be strange arriving at SFO and not turning right to head down towards Mountain View !
If you are interested in more of my photography, take a look at photos.edparsons.com and should you be looking for a early Christmas Present in the form of Wall Art store.edparsons.com