I made what is turning into, an annual trip to the Harrel W. Timmons Galesburg Regional Airport today. 2025 marks eight years in a row for the same purpose. To make a group photo of those attending the National Stearman Fly-In. The photo typically involves pilots, family, friends, staff, and volunteers.
The Stearman is a biplane, used as military trainer aircraft in the the 30’s and 40”s. 10,626 of them were built during that period. The are unique and colorful. Most are now in the hands of those who fly them for recreation. If you are unfamiliar with the fly-in and want to learn more, here is a link to the event website.
It takes approximately 25 minutes to set up four Alien Bee, 800 watt second flashes with reflectors. It takes about the same time to break everything down, once the photo is done. It takes 5-7 minutes to make the photo, once everyone arrives and is in place. Quite a bit of extra work for “just” a group photo. Some may question that. The answer is simple. The extra work makes a better photograph. The photographs are keepsakes. 50 years from now it would be nice to have someone state, “That photographer knew what they were doing.”
The technical stuff… Photo is time is usually 10 a.m. The first year I did the job, I explained that location is important. We don’t want people squinting into the sun. Backlighting and flash fill is the way to go. That’s why the “horsepower” is needed in the form of the larger flashes. Those four lights fill shadows, and give a lot more “pop” to the image. This year, the settings were 160 iso, 250th of a second, and f11 for the aperture. Decent depth of field is needed because of the many rows of people. The flashes were set at full power.
Two planes are placed in a general area. This year, a slightly different set up was used. The planes were placed a bit closer together. And they were placed tail to tail rather than nose to nose. Once it all begins to take form, my friend Ted, of JetAir Inc., takes us up on a scissors lift to get the shot and angle. Elevation is key to see everyone’s smiling face. Well, sort of. This year, someone had their head down in nine of twelve frames. There were also two “false alarms” as stragglers drifted in after I’d already made exposures. By their own description, some in the group say, “It’s like trying to herd cats.”
Today’s wind was as bad as it’s ever been. Five and ten pound ankle weights are utilized to anchor light stands. The stands were extended to place the flashes to approximately 10 feet. They swayed, making for a nervous photographer. I told Ted, “If I get through this without a light falling over, I’m going home and ordering four more 10 pound weights.” We got the photo done with no incidents and I have been online shopping!
Most of the frames made are simply of everyone gathered. Once that is done, I also ask them to “Give me a wave” as a second option. I’ve attempted humor in the past. “Okay. Everyone hold it. I’ve got to get your names, left to right,” I yell from the lift. That brings laughs. Nearly every year, a few approach to thank me for my efforts. That’s appreciated.
The files are sent to the organization, they choose one, I post-process it, and turn it back around to them. I believe they then go out as gifts to the attendees in the form of an 8X10 enlargement.
I hope to do it again next year!
The load in and beginning to set up
From the group’s perspective.
Getting the group organized
The final product