The Passion and the Fury

During a recent visit to the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California, I met the museum’s general manager. Unlike most visitors, I often raise some concern among facility managers due to my unusual equipment and attire. I arrive with a tripod-mounted camera, an external monitor, sunshade, and sometimes a rolling dolly. I wear a camera vest with two additional cameras and occasionally also use a camera dolly along with a rolling camera case with extra lenses and batteries. This makes me stand out quite a bit.

Museum managers often approach me to discuss my plans for using the photos I intend to take, as many museums want to control or be aware of photo or video sales on their property.

I explained my photography process and preference for HDR photography to the manager. I explained that I aim to capture highly detailed photos while controlling the depth of field. Taking nine images with a tripod allows me to achieve this. I showed her some overexposed shots on my monitor and she was able to discern significant detail in the FJ-1 Fury aircraft.

Though polite and welcoming, she made it clear that the museum wouldn’t want me to sell the photos I take there. I agreed. I showed her some aircraft photos I’ve previously taken, including those from the San Diego Air Museum, the USS Midway, and Gillespie Field. She showed interest in possibly using some of my photos to promote the museum. I emailed her a few images from the Yanks Museum, but I haven’t yet received a response. I suspect my email may have inadvertently gone to her junk folder.

I feel it’s my passion for photography that compels me to carry around so much camera gear. Today, it led me to the FJ-1 Fury aircraft at the Yanks Air Museum.

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The 1946 FJ-1 Fury was the US Navy’s first operational jet aircraft. Only 33 were ever built, and only 2 survive today. Its black paint makes it ideal for HDR photography. A single exposure would likely make the black paint appear featureless. I’ve included a photo showing how much detail I captured in the black paint using HDR