Ride in it or shoot it?

steve dickey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:55 pm

Was wondering what others might think of this. If given the opportunity to either ride in it(no matter what, but something that is currently flying and has a jump seat or more) or for the photographer in all of us, do an air-to-air shoot.
This is a hard one for me :shock:

Think before you post........

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:25 pm

Though one Steve having been on both sides.
I've have very few photos of me and the B-25 but took tons of photos of
everyone else. A lot of flights seemed only to be seen through the viewfinder
and I wonder what else I missed that everyone else experienced. 350 hours in the B-25
and I have 1 photo of me flying in it and I'm sleeping! I'll take the ride!

C170BDan · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:41 pm

I am an odd one. I dont ride very well. Let me drive and I am good. So... I have passed up a couple rides in machines that would have been amazing. Now... I have been up in Stearman, Waco, Chipmunk, T-6, SNJ, B-17, B-25 and many more. Enjoyed ever minute of those rides. Lately I have been passing up some rides to get pics or just watch them fly. Just count my self fortunate to get a few rides and watch others enjoy the flying.

Me riding in the T-6

Me flying in the Cub

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:42 pm

Both...

CAC Wirraway out of Wangaratta

CAC Winjeel, ditto.

Helps if they're doing two sorties and you can swap.

First pic by John Parker (Setter) of me fulfilling an ambition. Thanks to Murray Griffiths (owner, pilot) and Gus Larard (pilot) and Steve Patterson (guest pilot) with myself and John.

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:52 pm

C170BDan wrote:

I am an odd one. I dont ride very well. Let me drive and I am good.

Me too! I have always hated just riding along. If I had something to do as a crewmember, and I had actually maintained the airplane, well....then I could stomach it somewhat. Heck, I squirmed around in "airliners" until I finally just quit riding in them.

Scott

C170BDan · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:55 pm

Very cool to have the one of you in the Wirraway, James! Rare bird, rare ride!

steve dickey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:03 pm

OK, let me clarify this,(for JDK) given the oportunity of "only" taking a ride or doing an air-to air shoot. The ride is there and the photo plane is there, which would you do, say even if its a type you have been in before, or haven't ever done a photo shoot with before?
Great answers so far, thanks

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:08 pm

steve dickey wrote:

OK, let me clarify this,(for JDK) given the oportunity of "only" taking a ride or doing an air-to air shoot.

Make them do two sorties. You only need to know their kid's school and a Mafia connection. :lol:

I'm not a photographer, but I'll generally take a photo opportunity over a ride, although there are some types I'd like a ride in 'just to see what it was like' the Fairey Swordfish being top of that list.

It's cool IF you can arrange for someone to take you in the aircraft - bragging rights and the photo.

If your a 'toggie, surely it's got to be the photo sortie?

At the end of the day, for most us, it's what do you want more - bragging rights or neat pics?

Not much help, eh?

steve dickey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:14 pm

Still a good answer James

k5083 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:06 am

For me it would depend on the quality of the shoot. If the photo plane and subject pilots are willing to work with me to get something really extraordinary, there's great scenery handy, the plane is a real beauty and the conditions are right, I'd go with the shoot. But if the shoot is just going to result in a few snapshots at the wingman position at high noon over the Chino housing tracts, i.e. pics like everyone else gets, I'd pass on the shoot and take the ride.

August

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:20 pm

I agree with both August and James (first post). It all depends on the situation...

Having said that, I'd be inclined to take the ride, even though I'm a photographer. The exception would obviously be something set up for publication or money.

PeterA · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:46 pm

No-brainer. Take the ride...if you are happy with all the circumstances.

I not sure who took this shot and what they were flying, it turned up in the post, but fond memories of sitting at the back of the Cat and watching and photographing the world fly by on the way down to Lake Lawn. Oshkosh '85.

PeterA

sdennison · **Posted:** Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:33 pm

I say both. Here's a ride in "Petie 2nd" in formation with T33 Driver and I am not a photographer. That was with a pocket digital camera.

Here's coming back from Thunder in 2007 with the Heritage Foundation's F-86.

Here's my ride to Thunder and back. Hero shot.

and here's one when I was with the Blue Angels.... :wink:

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