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Thanks everyone for all the kind words about my photo. This photo was the result of a lot of trial and error to get everything just right. It is actually a composite of several photos because of the extreme dynamic range. I took the helmet shot to get the ideal reflection (which also required maneuvering the airplane to get the sun in the right spot) and then the reflected cockpit displays are very dim. I then took a image of each individual display and later flipped them to get a mirror image and then resized/distorted them to fit in their respective spots in the helmet shot.
The airplane in the U-2. I've been flying it for about 13 years now. We do fly very high - "above 70,000 feet" and that is why we wear the full pressure suit. I checked the original image of the primary flight display (the center one) and the altitude readout was 67,720 feet.
You've got my attention. I can't stop staring at that shot.
It's interesting that there is so much 'new' technology packed into a relatively old airframe. I can't imagine the first pilots in the U2 program would have guessed that it would be packed with that type of equipment today. When was the U2 first flown/designed?
Awesome photo for sure. Very "2000-esque". Wouldn't the inclusion of the cockpit layout be showing sensitive/classified information though? Very clever to fly below 70k feet though Must be nice to have some time to fly around to turn your plane so the "sun is at the right angle" for a photo
Spectacular!!! I was going to enter this month....but ain't gonna bother now, since I would vote for this shot anyway!! Do you fly for USAF or NASA? I just watched a piece on the History Channel last night about the U2, and how it is now past 50 years old. Amazing how long the airframes stand up. Would love to see any other shots you were able to take outside the cockpit at that altitude...although that might show where where you were. Also, what equipment did you use?
As a pilot and a FM newbie, you may want to check out this thread over in the City, Still and Abastract forum. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/600984/0
I'll bet you can add to that topic. Welcome aboard.
chas wrote:
Spectacular!!! I was going to enter this month....but ain't gonna bother now, since I would vote for this shot anyway!! Do you fly for USAF or NASA? I just watched a piece on the History Channel last night about the U2, and how it is now past 50 years old. Amazing how long the airframes stand up. Would love to see any other shots you were able to take outside the cockpit at that altitude...although that might show where where you were. Also, what equipment did you use?
As a pilot and a FM newbie, you may want to check out this thread over in the City, Still and Abastract forum. https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/600984/0
I'll bet you can add to that topic. Welcome aboard.
I fly for the USAF. Although the U-2 was first built in 1955, it was redesigned in 1968 and all but 4 of the aircraft we fly today were built in the 80s. We got a new engine in 1994, a new cockpit in 2001, and all new electrical systems and sensors in 2001-2003. I flew as a test pilot for the U-2 from 2000-2005, so I got to help design and test the new cockpit and sensors... it was a great job!
For the picture, I used a Canon EOS 40D and EF-s 10-22mm lens. I just posted a picture of a U-2 landing in that forum and will probably post some of my high altitude shots in the future.
Bill Sutherland wrote:
Hope the USAF has approved of this image. You are privileged to be able to shoot this and have put it together very well indeed.
The photo is not specifically approved, but I followed all the rules and no classified info is in any of my photos.
Must be nice to have some time to fly around to turn your plane so the "sun is at the right angle" for a photo 