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B-17G Aluminum Overcast - Night and Low Light - Rocky Mountain Metro, CO (KBJC) - 20/24 October 2011

Tired of shooting the same as shots of everyone else, I took the latest visit of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) B-17G, Aluminum Overcast, to do just that.

The EAA B-17 usually visits Centennial Airport on its tour, and while there the aircraft is hangared overnight, but at RMM she is left outside, and with the silver fuselage and clear skies forecast I though a little night shooting would be in order.

The first three shots were taken on the same night between 4am and 6am and were done with multiple exposures and a single strobe. I couldn't shoot for more than about 10 seconds at a time because of the direct light coming from the apron lights.

A few nights later I though I'd try to shoot some star trails, but part way into the shoot mist began to form and the stars disappeared. There was nothing for it than to wait a couple of hours for the sunrise, in the hope that it would be good.

Well the colours and light from that sunrise were amazing. The next nine shots (5-14) were taken in a short 10-minute time-frame. The good light at sunrise does not last very long!

You can lso find some other aircraft taken that night on the Rocky Mountain Metro page, including an unusual Pacific Aerospace 750XL.

This type of photography means getting out the door very early, 2am in the case of my second night, and is always experimental, with some sorties having you come away with nothing to show for the time you spent.

I do enjoy the isolation and peace when going out on these shoots however, and just one decent photo can make it worthwhile.

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