Photography has been a long term hobby of mine. Here are some of my own articles and photos of events I have visited. I also include a couple of articles that were produced and published on one of the early formats of Fighter Control before it was taken over in 2010.
I have an assortment of Canon EOS bodies and various lenses of both Canon and Sigma. I enjoy attending classic VW shows, Motorcycle meets including Custom Bike Shows, airshows and sometimes I am asked to help out with covering weddings or the odd photo shoot. I have also partaken in aerial photography within the Arizona desert.
I have an assortment of Canon EOS bodies and various lenses of both Canon and Sigma. I enjoy attending classic VW shows, Motorcycle meets including Custom Bike Shows, airshows and sometimes I am asked to help out with covering weddings or the odd photo shoot. I have also partaken in aerial photography within the Arizona desert.
2019
Awaiting confirmation of several visits to various private collections as well as gaining access to various Military establishments. Confirmed events are listed below.
October
August
July
June
May
April
February
October
- Gatwick Aviation Museum - Nightshoot
August
- Tanks Trucks & Firepower
- Bearskins 'n' Boots
July
- Grenadier Day
- Royal International Air Tattoo - Monday Departures Day
- Royal International Air Tattoo - Saturday Airshow
- Royal International Air Tattoo - Friday Airshow
June
- The Great Gathering/The Big Sleep
- RAF Cosford Airshow
May
- Crouch Recovery Military Collection Open Day
- Million Veterans March - Birmingham
April
- Rolling Thunder Ride for Soldier F
- REME Museum. The former RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire which is now MOD Lyneham and is now the home of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME). As well as the REME Museum. The museum officially opened in June 2017
February
- RAF Marham - Farewell Tonka
- RAF Marham - Tonka Flypast
2018
November
October
September
July
June
May
March
January
November
- Pirbright & Brookwood Remembrance Service. I was invited by the Household Division Motorcycle Club to attend a Remembrance Day service at Brookwood Commonwealth War Graves Commission Military Cemetery near Pirbright Army Depot in Surrey.
October
- Cheffins - Jack Richards Classic Vehicle Collection WIP
- National Memorial Arboretum - RTTW WIP
September
- JETFEST'18. I attended JETFest 2018 which was held by the Gnat Display Team who are based at North Weald Airfield in Essex. This year's event was a three day event. With an opportunity of attending a Photo Day on the Friday via a third party company. Along with the Saturday & Sunday as the two main days that were free to the public.
- Defence Vehicle Dynamics is an annual event that showcases over 200 exhibitors within the Defence Industry. I attended to see what the latest gadgets and kit the new recruits and regulars of the British Army will be using.
- Bentwaters Cold War Museum - Airfield Tour WIP
July
- Royal International Air Tattoo - Saturday Airshow Day WIP
- Royal International Air Tattoo - Friday Airshow Day WIP
- Royal International Air Tattoo - Thursday Arrival Day WIP
- Yeovilton Air Day WIP
- Bentwaters Cold War Museum - Anglo American Day WIP
June
- Armed Forces Day. Wolverhampton held it's Armed Forces Day in Victoria Square. Home to 4th Battalion Mercian Regiment which consists of the amalgamation of the Staffordshire Regiment. Wolverhampton is also a recruitment hotbed for the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and also the Household Division
- Lightning Strikes - 4 Lightnings. The Lightning Preservation Group, arranged a two day photoshoot of four Lightning Jets at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire. By inviting Lightning XR768 to appear along side their three Lightning Jets. This is the first time since the 1990's at BAe Warton.
May
- RAF Museum Hendon - WIP
- De Havilland Museum - WIP
- Rush Green Motors - WIP
March
- RAF Cosford Nightshoot Threshold Aero arranged an evening of photographing various aircraft that are maintained by 238 Squadron. As well as a special guest of honour. Phanton F-4 'Black Mike'
January
- Farewell Lynx. I was invited down to Middle Wallop to attend the final flight of the Army variant of the Lynx AH.9A along with a guided tour of behind the scenes of where the withdrawn fleets were being stripped down.
2017
December
November
October
September
July
April
December
- Fleet Air Arm Reserve Collection at Cobham Hall WIP
- Helicopter Museum WIP
November
- RAF Cosford - Restoration Hanger Visit WIP
- Bovington Tank Museum & Vehicle Conservation Centre WIP
October
- ALE Abnormal Load 7th October 2017. Wolverhampton Today posted an advance notification on their Facebook page that an abnormal load would be passing through Wolverhampton on the Saturday evening. The details were that it would start from J2 of the M54 at 20:00 hrs and travel southbound along the A449 Stafford Road. And then swap over to the North bound carriage way, where it was due to arrive at the junction of Ring Road St Peters.
September
- The Trip Out Part 1. Formed of two husband and wife teams Anna & Andy Porter and Estelle & Loggy Bilson - Booker. Together they form Choppergod Productions. All four are lovers of all things mechanical and vintage who are passionate about their rides, the car and bike scene their music, and their lifestyles. The Trip Out was formed in 2011 to bring together a collection of ideas for a weekend event like no other seen in the UK.
July
- Founded in 2017, Assembly is a London based motorcycle showcase & exhibition in collaboration with DicE Magazine and The Great Frog. I was invited down to London to attend the Saturday 22nd July Chopper show.
April
- 50th Anniversary of the Gazelle. 7th April 1967 the first prototype of the Gazelle helicoper assigned as SA 340 made its maiden flight in Toulouse France. Manufactured by the French state owned Sud Aviation. Which later became Aérospatiale following a merger with Nord Aviation. The Gazelle was developed as a replacement for the Alouette helicopter. Four pre-production models were produced and first flew on 2nd August 1968 and assigned as SA 341.
- 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Launch. The GSX-R1000. For the last 17 years has been desired by many a motorcyclist. From being introduced in 2001 as a liquid cooled sportsbike, two years after Suzuki ditched the oil cooled 1100.
2016
August
July
June
May
March
August
- Tanks Trucks & Fire Power. Since 2010 the fields of Toft Barn off Southam Road, on the outskirts of the sleepy village of Dunchurch near Rugby in Warwickshire, has been hosting the Tanks Trucks and Firepower show. Which has been held each August Bank Holiday weekend. Each three day event has provided visitors to excellent pyrotechnic displays in the main arena of Alvis military vehicles and other main battle tanks.
July
- RNAS Yeovilton Air Day. Every year the Royal Navy hosts two airshows in July. Yeovilton is held on a Saturday with a photo call day on the Friday before. And Culdrose is held on a week day usually the following week due to the School Holidays.
June
- June 11th I attended the Aeropark at East Midlands Airport to see the arrival of ED Force One, piloted by Bruce Dickinson. Lead singer of Iron Maiden, who were headlining the main stage of Download on the 12th June.
May
- Grenadier Day - Lille Barracks Aldershot. Aldershot: The historical home of the British Army and currently the home of the Grenadier Guards. I was fortunate via my dad, who is ex 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, to attend the annual 'Grenadier Day' along with my mum and sister, at Lille Barracks.
- Stanford Hall VW Show - 40th Anniversary Show. ( Work in Progress )
March
- March 24th I attended RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to see two German Air Force Transport C-160 Transall's depart, which saw the conclusion of Exercise Cobra Warrior, as well as the resident Squadrons conduct multiple sorties.
- March 16th I attended Ultimate Dubs 2016 which was hosted at the Telford International Centre.
2015
November
November
- The Wheatcroft Collection. One collection that I have longed to photograph is the Wheatcroft Collection. Kevin Wheatcroft is THE Military vehicle enthusiast. Kevin is well known internationally. And has one of the biggest World War II collection of Military Vehicles and artefacts. From a VW Factory Fireman's helmet to a Panther Heavy Tank.
- Exercise Indradhanush. Whilst the emphasis of England dominating Australia in the Ashes test has dominated the mainstream media recently. Over the skies of Lincolnshire a different type of test was happening which has had an unexpected outcome.
- Stanford Hall VW Show - 60 Years of the Karmann Ghia . Stanford Hall. A fine example of architecture from the William & Mary period. This Stately Home is located near the Northamptonshire village of Stanford on Avon. Built for the Cave family and completed in 1697. It is home to the current ancestors. And for the last 39 years, it has been home to the Leicestershire & Warwickshire VW Owners Club's show.
2013
January
- AMARG
2009
April
- Newark Air Museum - Night Photo Shoot For some people, bumping into your old school teacher isn’t to everyone’s enjoyment. However in the case of one of Lee James’s old school teachers, it just so happens that they are one of the Volunteer Curators at Newark Air Museum (NAM) at Winthorpe Aerodrome outside Newark in Nottinghamshire. (This article first appeared on Fighter Control in 2009)
2008
September
- U.S Coast Guard Air Station: Elizabeth City. CGAS Elizabeth City history began on August 15th 1940. With four officers and 52 enlisted men and ten aircraft. Which consisted of three seaplanes, four land planes and three amphibious aircraft. During it's operational life, Elizabeth City has partaken in operations from Search and Rescue to Anti-Submarine Warfare in it's World War II usage. And now provides a wide variety of mission support services: Maritime Law Enforcement, Maritime Response, Maritime Prevention, Marine Transportation System Management, Maritime Security Operations and Defence Operations.
2007
June
- RAF Leeming - Families Day. I was invited to this years families’ day event held at RAF Leeming. This family’s day was a bit special as back in February, 100 Squadron officially celebrated its 90th Anniversary. One of the oldest Squadrons of the RAF. (This article first appeared on Fighter Control in 2007)