Aviation Photography Symposium

Flight Journal, Aug 2004 by Ambats, Jessica

IN MARCH, LAS VEGAS SAW more than 100 aviation photographers convene there for the fourth annual International Symposium on Aviation Photography. Speakers from all areas of the aviation photography business gave inspiring educational presentations. They included Paul Bowen, Katsuhiko Tokunaga and Keith Ferris, and the varied topics ranged from transitioning to digital photography to safety issues to aviation art. Nikon and Canon displayed their latest products, and the late-night open forums were casual show-and-tells for all attendees to share their images and stories.

The symposium's high point was a trip to Nellis Air Force Base for a Thunderbirds practice session and an Air Force Red Flag launch-and-recovery exercise. Positioned between the two main runways, the photographers did their thing as more than 70 combat aircraft, including F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, A-6 Intruders and F-5 Tigers, were launched. F/A-22 Raptors-the replacements for the F-15 Eagle air-superiority fighters-were also on hand.

The banquet finale featured a paper airplane contest and a raffle whose top prizes were Mustang rides. For more information about past and future events, go to aviationphotographers.org.

-Jessica Ambats