WWW.PMYMAG.COM JUNE 2017 / POWER & MOTORYACHT 39H
ow do you take shots seemingly above careening stunt
pilots during the Chicago Air & Water Show? Easy. You get
to the highest vantage point: in this case, the observatory
at the top of the John Hancock Center. On a normal day during
the summer, but especially during this two-day festival—with
skydivers leaving colorful plumes in their earth-bound descents
and U.S. Navy Blue Angels booming across the skyline—space
along the lakefront becomes a highly prized possession. This
places boat owners in a felicitous position, as they drop anchor
and watch the drama unfold above North Avenue Beach and Lake
Michigan ( August 19-20). Photographer Nick Ulivieri has captured
the action for the past eight or so years, shooting from boat,beach, and precipitous heights using a 400-millimeter lens. Of
those locations, however, shooting from the observatory might be
his favorite place. (His unoffi cial title there is photo ambassador.)
“I don’t see too many airshow photos where the photographer is
higher than the aircraft itself,” says Ulivieri. Although he’s quick
to add “a boat can provide some really awesome views, too.” He
tries to get there around 9 a.m. and stay until the early afternoon,
taking as many pictures in between as he can and only going
home to edit. In this shot, Ulivieri captures the Team Oracle stunt
plane corkscrewing as onlookers test their maximum passenger
capacities. Says Ulivieri, “I kind of like the way the smoke trail
winds its way around most of the boats.” —Simon Murray