Cats have a reputation for having a mind of their own. Getting a blank
stare out of most cats when you give them an instruction would typically
be considered success given that you got any reaction at all. At times
photographers can be found to be acting much like cats. When they’re
granted special access at air shows or military exercises, their drive to
“get the shot” at times can take over their behavior and the next thing
you know their behavior can become very cat like. it’s not surprising
that the Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) charged with organizing such
groups can occasionally be heard fondly using the common idiom of
“herding cats” to refer to the task. Referring to their supervisory role in
coordinating and escorting photographers this way has become some-
what of an inside joke between PAOs and their herd and speaks to the
friendly relationships built during long days on the ramp documenting
activities with imagery. Larry Grace, President of the International
Society for Aviation Photography and I were privileged to join such a
group to “join the herd” with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds and CF-18
Demonstration Team during their spring training at 19 Wing in Comox
British Columbia on Canada’s west coast in April of 2018. Coming away
from the visit with some great shots was certainly a priority but we
certainly made it an equal priority to do so without be labeled as being
too cat like.I’ve shot at the Snowbirds and CF-18 Demo Team training before and
had an advantage over Larry as far as knowing what to expect out on
the range but things were managed slightly differently this year in that
Captain Jennifer Halliwell, the PAO from last years CF-18 Demo Team,
took the lead in the day to day management of the photographer herd.
Capt. Halliwell said “It made sense for me to help out with coordinating
the photographers this year because I was already in Comox to help
with the handover of my PAO duties for the CF-18 Demo Team to Capt.
Jennifer Howell. Add to that I had already worked closely with Lt (N)
Michèle Tremblay who is the PAO for the Snowbirds again this year.
We both understood the challenges of getting everything done in
Comox and understood the benefits of my taking on the role as MediaSteve Bigg