await our bus ride to the safety briefing. Once the do’s and don’ts were
addressed by the PAO, Kris Haugh, lunch was served before heading
out to watch the afternoon practice of the Blue’s. It was odd to see
an otherwise normal airshow performance by the Blue’s without the
thousands of spectators. Once they safely recovered and were clear of
the runway we made our way out to Valhalla. Stepping off the bus and
seeing the LSO shack first, then the meatball, and then finally the chalk
line of death was a dream come true. We were treated to a wonderful
afternoon/evening of shooting. I met some wonderful people and some
amazing photographers. Everyone who hosted us on base was amazing.
Each one of them volunteered to be there with us, giving up one of their
free days to make sure we had an unforgettable time. They succeeded
in every possible way. After the last person was loaded back up on the
bus it was time to head out. We agreed to meet back at the field early
the next morning, hopeful to catch the morning practice before going
our separate ways.
The next day upon arrival at the field for the Blue’s practice, with just
a handful of other photographers and onlookers, we weren’t sure
what to expect. Let’s just say that everyone there that morning got a
truly unforgettable memory to take with them! What a way to end an
epic trip.I consider myself to be a serious amateur photographer. For the Photo
Call I shot mainly with my Canon 1D Mark IV and Canon 100-400mm.
I also brought the 70-200mm F/2.8 for the twilight shots. All things
considered, this turned out to be a great experience. There were shots
that if given the chance I would have approached differently, and some
viewing locations that I will keep in mind next time. I am thankful for
this opportunity and look forward to many others in the future.