Do Not Adjust Your Screen! Photo

Photographer’s Note

Just like the title says:)
This is the actual ambient light in the photo. Taken in the hangar bay, I shot this while stationed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) back in 2001. We were underway heading to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The lighting is called "Sodium Vapor Light" it has a natural yellow hue. The Navy uses it for two reasons:

1st- Yellow light doesn't travel as far across the water as regular white light does, thus keeping us from being detectible from distances ,with the naked eye. (You can see the two hangar doors are open, they are the "black squares" visible in the middle)

And the 2nd reason- To not hurt the Sailor's eyes (our "night vision") as we walk between the hangar bay to other parts of the ship which have white lights on.

I counted about 13 planes (F/A 18 Hornets, F-14 Tomcats, & E-2C Hawkeyes) in the bay, but many more can fit. I don't know the exact number. Maybe someone else will let me know on here.

I know this photo is not exactly "compositionally pleasing" but I think some people might learn a little something about the Navy. :)
~Stacey

faz09, Tim, TheG1, Proxilva, Riz, sohrab, Michael_Gan, Roly, bfly, cs-ist, Gix, rabani, RandomCameraGuy, pamastro, wanderlust, Emiel_Skyfreak has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Proxilva (2157) 2004-09-14 10:49

do you fly these things? our were you with the navy on this ship?... Here in Holland we use red lights for totally different things ;)... maybe that's for nightvision aswell...

pretty peacefull how these planes are parked here as we know what damage they can do...cool photograph and note....

[2] +

Riz (0) 2004-09-14 11:03

cool I remember capturing shot in the hangerbay it reminds of how small it makes the carrier space fit these large aircraft, well captured and the note is very useful thanks

dom_inik_m (1707) 2004-09-14 11:31

Besides the orange hue and the documentary dimension of this picture, what strikes me the most is what's not said in it!
"Enduring freedom"... how ironic, from Afghanistan in turmoil to Irak on the verge of explosion... and what next?
Well, I's rather watch Dr. Strangelove one more time! Remember the baseline? "How I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb." :-[

sohrab (7423) 2004-09-14 13:30

nice composition and very informative note stacey :)

gopinath (85) 2004-09-14 13:37

If one looks at the picture without reading the comments, it looks as if scale models were stacked up in a godown. The monochromatic tone to the picture adds up to the value. The tech info was interesting. On the hindsight it is too saddening to think of what use these magnificent machies are put to.

Michael_Gan (2772) 2004-09-14 16:05

Despite your last paragraph, I think this picture is pretty much "compositionally pleasing". It clearly shows the efficient way the aircraft are parked in this hangar below deck.

bfly (5737) 2004-09-14 17:00

hi Stacey..great note..I knew nothing about these things...and you are the first navy woman I know in fact :)..(I am sure we have women officers in our army but..)
I am not sure if it is because of sodium vapour light (I think with the same light they mature oranges and tomatoes in warehouses) or else but they look like toys..not dangerous at all...
thanks..
fusun

centurion (0) 2004-09-15 7:05

Hi Stacey. Wonderful look inside this playground, I very appreciate your info note with a lot of items about I had no idea before.
Let me try a WS, teh only what is disturbing for me is the yellowish hues of sodium vapot lights.

Gix (3559) 2004-09-15 16:58

Hi Stacey!
a very unconventional shot! ... but is legal to publish this type of militar photos ??!
A scenery of science fiction!
And very interesting note
ciao, Giorgio

rabani (9421) 2004-09-16 23:23

Very informative Stacey. Maybe pleasing would not be the right word for it. If the photo explained and describe as well as attention grabbing, what else is there you think.

voodoo (75) 2004-09-21 4:10

That would be where I would be working if my planes could land on a boat. Nice shot...matt

Spoony (3539) 2004-09-21 11:02

Interessant, no doubt! Your title abd notes are important. Beauty!
Fine shot Stacey! ;)

tuffellow (533) 2004-10-05 20:55

So that's how they fit them all into one boat! Very nice photo... again! Great note too. I think that cropping out some of the ceiling could work well here. I love the colours; it looks very James Bondish.
Mike

evdyo (16) 2004-10-23 17:53

Thats why the say Carriers are floating cities.

Thanks for bringing us in.

photoniall (0) 2004-11-12 15:28 [Comment]

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