"Wing Walker" Photo

Photographer’s Note

Another archive photo from my time stationed aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. I titled this one "Wing Walker" because...well that is just what this Marine is doing :)

I originally shot this in color but I converted to Grayscale in PS7 and using Curves; slightly adjusted the contrast. I find this image itself a bit contrasty since the Marines seem to be having some sort of happy conversation (I don't know how obvious their smiles are, I might just be remembering them first hand) all the while they are preparing this F/A-18 Hornet for a combat mission. This was taken at 300mm focal length sooo you can imagine that I was pretty far away on the flight deck and with all my safety gear on (the same thing they are wearing) I could still hear their laughter, or maybe I could just feel it in the midst of all the other feelings swirling around on this usual busy flight deck scene. Who knows...

Here is the original caption:
020117-N-3692H-510
ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) (January 17, 2002)...
A maintenance man of the VMFA-251 "Thunderbolts" walks the wing of his assigned F/A-18 Hornet as it is readied for a mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Thunderbolts are part of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW 1) currently deployed with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) operating in the Arabian Sea.
USN Photo by PH3 Stacey Hines

Tim, Bogdan, sohrab, rabani, Aegean, alford, rdans59, simonekarl has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Lio (783) 2004-11-30 3:17

Wouaaawwwww excellent modern picture ! I really like the expression of the guy on the wing. He seems so proud and so cool at the same time.
The composition is absolutely fine, it reproduces the atmosphere perfectly.

olli (2091) 2004-11-30 3:44

Very interesting subject, great composition, B&W works very well. Needs some minor adjustments (in levels), I think. Great shot in any case.

kikvel (4772) 2004-11-30 5:50

Hi Stacey!

nice to see you are back!
good composition showing the daily routines of these men.

wellcome back!

K.

Tim (469) 2004-11-30 9:29

Hey Stacey,

Nice to see a posting from you again! Very cool pic and I like the big grin on the wing walker's face! God's best,

Tim

Xalkida (11740) 2004-11-30 10:54

The B&W works very fine here! Very sharp, with good details and interesting theme! Very nice!

sohrab (7423) 2004-12-01 2:34

cool photograph..
i wonder what the orignial looked like..
this looks just a little conjusted so thats whyi asked about the original. how come you used a tripod for a 1/320 shot ??
haha i see you have a new profile photograph. you seem kind of pi@#ed off in it :)
take care

rabani (9421) 2004-12-03 3:23

Just what the title said; "Wing Walker". From the marine's expression and the guys on deck, they looked like having fun prepping this bird. But I liked his smile. It says a lot don't you think.
Be seeing you Stacey.

adind (738) 2004-12-03 8:57

Nice picture of people at work..
I like the B/W shade in the picture...

best,

atis

Aegean (2567) 2004-12-11 3:06

A great reportaz style B&W shot! Nice PoV and framing! Very well done!

sn00zie (2384) 2004-12-11 8:23

wow Stacey! you have quite an interesting life and an even more interesting array of pictures. this one is the coolest! it looks great in black and white. i like the grinning man on the wing!

alford (3897) 2004-12-17 2:29

Nice shot, Stacey! I dreamt of flying one of these machines when I was a kid :) Your pics in your navy experience really shows us a different kind of world, an exciting and adventurous world, as evidenced by the wing walker's smile. Great work, and thanks for sharing. rgds.

cessy (13647) 2004-12-20 4:02

woww.. I love this shot. excellent, thanks for sharing your navy life in USS Theodore roosevelt.

rdans59 (263) 2005-01-06 14:55

Welcome back to civilian life, Stacey.
Being a plane's addict, I'm a regular visitor of www.news.navy.mil and I'm sure I've come across some of your photos on that site as well.
Wonderful conversion to B&W using curves instead of just converting to "greyscale". Would benefit from some minor tweaks but I do like it a lot as it is. I'm curious what those Marines were grinning about.....

PLB (233) 2005-01-31 5:28

From a military point of view this is fantastic photo, showing the guys doing the job with a smile on their faces. This photo has good composition with the F-18 dominating the left of the frame and breaking the picture horizontaly left to right, giving each person their own space around the plane. I like the use of Black and White although with out the colours you are unable to tell what jobs each one does.

asival (4285) 2006-05-28 23:33

Hi Stacey

Daily life on a carrier that is something we don't get to see daily...
That one is a very good example of the so many opportunities you can bring out from this close Environment.

Good job

PS

You are welcome in Israel anytime

Assi