USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

[Matt Ottosen]

Great shots Matt. And what an awesome time, eh? 

S.C.

Thanks Scott, it was absolutely incredible!

[scottcolbath]

Great shots Matt. And what an awesome time, eh? 

S.C.

Thanks Scott, it was absolutely incredible!

I want another visit on that beast. It's been 15 years. I think I'm due. 

Before I got my day out at sea, I scored a top to bottom tour the year before, with my friend who was stationed on the ship at the time. It was in San Diego for several months for some maintenance, so the ship was just about empty. We got to go pretty much anywhere we wanted.

S.C.

[Matt Ottosen]

I want another visit on that beast. It's been 15 years. I think I'm due. 

Before I got my day out at sea, I scored a top to bottom tour the year before, with my friend who was stationed on the ship at the time. It was in San Diego for several months for some maintenance, so the ship was just about empty. We got to go pretty much anywhere we wanted.

S.C.

I would think you're due too!  It sounds like you have also had some incredible experiences aboard CVN 74.  Since we were not on a typical DV embark, we could pretty much go and see whatever we wanted whenever we wanted to.  The three of us pretty much chose to stay on the flight deck to photograph flight ops, however we did have time to see some other places.

[Matt Ottosen]

The journey comes to an end.

US Navy Aircraft Carrier Embark (Part 4 of 4) - Day Two
http://www.ottosenphotography.com/blog/2015/5/us-navy-aircraft-carrier-embark-part-4-of-4---day-two

[Matt Ottosen]

Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 (VAW-112) "Golden Hawks"

[scottcolbath]

The journey comes to an end.

US Navy Aircraft Carrier Embark (Part 4 of 4) - Day Two
http://www.ottosenphotography.com/blog/2015/5/us-navy-aircraft-carrier-embark-part-4-of-4---day-two

Well done.

The only thing missing is any pics of you on the ship. I don't think I've seen one.

S.C.

[Matt Ottosen]

Well done.

The only thing missing is any pics of you on the ship. I don't think I've seen one.

S.C.

Thanks Scott!

Honestly, there aren't many photos of me on the ship, at least that I know of.  There was one kinda-sorta-portrait that was taken by one of the other photographers, with his camera, that I am trying to get my hands on, but I think the three of us were more interested in taking photos of the aircraft.

• This is the only photo (by Doug Aguillard) that I have found of me aboard the ship, and you'll just have to take my word that it is me.
• There is this photo  (by Doug Aguillard) of me aboard the COD on our way out to the ship.

[Matt Ottosen]

Helicopters coming in after the day's first launch.  Grabbed a few photos as we headed back inside to our departure briefing.

Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 14 (HSC-14) "Chargers"

[Matt Ottosen]

Vulture's Sunset

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) "Black Aces"

[Scott Youmans]

Vulture's Sunset

Nice one Matt!

[Matt Ottosen]

Vulture's Sunset

Nice one Matt!

Thank you, Scott!

[Matt Ottosen]

Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet
Strike Fighter Squadron 151 (VFA-151) "Vigilantes"

[Mike Margolis]

Awesome Matt, thanks for sharing!! I got to spend a day at sea aboard the USS Nimitz a few years back (pre-good camera) - experience of a lifetime!!

[Matt Ottosen]

Awesome Matt, thanks for sharing!! I got to spend a day at sea aboard the USS Nimitz a few years back (pre-good camera) - experience of a lifetime!!

Thanks Mike, it truly is an experience of a lifetime!