Derelicts, Wrecks, & Stored Aircraft.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Earlier this year while traveling to meet Joe, Kevin Carver, and several other terrific shooters at the March Field Air Museum, I made my standard stop in Quartzsite for gas, jerky, and some quick photo-ops.  It seems there is always something interesting to shoot in Quartzsite and I'd done some advanced scouting (GoogleEarth).  This Cessna 421 is clearly visible from the satellite imagery and is located off the end of the private landing strip on the north side of I-10.  The morning light was typical AZ harsh with no clouds to help buffer the glare.  I took this photo using my Hasselblad 500C/M with a Planar f/3.5 100 mm CF lens.  I used Fuji Acros 100 (E.I. 80) 120 B&W negative film and shot the image at f/4 and 1/500th with a ND filter to help mitigate the bright ambient light.  It was still over-exposed.  I scanned the negative with my Epson v850 using SilverFast software.  Import sharpening and 8x10 frame adjustment from the 6x6 negative was performed in LR.  Some additional work was performed in PS using luminosity masks to help tame the highlights and add a touch of contrast to the rather blown-out negative.  The finished TIFF file is just short of 2GB 

[Scott Youmans]

Came out very well considering all of the challenges involved. A very sad looking 421, what's left of it!  I'll need to pick your brain luminosity masks.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Came out very well considering all of the challenges involved. A very sad looking 421, what's left of it!  I'll need to pick your brain luminosity masks.

Thanks Scott.  As you know, in the bright/harsh AZ ambient light and shooting with wide apertures (i.e. f/4), it can be hard to keep the appropriate shutter speed under the 1/500th Hasselblad maximum - thus the employment of an ND filter.  Unfortunately, I think I misread the adjustment needed when adding the ND into the mix and thus the over-exposure.  Not sure why that 421 is there?  It has really been skinned and left in the sun to rot.  Interestingly, there are numerous derelict airframes nearby in a private trailer park turned auto junk yard that includes a Cessna 0-2 Skymaster.  Not sure if they were flown into the private land strip of trucked in?

Happy to share what I know (i.e. limited) on luminosity masks.  Trying some new "actions" in PS that an shooter from England sent to me to try.

[Jeff D. Welker]

A derelict Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw basking in the warmth of another gorgeous Arizona sunset.  I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if this is a H-19A or H-19B?  I believe the USAF flew both variants.

[Tower Guy]

Great photo Jeff, the composition is outstanding. The warm light and the sky color make a dynamic photo.

[Jeff D. Welker]

Great photo Jeff, the composition is outstanding. The warm light and the sky color make a dynamic photo.

Muchas Gracias Senior Harvey.  Sometimes everything comes together and overpowers my normal efforts to screw the photo up 

[Jeff D. Welker]

...

[Tower Guy]

Beautiful color and composition Jeff. You have the eye of an artist, this is a wonderful photograph!

[Jeff D. Welker]

Beautiful color and composition Jeff. You have the eye of an artist, this is a wonderful photograph!

Thanks for your generosity Harvey.  Those derelict Chickasaws inspire me to make a good image.  Every once in a while, I actually achieve the goal.

This G2 at Falcon has definitely seen better days.  It is my understanding that the recent harvesting of parts has finished and Mesa's airport fire/rescue folks are now practicing on it with their "jaws of life".  I suppose it will ultimately end up as recycled aluminum.  Ashes to ashes and G2 to pop cans...

[Jeff D. Welker]

61523

[phantomphan1974]

Grumman Panther F9F-5P Buno 123517 by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

[phantomphan1974]

PHX-Sedona-AZ 2014 by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

[phantomphan1974]

PHX-Sedona-AZ 2014 by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

[phantomphan1974]

Earlier this year while traveling to meet Joe, Kevin Carver, and several other terrific shooters at the March Field Air Museum, I made my standard stop in Quartzsite for gas, jerky, and some quick photo-ops.  It seems there is always something interesting to shoot in Quartzsite and I'd done some advanced scouting (GoogleEarth).  This Cessna 421 is clearly visible from the satellite imagery and is located off the end of the private landing strip on the north side of I-10.  The morning light was typical AZ harsh with no clouds to help buffer the glare.  I took this photo using my Hasselblad 500C/M with a Planar f/3.5 100 mm CF lens.  I used Fuji Acros 100 (E.I. 80) 120 B&W negative film and shot the image at f/4 and 1/500th with a ND filter to help mitigate the bright ambient light.  It was still over-exposed.  I scanned the negative with my Epson v850 using SilverFast software.  Import sharpening and 8x10 frame adjustment from the 6x6 negative was performed in LR.  Some additional work was performed in PS using luminosity masks to help tame the highlights and add a touch of contrast to the rather blown-out negative.  The finished TIFF file is just short of 2GB 

Yours is more artsy than mine....


Cessna 421 Golden Eagle by PhantomPhan1974 Photography, on Flickr

[Jeff D. Welker]

Awesome derelicts Damon.  I especially like your version of the Golden Eagle.  I don't think I will be able to pass through Quartzite ever again without stopping to pay the 421 a visit.

These derelict Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw's repose in the post sunset quiet light of an overcast day at a private boneyard in Arizona.