McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II

[Jeff D. Welker]

Terrific photographs Scott. The monochrome is especially nice. Love the warm tones 

[Scott Youmans]

Thanks Jeff!  The processing softened up the shot a bit but I liked the look better than the "normal" color version.

[Scott Youmans]

Well Worn B-bird - Pilot's first time on the hose

[Jay Beckman]

"Welcome To My Nightmare..."

[Scott Youmans]

Cool shot Jay.  A fitting sky for this bird.  Ironically, for those who might not know, the Nightmare is over as of yesterday.  VMA-513 is no more.  Kind of sad.

[azspyder]

[azspyder]

[Scott Youmans]

Marine Lair - VMA-542 Tigers AV-8B

[Joe Copalman]

Oh come on!  Great light and a killer backdrop.

[Scott Youmans]

Thanks Joe!  I planned and had to cancel that trip, airline tickets, hotel reservations and all, no less than five times and still didn't get what my original intent was.  Even after I got there almost everything came close to not happening. Nip and tuck.  Definitely not complaining though.

[Scott Youmans]

Greene House - VMAT-203 Skipper, LtCol Greene, in the driver's seat.

(replaced originally posted image with slighter darker version)

[Joe Copalman]

Very cool shot, Scott.  Light looks quirky, but it really works. 

And the T-birds just look funky with only that single pylon under the wings. 

[Scott Youmans]

Thanks Joe!  Lots of humidity and late in the day.  I kind of like the softness of the light  The T-birds are unusual looking machines for sure.  Being aerodynamically cleaner (fewer pylons) and typically lighter they outperform the B-birds.  I hear that on a cool day they climb like rockets!

[Scott Youmans]

Between Clouds and Sea

[Jeff D. Welker]

Between Clouds and Sea

Messrs. Youmans - you know I'm a sucker for high quality monochrome images and this one takes the cake. I've been looking at it off-and-on since you posted Saturday. Each time I look, I am blown away by the clouds reflecting in the ocean, the faint crepuscular rays, the patterns on the oceans surface, the blending of sky and sea on the horizon, the nearly silhouetted Harrier contrasting against the background, and that long refueling hose reaching waaaaaay back from an unseen source - as far as I'm concerned this is as good as it gets. I can only assume you were hanging onto the very edge of the ramp to achieve this outstanding composition. Very well done sir.