Photos of the Month by FC Members

December 2013

Our judges: David Franks, Duane Kuhlow, Mike Murawski, and Matthew Rigdon

Welcome to the Photos of the Month for December. As in months past, the many great nominations forced the judges to make hard decisions. Four photos will be highlighted this month, all having received the same number of votes.

The first of our choices is a B-47 photo from Jeff Welker, one of many nighttime images from the Pima Air and Space Museum that were nominated last month. The composition of the photo, and the fusing of the different light effects on the subject and in the background, made this image stand out to the judges. We liked the nice colors in the frame and how the long exposure turned the headlights in the background into a line, accentuating the wide-angle perspective. A very cool composition. [Forum Link]

Two F-35 Lightning II photos got love from the judges. The first, below at left, is also from Jeff Welker . Comments from FC members who nominated the photo included this one: "Here Jeff brings us compelling PHOTOGRAPHY. He didn't just set a fast shutter speed and pan as it went by like I do, or like 90% on here do. No, he set it up, he thought it out...he made it happen. He fought off back lighting too, successfully." [Forum Link]

Our second F-35 photo is an air to air shot featuring the Lightning II with a trailing Harrier by Joe Copalman. The clarity of the subjects and the fields in the background make the subjects stand out. [Forum Link]

The final photo this month is a black-and-white setting of aircrew re-enactors with a Spitfire, from Simon Johnson. It harkens back to the days of The Battle of Britain when Spitfires and Hurricanes protected London and other British cities from German bombers. [Forum Link]

You, our fellow photographers, keep setting the bar higher and higher for POTM nominations and selections. But remember, we can’t judge what isn’t nominated. If you see a photo that you like, please nominate it for the Photos of the Month … and let the judging begin!

November 2013

Our judges: Steve Burke, Joe Copalman, Clay Hamilton, and Ivan Voukadinov

The year is coming to an end; however, that hasn't stopped the flow of compelling photographs here on Fence Check. Although there were only 17 Photos of the Month nominations in November, some spectacular options made the judges work hard to narrow down the final selection.

The first photo the judges agreed upon was Jeff Stoermer’s shot of a Sikorsky H-34 at sunset. Sunset photos are often nominated, and for good reason. The silhouette of the helicopter against the pink clouds brings a simple yet beautiful atmosphere to the scene. Many photographers would choose to shoot from the other side but Jeff didn’t – and his was a successful approach. [Forum Link]

Next comes Mark Munzel's afterburner shot of a Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15J blasting off at twilight (below right). Really this pick was almost a no-brainer. A perfectly-balanced exposure, great panning and sharpness, a dark background to add some depth and a rather unusual subject for Fence Check all combined to earn the judge's praise. There's only a small window of time during the day that allows both a bright afterburner and enough light to show all the aircraft’s details, and this image shows that the photographer found it. [Forum Link]

The third and final image is Thomas Bunce's close-up photo of Blue Angel #7 at sunset (below center). In contrast to the first photo, here we see how golden hour light can be taken advantage of and combined with an interesting crop and edit to obtain a surreal feel. In a year where the Blue Angels' absence has been felt greatly, it is good to see such a creative photo of the team. [Forum Link]

Congratulations to all the photographers and thanks to the members who nominated these and other pictures.

October 2013

Our judges: Zane Adams, Eric Gutterson, Mark Houpt, and Keith Snyder

"Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars…" could easily have been the theme of October’s multitude of spectacular entries into the Photo of the Month club. No less than ten out of the twenty-two nominated images portrayed rocket ships (the Space Shuttle and an SR-71), or were sunset photos, or contained the moon.

This month’s top photo, in the eyes of the judges, was Jeff Welker’s view of a U.S. Marine Corps F-5N Tiger II from VMFT-401 crossing in front of a waning moon (below right). This is the kind of shot that so many of us want to have in our collection. The photo stood out to the team for the sharpness and detail in the aircraft, size of the moon and, frankly, the plain background that allows you to focus on the two subjects. If all that technical description is not enough, we’ll add this: It’s just cool! [Forum Link]

Three nominations this month were photos of DC-3s, which demonstrates how the Fence Check constituency views the venerable "Gooney Bird." With DC-3 photos you often get down-and-dirty, beat up ol’ birds that show their age … but not this one! Like Frank Sinatra, our second pick for Photo of the Month, Glen Tagami’s photo (below left) is a classy example from an elegant, nostalgic era. Banking away from the camera ship. this DC-3, clearly shows the elegant lines of the fuselage, large span of the wings, and two round engines that growl. The photographer has captured the details of panel lines, rivets and the contrasting black and white paint scheme. And who can discount the juxtaposed backgrounds of dead desert and life-giving blue water?

With twenty-two entries, it was a tough choice for this month’s judges to make their choices. Enjoy the results!

September 2013

Our judges: Duane Kuhlow, Mike Murawski, Matthew Ridgon, Andrew Thomas, and Ivan Voukadinov.

Of the 26 nominated photos this month, three were standouts in the judges’ eyes.

Jeff Welker's night shot of the U.S. Airways ramp at Phoenix Sky Harbor was an overwhelming favorite. We see many fantastic night shots here on Fence Check, but Jeff’s use of a long exposure to capture movement was something a bit different, and the effect is very pleasing. [Forum Link]

Keith Breazeal's static photo under less-than-ideal shooting conditions at this year’s Reno Air Races quickly and unexpectedly turned into an aviation photographers dream come true as both a colorful rainbow and a lighting strike worked their way into the image. "Unbelievable" and "a no brainer" were just two comments from the multiple Fence Check members who nominated Keith’s photo. [Forum Link]

Jim Blohm's ordinary moon photograph turned extraordinary when this airliner flew through the frame. This photo would've been great with just the moon alone, but we were glad Jim was able to turn it into an aviation photograph. [Forum Link]

Last, but certainly not least, the judges would like to give an honorary mention to three very talented, experienced, and veteran aviation photographers who have been digging through their "wet film" archives in the last few months . We’d like to send a sincere "THANK YOU!" to Ray Rivard, Ed Rivera, and Dan Stijovich for posting so many slide and film shots from the past. It is very refreshing to see these "old school" and "retro" photos of beautiful airframes, many of which are no longer in the air. These three photographers have bridged a gap here on our site during tough times for the passion which we all share. We all enjoy looking at these historic photos, from a time when post-processing and editing were not an option. Rather than try to choose just one or two, we encourage readers to explore the many threads on the Military Aviation board where Dan, Ed, and Ray have shared their images.

Congratulations and well done to the above photographers. And thank-you to those members who nominated their favorite photos this month: t The Photos of Month feature would not be possible without a pool of nominations to choose from.

August 2013

Our judges: Zane Adams, Steve Burke, Tom Hedlund, and Eric Rosen

Despite the days of summer quickly passing us by, and the effects of the Sequestration on the 2013 airshows season, there was no shortage of great aircraft images nominated for Fence Check’s Photos of the Month in August. With effort, the judges were able to narrow a field of twenty-eight nominees down to four selections.

Nick Thomas’s remarkable capture of a Marine F-5 and its reflection at night was a favorite of all the judges. This image has plenty of "wow" to it: the subject is tack sharp, and the reflection on the wet concrete adds to an incredible composition. The lights of the airport, and the city lights on the horizon, add depth to this image. [Forum link]

The next image that the judges agreed on was Nick Peterman’s shot of a rare Helio Courier on floats. From the technical side, this shot is dead on. A perfect shutter speed was used, as there is almost a full prop arc. Nick’s fantastic use of side lighting helps to bring out the details, as does the sharpness of this image: you can clearly see the pilot’s sunglasses and the expression on his face. A quote from one of the judges was, "Love this shot". [Forum link]

Finally two images from Jeff Welker received high praise from the judges. His A380 breaking thru morning vapor at LAX must have been a difficult shot to pull off, but it was timed and composed perfectly. The lighting adds a very nice feeling to it as well. [Forum link] His angled, cropped capture of an F-16 has plenty of detail, and the light use of HDR provides a nice finishing touch. [Forum link]

To close, we say "Great job!" to everyone whose photos were nominated. It made the judging difficult, but well worth it.

July 2013

Our judges: Joe Copalman, Clay Hamilton, Mark Houpt, and Keith Snyder

July's selection of Photos of the Month nominees was a good one, but one image stood out for all of your judges. Ryan Coulter’s takeoff shot of a P-2 firebomber is just an outstanding piece of work. Prop blur, lighting angle, clearly visible jet and prop exhaust streams, an angle showing the unique attributes of the Neptune in fire- fighting configuration, a wonderfully-colorful background, and tack-sharpness – this image has it all. This is not just a photo, it is a piece of art. Congratulations on your effort, Ryan, and thanks very much for sharing it in this forum. [Forum link]

Two other images that caught our judges' eyes were Lloyd H's capture of a Royal Air Force Hawk on a high-speed, low-level transit through Wales. Like the Neptune photo, it’s technically excellent: details of the jet are sharp, while the blurred background conveys the speed of the Hawk. It’s a wonderful image, very worthy of the POTM title. [Forum Link]And Ed Rivera's excellent backlit study of a landing F-18F is as beautiful as it is sharp. The colors and cloud formations really make it stand out. What Hornet driver wouldn't want a large print of this on his (or her) wall? [Forum link]

June 2013

Our judges: Eric Gutterson, Tom Hedlund, Mike Murawski, and Eric Rosen

Well this month’s edition of Fence Check’s Photos of the Month is a little late, but we think you’ll agree the two photos we selected were worth the wait.

The golden light in Andrew Huxman’s P-51 shot, below left, made it a favorite for the judges. This photo is tack sharp and the unique lighting shows almost every imperfection along the fuselage of this Mustang. [Forum link]

Chris Parypa had the judges asking "What's not to love about air-to-air shots?" with the image below right from the Ocean City, MD airshow. This one has great prop blur, good composition, and lots of action. Between the beach, the carnival, and all of the color, could you ask for a better backdrop? [Forum link]

Congratulations to Andrew and Chris, and thanks to everyone who contributed photo to the site this month – not to mention those who nominated photos.

May 2013

Our judges: Steve Burke, Duane Kuhlow, Matthew Rigdon, and Keith Snyder

With spring about to turn into summer and the airshow season picking up steam, our May Photos of the Month benefitted from a solid number of nominations. This time around, FC members nominated twenty-three distinctly impressive photographs for review. As a testimony to the quality and striking appeal of all the photographs, this month’s judges had diverse lists of personal favourites. Two photos rose to the top of the varied lists.

Our top spot for the month goes to Liza Eckardt’s gorgeous, full-prop-arc F-4U Corsair photo, which conveys the Corsair’s mounting speed in its takeoff run. Capturing the prop at a slow shutter speed, with motion blur in all of the appropriate places, while still obtaining crisp, tack-sharp detail in the aircraft itself could only happen with exceptional panning skills. [Forum link]

Our other favourite was Ralph Duenas’s beautiful, water-reflected Tulsa Air Guard F-16D. This night photograph demonstrates a perfect balance between background exposure and subject lighting, and the use of a wet surface to generate a reflection of the subject in the foreground. Nominating members and judges also commented how the second Falcon in the background added to the composition. [Forum link]

As something a little different this month, the judges decided to include the remainder of their individual choices, representing "honorable mentions." Even if they did not gain one of the top spots, these were all solid photographs worth noting. We wanted to show our membership the good fortune that we, the judges, enjoy by being able to view all the nominations, not just the final selections. It’s a great honor to have a photograph nominated as a Fence Check POTM, and we hope the photographers are pleased to learn that their images came close to be chosen this month.

In no particular order, our honorable mention photographs are Dan Stijovich’s F/A-18E Super Hornet low level, against a rocky background; Chris Pasley’s dramatic USMC CH-53 Super Sea Stallion; Jim Mumaw’s composite of a Grumman EA-6B Prowler at sunset; Mike Murawski’s Tanker 10 retardant drop; Joe Copalman’s Fairchild A-10 Warthog sun-shelter shot; and Bartek Bera’s night photograph of taxiing Mi-24 Hinds.

It was our pleasure and honor to be selected as this month’s judges. It is a great joy to be presented with the nominated photos, more than compensating for the difficult task of picking the top selections from a solid group of outstanding photographs. Please do your part to keep us happy and challenged: when navigating the site, if you take notice of a photo that warrants the effort, please take the time to nominate it for Photo of the Month. It’s a great way to give credit to the photographer and give them an audience for their work.

April 2013

Our judges: Zane Adams, Clay Hamilton, Mark Houpt, and Ivan Voukadinov

The cancellation of airshows across the United States this year hasn’t done much to dampen the enthusiasm of Fence Check members, as shown by the number and quality of nominations for the April Photo of the Month. Choosing between all of the incredible submissions was no easy task: all of the images we had to pick from were gorgeous, and each had their own components that made them incredible images. After deliberating, we went with six photos that, we felt, were stand-outs for the month.

Richard Vander Meulen’s picture of two "Red Tail" P-51Cs together (pottom right) is one of those stand-outs. A comment that accompanied one of its multiple nominations, "Now that’s how you shoot air-to-air!" really sums it up. Great prop blur, great framing and bright colors make this shot grab your eye. [Forum link]

Ivan Voukadinov’s air-to-air shot of three F-22 Raptors in formation was another of our favorites for the month. Great positioning of the three aircraft and spot-on sharpness make this a poster-quality picture. (Before anyone asks or complains: Ivan didn’t vote for his own photo. The other judges picked it.) [Forum link]

Another of our choices was Paul Filmer’s picture of a CH-54 spooling for takeoff. Incredible prop-blur, stand-out colors and a different perspective made this one a favorite of the month. [Forum link]

Kedar Kamarkar’s photograph of an Indian Mi-17 caught our eye for several different reasons, including the darkness, the strobes, the smoke and the action. All these elements combine here in one incredible shot. [Forum link]

Just as with Richard’s P-51 photo, Nick Thomas’s image of an OH-58 (at bottom center) is best summed up by a nominator’s comment: "I feel like I should duck or something." Beautiful framing and tack-sharpness made this yet another outstanding submission. [Forum link]

And last, but certainly NOT least, Sagar Pathak’s shot of a P-51D over the Northern California coast (bottom left) rounded out our choices, due to its nice angle, beautiful backdrop, and unique perspective. [Forum link]

March 2013

Our judges: Steve Burke, Joe Copalman, Matthew Rigdon, and Steve Serdikoff

This month we had 21 nominations for POTM and the judges agreed on four finalists.

Ryan Fletcher’s shot of Skip Stewart and his wingman crossing in front of a wall of flame wowed all of us. It’s an example of being in the right place at the right time, and of what skill and experience can produce when a once-in-a-lifetime moment presents itself. The framing evokes powerful tension, while the colors explode off the screen. All this while maintaining a steady hand that captures the prop blur, giving the scene a greater sense of motion. [Forum link]

Our other finalists show how something that’s normally dreaded by photographers can be turned into a strength: a cloudy sky. First, Chris Buff’s photo of a B-17 under cloudy skies (below right) turns a disadvantage into a powerful compositional element. It harkens back to the dark days of World War II when thousands of planes would take off into skies just like this, never sure whether they would return or whether the Nazi menace would be defeated. The detail in the sky highlights and enhances the rich detail in the weathered skin of the venerable bomber. The well-balanced exposure allows the eye to soak in the mottled surface of the airframe, each bolt and seam clearly exposed like a wound. [Forum link]

Chinook’s shot of a Canadian CF-18 in flight (below far right) is a beautiful presentation of a work of aviation art. The plane is resplendent in a rich blue paint scheme, bedazzled with snowflakes, maple leaves, and explorers on a mountaintop. Capturing this unique bird in a front of the foreboding, dark gray skies only further emphasizes the color palette that graces the plane. A blue sky might have de-emphasized the colors of the bird, but here the grey backdrop is like a jeweler’s setting for a brilliant diamond. In addition, it’s a well framed, tack-sharp image that succeeds at capturing warplane in its natural environment: slicing through the air. [Forum link]

Our final image (below left) comes from Erik Roelofs, who has dealt with dull conditions by eliminating the grey sky form the frame. He has done a fantastic job of photographing two F-4s dancing in the air. First, there’s the contrasting paint jobs of these two birds, which leads the eye back and forth between them. It’s captured from a powerful angle, showcasing two high-speed fighters pulling tight-G turns in a deadly ballet. The soft motion blur of the ground brings the image to life, imparting a sense of movement that is often hard to capture in these situations. [Forum link]

Kudos to all our finalists and thanks to everyone who shares their photos. This was another fine group of nominations. The judges are glad to help keep this tradition going at Fence Check.

February 2013

Our judges: Eric Gutterson, Mark Houpt, Mike Murawski, and 67Cougar

Out of 26 nominated photos in February, three received multiple votes from the POTM judges and have thus been chosen as February's Photos of the Month.

One of our favorites was Jonathan Derden’s shot of a United Airlines 737 banking hard on departure, against a spectacular wintery backdrop. With a whopping six nominations (all from photographers the judges highly respect), it was an obvious favorite among the Fence Check community. "Simply outstanding" and "absolutely stunning" were just a couple of the compliments the photo received from the nominators. The judges unanimously agreed, making this an easy choice. [Forum link]

Bartek Bera made a dramatic entrance to the website last month by posting multiple air-to-air shots of Polish MiG-29s. Several of the photos from the series were nominated for Photo of the Month, and it was a no-brainer that one of them should be selected. The hard part was to decide which one! The judges agreed the shot below at right was particularly well composed, nicely framed by the clouds, sharp, well lit, and gave the viewer the feeling of "being there" because it was so clear. [Forum link]

Finally, Mick Balter's image of a historic (and tight!) formation of the German F-4F Phantom and Eurofighter Typhoon was also a judge favorite. It represents "a great capture in past and present airpower," in the words of the person who nominated it. [Forum link]

Congratulations to the finalists and thank you for sharing your photos! Thank you as well to all those who took a quick second to nominate their favorite photos, to continue the Photo of the Month feature.

January 2013

Our judges: Zane Adams Clay Hamilton, Tom Hedlund, and Eric Rosen.

January's nominations totaled eighteen great photographs. It is always difficult to pick from the nominated photos, and last month was no different.

All of the judges agreed that the first photo to be nominated in 2013 would be one of our Photo of the Month choices: Gary Wetzel’s amazing air-to-air QF-4 Phantom shot (below right). The subject matter is near and dear to many of us here on Fence Check. The camo F-4, added to the extreme angle of attack, the breaking wingman, and the Phantom and the always-beautiful New Mexico desert backdrop, makes for an eye-catching photo. [Forum link]

With airshows on winter hiatus, shots from the recent Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas were prevalent among January’s nominations. Shooting at Nellis, with its dry desert air and frantic action, always brings tremendous opportunities, and wonderful photos abound! Two images from Nellis round out our Photos of the Month for January. First is Glenn Bloore’s capture of a launching F-16 (below left). It’s super-sharp, with a touch of motion blur to make you feel that the jet is coming at you. The diffuse winter light and a bit of refection add to the overall feel of the photo. [Forum link]

The other image that caught the eye of the judges was Ivan Voukadinov's B-1B afterburner takeoff (below centre). It features great detail, contrast between the sharp burners and watery heat effects, and an interesting perspective of this powerful machine blasting off the runway. It got all the judges’ hearts thumping. [Forum link]

It is always an honor to sit in judgment of great photographers and the work they post here on Fence Check. So many fine shots are nominated every month. Keep up the good work!

December 2012

Our judges: Joe Copalman, Mark Houpt, Matthew Rigdon, and Ivan Voukadinov.

Fence Check’s Photos of the Month finished off the year 2012 with a total of 24 nominations. While it was interesting to see several photographers have multiple photos from the same sequence all nominated, we had to limit ourselves to one image from each. Two photos received the majority of judge’s votes and praise:

- One was Lloyd Horgan's photo of a Eurofighter Typhoon tearing it up in the UK’s Mach Loop. The combination of strong contrast between the bright aircraft and dark background, motion blur, vapor, and symmetry was a great illustration of the action to be found in the valleys of Wales. [Forum Link]

- The other was Gary Wetzel’s superb air-to-air photo of a Super Hornet from VX-31 somewhere over the southwest. The "in your face" aspect, amazing background, and, last but not least, quality and framing of the photo were more than enough to make it a judge favorite. [Forum Link]

November 2012

Our judges: Steve Burke, Erik Guttersen, Steve Serdikoff, and Andrew Thomas.

This month’s edition of Fence Check’s Photos of the Month highlights the end of the 2012 airshow season – especially the last one, as more than half of the 21 nominated photos were taken at the season’s last hurrah, Aviation Nation 2012 at Nellis AFB. Here are the selections for November:

-First, a striking "airliner bath" image from alpha4kilo. This truly intriguing shot grabs your attention with its backlit water, sharpness, and array of colors. [Forum Link]

-Our next stellar image is a dramatic B-1 afterburner climb from Ty Rogoway. Comments about the heat distortion, color contrast, and "liquid metal" feel prove that it was a member, as well as a judge, favorite. [Forum Link]

- Finally, there’s Ken Middletons stunning photo of an inverted F-15E Strike Eagle dispensing flares. The composition gives you a sense of what’s going on and the framing lends a sense of movement of the jet. Or so the judges thought. The person who nominated it simply said, "There is nothing I can write that would do justice to this shot!" [Forum Link]

October 2012

Our judges: Mark Houpt, Duane Kuhlow, Mike Murawski, and Ivan Voukadinov

Fall is upon us, and with it a change in seasons, landscapes and weather. Those of us in the northern hemisphere tend to see clearer and crisper nights, exposing the star-lit skies previously veiled by humidity. Leaves turn golden brown. The photographic "Golden Hour" is a bit more golden, and comes a bit earlier in the evening and later in the morning each day. And we say farewell to the airshow season, where so many of Fence Check’s Photos of the Month originate. Our Photos of the Month from October reflect those changes.

- Our first example for October is of an airshow favorite, the B-25 "Panchito," taken at night by Flighdeckimages. Many of the judges acknowledges the beauty of the aircraft itself, the bright silver punctuated by the red stripes and yellow nose art. The background of trees and other aircraft adds realism. The shooting stars expose the talent of the photographer to be able to get just the right F-stop and exposure to balance everything. This photo belongs in a large-format print on an "I love me" or museum wall. [Forum Link]

- A classic season needs a classic aircraft! Ty Rogoway’s DC-7 firebomber lifting off the wavy runway in front of a very early fall mountain range quenches that thirst. The head-on shot screams "Get out of the way!" while revealing a steady photographer that expertly captured the individually-bladed prop arc, in a scene splattered with dashes of color all around. Who can’t feel the rumble of those powerful radials coming at you? [Forum Link]

- A POTM judging session seems to not be complete without a stunning Blue Angels shot and do we have one here. Many of us remarked that this is not an image we’d seen before. Notable about Mike Darcy’s Blue Angels crossing shot is the compression effect of shooting with a long lens -- both jets look like they are right on top of one another. But if you look close, there is that subtle ‘tag’ of engine exhaust plume crossing right down the middle of #2 that reminds you the other jet, #3, came first. The subtle details, such as the slightly open airbrake on #3, and the rich colors of the blue and gold, round out and dominate this photo. [Forum Link]

All in all, there were many other photographs that could have been chosen; each of them had their unique characteristics of composition, photographer skills and action. The ones listed above were deemed the best of the best this time, and we congratulate their photographers on the honor of being awarded Fence Check Photo’s of the Month.

September 2012

This month’s judges: Zane Adams, Joe Copalman, Tom Hedlund, and Matthew Rigdon.

In September, "POTM" could have stood for "Photos of the MiGs," as many outstanding images of the Black Diamond Jet Team's MiG-17s performing at the NAS Oceana Air Show that were nominated last month. The most eye-catching for the judges were the sunset show shots, and of those Jonathan Derden’s moody silhouette really stood out. For judges and nominators alike, the contrast of warm colors and dark tones really make this shot pop. [Forum Link]

Shuttle Endeavour's farewell flight was also well-represented among this month's POTM nominations, with the nominated photos documenting nearly every stop along the path of her final voyage. The judges found Ralph Duenas’s nose-on night shot of Endeavour perched atop the 747 SCA at Ellington Field to be the standout, with the strong contrast between darkness and light adding drama to an already captivating, well-framed, tack-sharp, noise-free shot. One nominator said it was "The best photo I've seen of a shuttle for a long time," and the judges agreed. [Forum Link]

Finally, the judges were unanimous in finding things to love about Tim Adams' gorgeous shot of Precious Metal doing an engine run at Reno after sunset. Many other photographers got this shot, but Tim's black and white treatment makes the light and the details the stars of the image, rather than the colors. The "lightning" effect of the ramp lights reflecting off the counter-rotating props really caught the attention of the judges, as did the nose-to-tail sharpness, the details of the engine seen through the dual prop discs, and the balanced exposure under less-than-ideal shooting conditions. [Forum Link]

Congratulations to photographers behind this month's selections! We'd like to thank the Fence Check staff for giving us the opportunity to participate in the POTM process, and we'd also like to thank those who nominated photos this month for giving us a solid pool of strong shots to choose from. Selecting the proverbial cream from a crop of 24 images, most of them worthy of some degree of advanced recognition, was no easy task.

August 2012

This month’s judges: Steve Burke, Tom Hedlund, Mark Houpt, and Steve Serdikoff.

As with previous selection juries, we’d again like to thank the Fence Check staff for allowing us to participate in this month’s judging process. There were 18 nominated images this month and, as expected, all were of a very high quality. Here are the three images that garnered consensus praise from the judges.

First up is Andrew Huxman’s warm yet striking image of a P-51 Mustang pilot set against a beautiful summer sunset at the Yankee Air Force’s Thunder Over Michigan airshow early in the month. As the judges noted, apart from the shot’s obvious technical merits, there is an element of storytelling here: the image allowing the viewer to reflect with the aviator after a day of flying. [Forum Link]

Hans Antonissen’s shot of two Su-27 Flankers popping flares at the Zhukovsky, Russia airshow is next. There is a manic quality to the shot, but ultimately the image captures the frantic, violent world of modern air combat. While the judges noted that there is almost too much subject matter for the eye to take in, the wealth of movement and energy in the image is precisely what makes the shot so compelling—as if the Flankers’ actually were on the receiving end of live fire at the moment the shutter was released. [Forum Link]

The last image the judges reached consensus on was Ty Rogoway’s photo of an AV-8B Harrier II performing at the Oregon International Airshow at Hillsboro. The judges remarked on the exceptional sharpness and clarity of the Harrier, balanced against the natural warmth of magic hour lighting. Composition is aided by a well-timed shutter-release that allowed the jet to be framed perfectly by the runways and taxiways in the background, drawing the viewer’s eye through the frame and giving the image a sense of depth. [Forum Link]

There were numerous other images that received praise from the judges and nearly were included. It’s always a privilege to spend time closely examining the fine work submitted on the site, and we hope you will continue to nominate images!

July 2012

Our judges: Erik Guttersen, Mike Murawski, Andrew Thomas, and Ivan Voukadinov

Welcome to the July issue of Fence Check’s Photos of the Month! This time, 23 photos were nominated by our members. It’s been a scorcher of a summer for a lot of us and the nominations were equally as hot. As in the past, narrowing down the nominations down to the four we agreed upon was not an easy task given the quality of the submissions.

- Nick Thomas’s inventive (as one nominator put it) use of an MH-47’s refueling probe to frame and lead into the subject. One judge described the shot as "Taking what could have been a very typical ramp photo and making it unique. " [Forum link]

- Kevin Scott's T-28 working its wingtip vortex generators. The play of the light and shifting shapes of the vortices made for a very interesting and creative image. [Forum link]

- Ty Rogoway's panning shot of the "Ace Maker" T-33 was also highly praised. All nominations commented on the evident panning skills behind the shot, and the judges agreed. The sharpness of the jet and the massive sense of motion that the background conveys make this image a standout. [Forum link]

- Our last choice was a blast from the past (last September to be exact), Michael Balter’s Dutch Apache popping flares at night. The judges agreed this one just jumped off the screen at us. The unusual attitude of the Apache, along with the drama and lighting the flares add, really pushed this image over the edge. One judge put it "The photo has everything: high quality technical execution and that wow factor brought on by the darkness being lit up by the flares." [Forum link]

Once again, we need to thank all the photographers and members of the Fence Check community that participated in the POTM process last month. Please keep nominating those images that jump out at you, since your nominations are what drive the Photos of the Month.

Congratulations to the winners this month and to all the photographers that were nominated!

June 2012

Our judges: Tom Hedlund, Mark Houpt, Duane Kuhlow, and Rob Wetterholt

Welcome to another issue of the infamous Fence Check "Photo of the Month" feature! This month, 30 photos were nominate by our members. All of the nominations were nothing short of spectacular, each photo a strong visual representation of civilian and military aviation across the world. The judges were kept busy with all of the diverse and splendid photos. However, in the end everyone that was a part of the judging process felt that five photos stood out from the rest. They were:

-jderden777's pristine photograph of a floatplane against the setting sun. The uniqueness of this photograph is readily apparent: as one nomination described it, "a stunning image far from the normal everyday aircraft photos." There is a lot about this photo that our members loved, another nomination noting, "I like how he managed to silhouette the aircraft while retaining detail. And the reflections on the elevators are neat."

- Kevin Scott's wonderfully executed photograph of the Blue Angels in their signature "delta" formation. This photo was a hit with the judges as well as with many members on the forums. The rule of thirds is displayed beautifully in this particular photograph, one of the nominations claiming that the photo "makes me want to look up."

- kick Z tail out's highly entertaining photograph of a firefighting S-2 Tracker dropping her payload on a brush fire somewhere in the wilderness. With searing temperatures lashing much of the United States and the abundance of fires making national headlines, it’s a topical image. The judges all felt that this photo showed masterful composition and attention to detail in post-processing. As one nomination stated, "it really shows the atmosphere of a wildfire and the great job the tanker pilots do."

-THREEWIRE Media's photo of a crewmember looking out the door of his helo during flight. The judges felt that the human element present in the photo was especially interesting, taking this photo beyond an image of the machine itself. One nomination noted, "nice play with shadows and remaining light."

-LAShooter's Blackhawk at night. The judges liked how the photographer made creative use of shadows and highlights in the photo. "Nice lines and a little spooky," was a typical comment. This photograph is unique and well-executed.

A huge thanks needs to be sent out to all of the photographers and members of the Fence Check website that nominated photos this month. As always, if you see a photograph that strikes you as extraordinary or simply stunning, please nominate it for our "Photo of the Month" feature.

Finally, congratulations to the winners this month and to all of the photographers that had their photos nominated!

May 2012

Our judges: Steve Burke, Matthew Rigdon, EPG, and Desert Rat

Welcome to this month’s edition of Fence Check’s Photos of the Month. We the judges would like to thank everyone for their input in nominating the photos presented to us to judge. In all, ten photos were nominated in May.

While all the judges agreed that every one of the photos contained qualities that were needed to be a winner, two photos immediately came to the forefront of our attention. This month’s POTM selections are:
- Jeremy Mosher’s night photo of an F-16 Fighting Falcon on a misty ramp also grabbed everyone’s attention. The backlighting on the Viper brought about a different effect than is usually seen in night photos. To quote the nominations, "Just stunning, perfect light to show off the lines of a Viper!" and "a static shot but oh so amazing". We agreed that while this was a photograph of a static aircraft, the photographer was successful in capturing a quiet moment in a Viper’s life. One judge commented that the image reminded him of a spider sitting and waiting for prey to walk close enough to attack.

- Ty Rogoway’s impressive air-to-air shot of a Nellis based F-15 Eagle Aggressor. The off-angle of the shot increases the dramatic effect along with the viewer observing the pilot looking away at what appears to be such a critical phase of flight. The photo gives the viewer a clear perspective on the broad, powerful, and beefy design of the Eagle. To quote one nomination, which summed it up well, "Where photography touches art… could be a painting as well".

Many of the remaining photographs were liked by one or two of the judges. We normally would not mention this, but it is a testament to the quality of all the other nominations. Had we tried to pick a third photo, we might have been in a stalemate for a long time. This circumstance reinforces that it is indeed an honor to be nominated for the Photo of the Month. While most nominations don’t make the final cut, not being picked does not lessen the qualities that motivated a Fence Check member to nominate a photo in the first place.

Thank you again to the membership for nominating this month’s entries. Please be sure to continue next month – if a photograph truly strikes you, take the time and nominate it. The time you take will build pride and camaraderie among the membership.

Congratulations to the winners and all of the nominated photographers on a job well done!

April 2012

Our judges: Ivan Voukadinov, Mark Houpt, Rob Wetterholt, Steve Serdikoff, and Zane Adams.

As with previous selection juries, we’d like to thank the Fence Check staff for allowing us to participate in this month’s judging process. There were 17 nominated images this month and all were of a very high quality, making the process of choosing the four finalists appropriately challenging. Each shot not only achieved high technical marks, but also generated a sense of wonder and mystery through clever composition and exceptional timing. Each image invited the viewer to look deeper into the frame, rewarding them with subtle details not necessarily noticeable at first glance.

Curryball’s stunning air-to-air image of an S-3 Viking justly received a great deal of nominations and unanimous praise from the judges. The judges and those who nominated the image alike praised the photo’s color and sharpness, as well as the unique composition; the latter owing to the brilliant depth and sharpness in the background, the angle of the aircraft across the frame, and the photographer’s skillful timing of the shutter release just as the aircraft was banking away from the camera (note the position of the control surfaces). As was noted by one of the judges, it is simply a perfect shot.

The judges also gave the nod to Crash’s refreshingly subdued black and white Corsair portrait. One nominator’s comment found "touches of brilliance" is this very well-considered image. While it was noted that black and white can occasionally be overused for warbird images, here the choice was all about tonal range and artistic impact and not nostalgia.

Desert Rat’s remarkable F-5 shot is next, with the judges praising the way the photographer used the background heat distortion to set off the tack-sharp subject. The judges were also quick to note how difficult it is to capture such detail in both the F-5 as well as the swirling heat distortion in the background.

The judges felt they’d be remiss not to include images of the Space Shuttle Discovery’s final flight in this month’s feature given the historical importance of the event. While there were numerous outstanding shots to choose from, two especially caught our attention. The judges enjoyed Woody’s epic capture of the Shuttle’s final ride aboard its 747 transport, noting especially the banking T-38 chase plane’s adding a touch of flair to an already enticing image. Mikelynaugh’s flawlessly exposed and somewhat melancholy photo of the now permanently earthbound Discovery also caught the judges’ eyes with its unique perspective and exceptional technical proficiency.

Congratulations to the four finalists for their outstanding work, as well as to all of the nominees, who made this month’s selection process a particularly difficult one. We all enjoyed pouring over each of the nominees and strongly encourage others to volunteer to participate in the judging. Carefully considering the relative merits of the work of some of the finest aviation shooters in the world is definitely time well spent. Keep the nominations coming and we’ll see you next month.

March 2012

Our judges: Ron Artigues, Adrian Lang, Mike Murawski, Matthew Rigdon, and Andrew Thomas.

First and foremost, we would like to thank the Fence Check staff for allowing us to participate in this month’s Photo of the Month selection process. It was not an easy task to narrow down 26 nominations, all of which we would like to say were our own, into four that we all agreed upon.

- The standout photo was Gary Wetzel’s EC-130 popping flares. The nominees (multiple) and the judges all loved the composition and sense of action. The prop blur and lighting did not hurt the photo either, "leaving the viewer wowed" as one judge put it.

- Jim Mumaw’s CF-18 kept the judges busy. One judge stated the pilot was just showing off for the backseater. In the end, the majority agreed it didn't really matter why the pilot put his jet into this steep angle, the streamers from the G's told a story, and we were glad Jim was there to capture it.

- Chris Heaton’s B-2 "Spirit of America" takeoff from Red Flag 12-3 quietly made it into the judges lists of finalists. Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to shoot a B-2 knows it is a difficult aircraft to successfully photograph, however, Chris nailed it. The lighting and contrast "are as perfect as the stealthy profile of the jet," stated the person that nominated it. We agreed that the lighting, detail, and clarity made this shot very pleasing to look at.

- Chad Kennedy’s F-22 Raptor take off from this year’s St. George, Utah, airshow was another judge favorite. The desert background is fantastic and provided the pop while the afterburner flame brought the Raptor to life.

Congratulations to all of this month’s finalists! Thank you to all the Fence Checkers who nominated photos this month, and please keep them coming. The Photos of the Month feature would not be possible without multiple nominations to work with. Also, if you haven't done so, volunteer to be a Photo of the Month judge to keep the feature going. It only takes a few moments out of your day, and is an interesting experience to say the least.

February 2012

Our judges: Steve Burke, Duane Kuhlow, Scott Shea, , Ivan Voukadinov, and Matt Wallman.

We would like to start off the Fence Check February Photos of the Month by saying that we were all honored to be part of the selection process. The challenge of selecting this month’s images was not an easy one, and the photos we were given to review were all excellent in their own right.

While it was not a unanimous first choice among the judges (which is a testament to the quality of the shots we had to choose from), one shot was near the top of everyone’s list, making it our clear favorite. The recipient this month of the coveted Photo of The Month title is Scott Wolff's Boeing F-15K Slam Eagle night ramp shot. This photo presented all aspects of what makes or breaks night shots. The lighting, the composition, and the execution are superb. It’s well balanced with regards to the light levels, with excellent compensation for the harsh glow of the yellow sodium lighting. The light trails from the preflight check give an electric look to the photo. Night photography is difficult enough, but on an USAF installation, the process is that much harder because it's important to expedite the photo and capture the moment. All the dynamics combined make this our choice for the February 2012 POTM.

We would feel that we would being doing all of you here on Fence Check a disservice if we did not give proper accolades to the other 27 entries in the form of an honorable mention. The photos were all excellent and there is little doubt as to why they were nominated. It has been said before, and it certainly applies to this month, that judging these photos is not an easy task.

Once again, on behalf of this month’s judges, we thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Fence Check community. To have been chosen as a judge has been both and honor and a privilege. Please continue to support this unique feature of Fence Check by your continued effort to nominate the next batch of entries. To be nominated for POTM is a high honor amongst peers. It only takes a moment – and it just might be the moment that makes a difference to someone.

January 2012

Our judges: Zane Adams, Mike Murawski, Matthew Rigdon, Steve Serdikoff, and Andrew Thomas.

First and foremost, we want to say what a privilege it was for us to be a part of the Fence Check Photos of the Month selection process. Each of us felt that judging the nominated photos helped improve our critiquing skills for our own work. If you’ve not volunteered to participate in judging the POTMs, we would all highly recommend you jump in. You’ll get a lot out of it.

Now on to our main event. Out of 23 fantastic nominations this month, the judges agreed on the following two choices:

-Below left, Victor Archer’s Staggerwing shot from the Cable airshow was unanimously the judges’s favorite. For us it "ticked all the boxes:" the warm lighting, tight crop, sharpness, and that fantastic prop blur.

- And right, Jeremy Mosher’s night-time ramp shot of a P2V airtanker was also unanimously a top pick. The judges liked the play between the light and the shadows, the use of backlight, and its ghostly, almost surreal mood.

Thanks to everyone who nominated some fantastic images this month. We had a very difficult job, to say the least, trying to pick what we felt was the best out of the images that were nominated. Once again, on behalf of this month’s judges, we thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Fence Check community.

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