How can such a thing as getting your photo on the front page of A.net make your 63 year old heart go all mushy? After tens of thousands of photos, photos in magazines, books etc.

This morning when I looked and saw the formation photo slowly climbing in views, I said to myself "could this one make it to the top?".   

Slowly during the day I agonized over it, and even being unable to look for three hours, because my little grandson who is living with us had an 8 years birthday party made the wait worse. The feeling is somehow indescribable.

There is no money involved here, just a deep happiness in having the appreciation of the good people that view the photos on A.net.

There is also the fact that this photo mission was my first air-to-air photo opportunity, and I had two cameras, one with b/w and its mirror broke, the other a Pentax MX with only a 50mm and 135 mm. lenses, no zoom, no autofocus, no computer inside.

The photo was a bitch to scan and work. It was somewhat overexposed to begin with, what with all the snow, and also as with many Kodachromes from this time had a very bluish cast when scanned.

I can only say that I sent it in with tongue in cheek and waited for the rejection with anxiety. Which makes the joy even greater.

The only other thing about this is that I sincerely wish that I did not cheat anyone into clicking on it, by way of the subject airplanes being so small that you simply had to enlarge the thumb to be able to see what the photo showed.

One last thing. I have flown with many pilots, but this one was by far the best for me as a photographer. He had an uncanny way of stationing me in exactly the right spot in the sky for an effective shot. And if anyone thinks that the pilot is not important, let them try with a pilot that has no feeling for what you are trying to accomplish.

I also have some people to thank, mainly Gary Watt, whose helpful advice on some photos that he looked over for me pointed me in what I hope is the right direction. Also the discussion going on in various forums on these pages are an inspiration. One is never too old to learn new tricks.

Enough rambling, I just had to share these feeling with those who might have similar feelings.  

Baldur