“make a picture of flight”

This month, aviation photographer Simon Blakesley asks you to consider the word ‘flight’, though don’t limit your options to aircraft or birds. This assignment was initially set in episode #431.

THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

From Simon: “I think that humans have always gazed skyward captivated by flight. Your image for this challenge could portray how flight plays out in daily life, such as aircraft or the process of travelling to a favourite destination. But I don’t want to simply limit this to aircraft; think of nature, such as birds and even fish that fly! You also have animals, like a fox jumping up into the air and descending upon its prey.

I think there’s another way we can interpret flight, too, in a more active sense, such as the human physiological response to something frightening or getting away from something quickly. Perhaps giving something flight like a ball? This isn’t limited to aviation, so long as your image and short write-up transmit the specialness or relevance of flight. Feel free to explore and push the envelope.”

HOW TO ENTER. IMPORTANT NOTES ON FILE SIZE AND ENTRIES

Send your entries to stories@photowalk.show. Pictures should be 2,500 pixels wide, if possible, for online optimisation. Or send the full-resolution photo, which we will optimise. Feel free to provide text as well, if you think it will help explain the location, context etc.

Entries are shown below, and good luck!

Neale

SIMON BLAKESLEY

A time exposure captures the lights of an Air North 737-500 with the aurora in the background.
See more of Simon’s aviation work on his website.

DAVID HIGTON - FLASK WINNER FOR MAY

Came back from my evening walk and sat in the garden with my macro lens and camera watching the bees in the garden, listening to the closing moments of this week's show - Ian's story was very moving. The Gods smiled on me and I made this picture of a bee in flight, the first I've managed to do. I thought I'd send it in for this month's assignment.

ROB SPICER

While sitting on my 93 year old mothers backyard patio in Nova Scotia we were watching the jetliners flying over head. I was showing her on my flight tracker app what planes were going by and where they were going to. These two met going in opposite directions, one going from London to JFK in New York and the other going from JFK to Paris. Two flights of people, some starting their vacations abroad and some returning home. She was amazed at the info the app was providing and also the number of jets in the air at that time.

KAMIL DANEELS

Two weeks ago I went on a campertrip for a week too Franceland. I spent a week in the Brenne national nature reserve, known for great bird sightings: butterflies, orchids, snakes etc.
Got a kzillion photos, not only of nature. I also visited two castles and Angles-sur-d'Anglin, a village listed as one off the most beautiful villages of Franceland. I did focus on flight photo's and got many flying birds and butterflies. Not always that easy. Of all the ones I made, I picked this one with a little, ‘twist’.
Named it: Let it take "flight".
See more of Kamil’s work on Instagram.

ERIC JOSEPH

I was down at the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge a few days ago (same place I took the bird photos on the last assignment I sent in) and found a few good candidates for this month’s assignment for Flight.

VICKY ROBB

Not unknown in the hills, on a photography workshop in Snowdonia last week looking at rocks to photograph suddenly a roar came towards us, I had my camera to hand to take advantage of the transport carrier flying round the cloud and hills above us. Enhancing an already brooding atmosphere.

JOHN LANCASTER

Long ago two mystical birds haunted the shores of Liverpool. The male and female pair were chained down to a building by the River Mersey and if were they ever to fly away the river would burst and its banks would flood and destroy the beloved city of Liverpool. Over the years, the enslaved birds protected the city. The female looked out to the sea watching for the seamen to return safely home and the male looked towards the city. The one flying is clearly the male…

COLIN MAYER

“Flight”. There is no greater feeling of freedom achieved than through free flight. Taking to the skies under your own leg power, floating in the breezes created by the wind gently flowing over a hillside or soaring to great heights with wedgetail eagles, is fantastically calm and peaceful. The peace comes from searching for lift with only the sound of air in the paraglider strings for company.
It can also be terrifying at times. Without an engine to push you along, you rely on skill and knowledge to be able to read the weather and stay safe. I gave up the sport of paragliding about ten years ago after I stood on a steep hillside waiting for the rescue helicopter to winch a fellow pilot. He had landed heavily due to unexpected wind gust and very turbulent conditions, which had forced a number of us to head for a safe landing, came upon us suddenly and without warning. The only difference between him and me was I made a safe landing and he didn’t. Broken pelvis and lower back, a flight to the hospital was the only flying left to do that sad day.
Shortly after I sold my paraglider, harness, flying suit, instruments etc. I would never paraglide again.
I bought my fist DSLR camera with the money from the sale and discovered the freedom and peace of photography.
See more of Colin’s work on Instagram.

PETER MADDERN

Paul - The Human Cannonball. On a photowalk around Porthleven Harbour recently I met Paul, a local businessman, who manufactures canvas waterproof covers for boats. The harbour is popular with local wild swimmers but Paul takes it to another level. Rather than just walk down the steps and swim around in the sheltered inner part of the harbour Paul dives gracefully off one side, swims to the other and then repeats the exercise numerous times. I was lucky enough to be able to line him up with one of the brass canons on the quay and it really looks like he's been fired across the harbour entrance.
See more of Peter’s work on his Instagram.

JOHN KENNY

Peter is a collaborator on a project I am working on that involves recording stories that people want to share, and making a portrait along the way. The stories are then published in a local magazine that a CIC I have partnered with produce. The aim of the project is very simple, to share stories of anything that might bring people together, help bring back memories of similar experiences, or simply to share the wide variety of lives that people have lived. I have often seen strangers drawn together in the pub when stories of shared experiences are shared, which is where the idea came from.
Peter has lived a life that seems tied into flight. He moved from town to the countryside as a child when an incendiary bomb fell in the families back garden, it didn't go off. He served as a dental assistant in the RAF during National Service, he has no idea why they put him in that role (but jokes it must have been because he looked blood thirsty!), but it did give him the opportunity to go up in aircraft as a passenger. Possibly in exchange for going easy on them whilst the pilots were in the dentist' chair. He remembers going up and the pilot taking him down to sea level to buzz fishing boats.
A fan of the piston engine rather than the jet engine, (one characterless and the other charismatic in his words) he decided to learn to fly after National Service, earning his wings in a Cherokee before buying a yellow Gypsy Tiger Moth.
He flew in the Tiger Moth until finally deciding to hang up his goggles at 86. He performed at air shows nationally and as far as Czechoslovakia once, and only crashed twice.
I will publish the full transcript and audio on my website as we covered a bit of ground.
I know you have an interest in flying Neale, so included a picture of his plane and the classic car he used to race. I may need to go back and talk to him about the Mille Miglia he took part in.

GREG PICONE

Greetings Neale. At 70+ I seem to forget the simple pleasures & excitement of childhood. However, an afternoon at the park with my grandson and WOW, it all comes back. The wind swishing through my hair. Shouts of, “push higher, faster”, toes reaching for the sky, then bailing out into the air, flying free like a bird, till gravity takes hold bringing me laughing to earth again and then the cries of, “LETS GO AGAIN”!!!
I’m there, five again, thanks Ted. Made with Fuji X-E3, XF23mm f2.
See more of Greg’s work on Instagram.

DAVID HORNE

"Wishing he could fly.” This was one of those moments when you are not expecting to make a photograph. I was walking across the beach toward a flock of Gulls when I heard the delightful giggles of a young boy running up the beach to my left. I spun to my left, squatted down slightly and fired off several shots. My submission for this month’s assignment, “Flight”.
See more of David’s work on VERO.

DANIEL STEIN

Was in a nature reserve and these wood storks were the strangest looking creatures I had seen in the sky. Clearly birds are dinosaurs.

JOHN CHARLTON

Just found the podcast which feels like connecting with an old friend. My submission for the May assignment is of white tailed deer in flight. Panasonic G1 200mm cropped. ISO100 1/5 F5.6

ROBERT FILIPPI

For this month’s assignment “Flight”, I came across this decaying feather and made me wonder where and how far it has travelled before it came to rest on this patch of grass.
See more of Robert’s work on VERO.

DUNCAN FERGUSON

MICHAEL TENBRINK

For my birthday this month, my husband took me for a weekend in Camogli, a gorgeous town on the Ligurian Sea. Our second night there, I got up about 3:30 am to use the restroom. As I walked into the bathroom, this is the sight that greeted me from the window facing the backyard of our hillside Airbnb. I was admittedly groggy, but all my confused mind could think was “What in the WORLD is happening? Have aliens flown down in their spaceships to the Italian Riviera?!?” It was a bizarre experience that evoked long-ago memories of watching “The X Files.” After a minute or three, I opened the window and saw a perfectly normal backyard. It turns out that the privacy glass of the window did something very weird to the streetlights on the tiny road above us, making them appear alien-like when shining through the window.

PETER TURNBULL

Probably no surprise I would send a surfing image but let me explain. The manoeuvre shown is known as an aerial and has only really become part of surfing culture in the past decade or so. There are different types of aerial stunts, largely copied from skateboarding. However, to perform an aerial in the surf - or take flight/get air - you need a number of elements to go your way. Speed is crucial, takeoff angle and position is vital to a successful flight and the surfer also needs to consider their landing spot to ensure the ride out of the move. Wind direction and velocity is another factor as it can greatly affect the height and trajectory of the manoeuvre. The only difference to traditional flight is there are no seatbelts to fasten - although sometimes I think they could use one.
See more of Peter’s work on Instagram.

MARILYN DAVIES

For this month's assignment, "Flight", this image came to mind. I was lucky enough to catch this Brahminy Kite in Flight at Dohles Rocks. Birds in flight are always challenging and so thrilled when I took a moment to de-stress, that I spotted this beautiful creature looking for prey.

GRAHAM GOODWIN

This photo was taken at Luna Park in Melbourne. I've never been on the ride but every time I see it I'm filled with equal parts fascination and terror.
See more of Graham’s work on Instagram.

DOUGLAS DEAN

I don't send in photos at all but when Flight became a topic I thought I would share this photo I took at Airshow London last September (that's London, ON Canada). My favourite airshow as you can get a photopass and you are not far away from the action.
This photo is from a performance by the US Navy EA-18G Growler Demo Team. This photo is cropped and enhanced a bit. I got a lucky shot.
I like to attend this show every year and I am never disappointed. This year the Red Arrows are scheduled to fly there. Looking forward to seeing them in action.

STEVE REEVES

Here is my photograph for ‘flight’. I took the shot when I took 99-year-old Michael back to his home town of Dublin to see his mum’s grave. He dreamed of seeing her resting place one last time, so I booked a couple of flights and took him there. It’s not the best photo as there are not many options for framing or lighting when you are crammed into an economy seat on Aer Lingus. I’m sending it because of the story attached to the photo rather than the photo itself.
You and many of your guests often say that photography is a passport to other worlds, and I now wholeheartedly agree with this. My camera introduced me to Micheal when I approached him to take a street portrait at a bus stop at the end of my road in South London. That was over two years ago; I’ve been documenting his life ever since. He’s now become almost like a relative to me, and he’s given me such an insight into the funny, lonely, complicated, stoic, and sometimes terrifying world of being an older person living in the modern world.
Also, spending time with someone who is, to be blunt, at the tail end of his life but isn’t the least bit afraid or bothered by the fact has really helped me put my life into perspective, and I like to think it has made me a much happier and less stressed-out person. All of this thanks to my little Fuji X100F.
I’ve also added (below) a tiny iPhone video clip showing Michael's face as the pilot announces the touchdown at Dublin Airport. I love this moment. Seeing Michael’s face light up upon hearing this meant the world to me.
See more of Steve’s story about Michael on his website.

PAUL FRIDAY

Bubbles flying at Harewood House, North Yorkshire. Off to join their cousins in the sky.

PATRICK SCHOENMAKERS

Here’s the photo I would like to submit for the May assignment. Just before our landing at Toronto International airport (I used to be a commercial aviation pilot) I saw this amazing shadow of our airplane appearing on the runway. Luckily my colleague was going to execute the landing, so I had a short moment available to quickly grab my camera and make this photo.

VICTORIA MEDINA

In September 2021 the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) made international headlines after a volcano erupted just above my dad's hometown of Todoque. Three months later, on Christmas Day, the Cumbre Vieja eruption was declared officially over after burying the entire town under lava, leaving over a thousand families homeless and destroying entire livelihoods built over many generations. I took this black and white photograph a year prior, in March 2020, during a rare trip to the island with my dad. At the time we were mesmerised by how the clouds appeared to take flight after cascading over the mountains. The same photograph now holds a deeper meaning knowing it likely occurred in the same spot where the volcano erupted and stands today.
See more of Victoria’s work on Instagram.

ETHAN OZANICH

At the start of May I decided to challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone and take photos of wildlife. Living out in the country surrounded by farmland gave me that. I’ve seen deer, red tailed hawks, turkeys, coyotes, and some runaway horses to name a few. So each day after work I’d go out in my yard and spend an hour with my camera. To be honest I struggled with birds in flight but even though this Red-winged Blackbird was not centered I like it anyway.

EDMUND ZUBER

The ball, hit by the batsman in the English Garden in Munich-land last Saturday, is flying out of the frame with an unknown target. Your fantastic interview with sports photographer Ian Randall and his strength inspired my interpretation of flight.

KELLY MITCHELL

Here’s my assignment photography for May. Flight, well Hover! This is a Swainson Hawk hovering over a fox den here in Alberta.
A friend and I were sitting and waiting in hopes of seeing the Red Fox Kits playing as well as maybe Mom and Dad bringing back supper. However, Mr. & Mrs. Hawk (and don’t ask how I know it is Mr. & Mrs!!) kinda derailed our photographic plans. It was all quiet in and around the den. But I think the images of the Hawk Couple made it up for me not seeing the kits.
See more of Kelly’s work on her Instagram grid.

JERILYN OWEN

Good Morning Neale! I am on vacation in Colorado. In our travels today to the Royal Gorge we came upon a lot of people parked along the highway in Colorado Springs. We saw a plane that looked like it was crop dusting although there were not crops to be seen. So what was going on? We decided to stop and stretch our legs when we noticed a lot of people parked along the roadway. When we stopped, we asked what everyone was looking at. We did not know that we were across the highway from the U S Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. What a wonderful surprise.

They were holding their graduation and it is customary that they perform. We had to find a place to park and hopefully capture a good picture. I did just that…I captured the Thunderbirds flying formation. It was absolutely beautiful and stunning to watch them. So, I can’t help myself but to share with you this photo and make this is my second submission for May’s word…. “Flight.”

RICK SMITH

My submission for the assignment, Flight, this month: A photo of the red winged black bird that looks like it is out of a super hero movie. I was at the edge of a pond and this guy kept flying toward me and then back out to the middle of the pond again and again. I snapped this with my Sony A7R3 using my Sony 100mm-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens on one of his return flights.
See more of Rick’s work on his Instagram and website.

MICHAEL WOLFE

GERRY O’FARRELL

This photograph was made on a mindful walk I do regularly on the Royal Canal in Dublin, I love the size of the heron and how they can fly so efficiently.

ENDRE M. LIDAL

Long, very long, time listener, first time participating in the Assignment. Have struggled with a long backlog of episodes, never learning about the current assignments until after the deadline. Serendipity had it that I suddenly listen to the most recent episode and heard about "flight". That got me thinking about this picture taken on vacation at a beach in Latvia. My son was feeding the birds when I saw the nice composition. The funny thing was that my camera was set to extreme high ISO because of indoor photography the night before. Needless to say all pictures turned out completely overexposed and white, a huge disappointment. Luckily I detected it, and my kid was not difficult to convince that the birds needed more food and then I shot some properly exposed frames. Fond memory, hanging on my wall today. Never give up on the composition you see!

TINA CAMPBELL

Hello Neale! I'm loving the one word assignments. Here is my contribution for this months assignment, "Flight".
Lake Darling near Brighton, Iowa, has a lovely little lake that seems to be a continuous source of wildlife shenanigans. Between the great blue heron turf wars, the nonchalant pelicans, and the always loud and boisterous geese coming and going, it's the perfect spot to practice photographing the various birds. I typically photograph landscapes so I'm still adjusting my settings for movement but I liked this moment of geese taking flight with the pelicans and heron sending them off and probably wishing them, and their noisiness, a good riddance.
See more of Tina’s work on her website.

JEFF SMERALDO

Thanks for the shout out last month for the Zen assignment. I was taken aback when you mentioned my name and photo! What a thrill to mentioned, thanks for that. It was also a bit surreal hearing my name called out about the Zen assignment as I was traveling to a special reunion event at my old Dojo (talk about a coincidence). Attached is my entry for this month’s assignment for flight. I took this with an old Leica D-Lux 3 from the basket of my friend’s balloon at the Grand Est Mondial Air Ballon festival in Chambley France last summer. This was one of the few mornings we could fly as the weather that week was terrible for hot air balloons. I will say, flying in a hot air balloon is about the most peaceful flight one can have. I enjoyed the festival because of the camaraderie and meeting pilots and crews from all over the world and of course the local residents are tremendously gracious and welcoming.

KABELO MAKHAYA

For this month's photo assignment, I ventured to Johannesburg, South Africa, on a chilly summer's day. As I wandered the streets, I stumbled upon a group of pigeons gathered around a scattering of food left by a local store owner. With the assignment brief in mind, I seized the opportunity. Swiftly, I approached the pigeons, causing them to take flight, and in that fleeting moment, I captured this shot with my mobile phone. The image encapsulates both the serenity of the pigeons feeding and the sudden burst of movement as they soar into the sky.
See more of Kabelo’s work on Instagram.

RICHARD BAILEY

Hello from Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
I recently discovered the Photowalk Podcast, and it has quickly become a favorite for my Friday commute. The stories, letters, interviews, and, of course, the photos have encouraged me as I rediscover photography--an art I fell in love with during high school but put away for almost thirty years as I pursued a career and raised a family.
The attached photo is for this month's assignment. I recently went to visit my son who is attending a university in northern California. We drove up to Big Lagoon County Park which is a long beach near the town of Trinidad. As we explored the beach, we eventually found ourselves in a conversation with a man and his dog who were out whale watching. In the middle of our conversation, these two paragliders started to descend onto the beach. I have no idea where they came from. There were no cliffs nearby, and I saw no airplanes. But it was an incredible opportunity for a photo. Unfortunately for the man and his dog, no whales ever emerged from the ocean, but this photo now serves as a memory of an enjoyable afternoon reconnecting with my son.

PETER OBRIEN

See more of Peter’s work on his Instagram.

RICHARD OLDROYD

Well Neale and your other listener, I'm back to my happy place this month, Pennington Flash. Found a group of gulls having a great time. This took me right back to my youth when me and my dad would go to airshows. These reminded me of the synchro pair from the Red Arrows, the way they moved and crossed mid air. Brought back so many memories.

PER BIRKHAUG

Finally I mustered enough courage to participate in the assignment. I knew immediately which pictures to enter.

See more of Per’s work on his Instagram.

LAUREN MCCLANAHAN

These three photos tell the story of some of the things that happen during a long, international flight (in this case, from Paris to Seattle). From the boredom the flight attendants encounter to the horror of witnessing people entering/exiting the bathroom with bare feet (really—who DOES this?) I also included a photo of that feeling of having to wait to disembark the plane, which can seem like hours after such a long journey.