The Wright Stuff II, a photo from Utah, West

Photographer's Note

Before I note anything else: THIS WAS TAKEN BY MY WIFE. I have her permission to post it. Perhaps it will inspire her to join TE, as she is a skilled photographer. Unfortunately, she wouldn't give me the camera when the plane was in the air (grrrrrrrrr).

This is Utah State University's Wright Flyer. It is a remake of the Wright Brother's plane, but was built with modern tools and materials. Because of this, it flies much better than theirs did. It still uses the same steering and elevation techniques such as twisting the wings to turn or lifting the canards to raise or lower the plane. The Harley Davidson engine both helps the plane have MUCH more power, and also sounds cool!

My wife did very well in a contest with this photo, but more importantly, she sold it (and other photos of ours) to the USU team and it is on their website and will be in their brochures! And I got a cool T-shirt out of it!

emjleclercq has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Ebbe (9625) 2003-12-11 14:05

Your university seems to work on an higher level, here they used to build canoes in concrete, ok it floats but what about handling characteristics?

The picture is well composed and a perfect B&W. A schoolbook example of how to photograph an airplane close to the ground I might add.

dominique (11414) 2003-12-11 14:19

It is well done, the plane is a beautiful copy, I like framing and the B&W go well with the photograph.

nwoehnl (122) 2003-12-11 14:23

This is pretty. B&w is an obvious choice here and adds perfectly to the "retro" feel. Composition is right on as well; I'd say we see the plane in the perfect spot here. Nice shot, David('s wife)!

ilouy (3370) 2003-12-11 14:31

Nice B&W picture with good composition. I like it a lot. Bravo!

Didi (61589) 2003-12-11 15:10

Hommage � ces merveilleux fous volants dans leur dr犨es de machines.
Excellent cadrage de couleur s廧ia.
L'avion des fr鋨es Oliver & Wilbur est tr鋊 bien positionn�.

Homage to thoose magnificient me with their flying machines. Excellent framing of color sepia. Oliver & Wilbur's plane is very well positioned.
A toast for your wife !

avigur_11 (22535) 2003-12-11 15:35

Excellent shot. Congratulations to your wife, David, it's an excellent shot, and what a great subject. The (almost) real first plane in the air. I would like to have that T-shirt! Can you tell us where to order? is there also a color version?
If Adam allowed I'd give ten points for this one.
;-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

cdewet (0) 2003-12-11 15:40

Hi David, I have just gone through your last 9 posings, and they are all great. I am just not able anymore to spend time on TE like i used to, the cost are killing me, and my wife threatens as well. This is reminicent of :Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines" fro the sixties. A great pic - I only now see it is your wife's congrats to her to. I always crit then read, and sometimes make a boo-boo.

dob_31 (0) 2003-12-11 16:40

Nice photo, taken by an experienced photographer. The framing is good and B&W gives it the gone-by era touch. Bravo!

Georges (11185) 2003-12-11 17:38

Voila une bien jolie machine volante et le s廧ia que vous avez attribu� � la photo et en harmonie avec ce vieil appareil qui se trouve sur un bon emplacement .Bravo

PLD_images (7149) 2003-12-11 18:15

Well I have to say congradulation to your wife David. She is a very good photographer. The plane is in the perfect place in the shot. The use of B&W here makes us almost go back in time to that amazing first flight.

You should post the URL or a link of the site you mentionned.

nmess (2301) 2003-12-12 0:54

you've done a nice job of recreating a sense of history with the sepia. The composition and lighting is right on the money. Nice job.

orme (7219) 2003-12-12 1:48

An excellent shot - which really captures the spirit of the first historic flight. Beautiful colours. Well framed. Congratulations to your good lady wife. Keep them coming!

jrj (34843) 2003-12-12 5:18

Like going back in time, fine setting i BW, good capture.

joseelias (0) 2003-12-12 10:42

Great photo and great old times feeling. The plane help but the sepia tone would work even if it wasn't there.

I like the very low horizon which suits an airplane photo and also the texture in the sky given by the clouds.

So you're a professional photographer David! And I don't care if you're paid in t-shirts. You were paid... ;-)

Porteplume (4036) 2003-12-12 18:20

Congratulations! It must feel so good having a picture sold and used for a brochure.

But your wife earned it, it's a sharp & well framed shot! And the B&W could suggest it was taken in the begin of last century. Well done!

Motrem (2392) 2003-12-15 13:36

Here is the well made a success photo, the grrrrr and to say that you want to deprive him(her) the camera! LOL. Your partner is a good photographer, the composition of this image proves it, the gradations of grey are magnificent. Great shot!
Voil� une photo bien r徼ssie, grrrrr et dire que vous vouliez lui enlever la cam廨a! LOL. Votre compagne est un bon photographe, la composition de cette image le prouve, les d嶲rad廥 de gris sont superbes. Bien fait.

miz (299) 2003-12-16 23:41

It is the photograph of a very beautiful airplane.
I like this photograph very much.
December 17 is the centennial memorial day of an airplane today.
Since Wright Flyer which I made tends to break, it has been carefully flown in the room.
I want to actually look at beautiful WF like this photograph.

Deke (708) 2004-09-11 3:42

A wonderfully composed image by the missus David. I like the arrangement and that the plane has space to fly into yet is in close proximity to the ground, the toning too is perfect. Skilled is right, and kudos for the commercial success of the photo. Fabulous notes,really interesting. If you don't already know them, try putting this up at www.JetPhotos.net where this would be very popular. Also www.airliners.net
www.myaviation.net

emjleclercq (15778) 2007-02-25 16:26

A beautifull replcia, and flying ! Normal for the Flyer, but this is like going backward in time for so many years...
Thanks for sharing,

Emmanuel