Wednesday afternoon I heard scattered radio traffic come across the scanner in the newsroom. All I knew was that several fire engines and medics were being dispatched to the airport. I waited just long enough to hear that a twin-engine aircraft was flying with only one functioning engine and was going to attempt to land before jumping into my car and heading that way.
The airplane was about 10 miles out and was going to circle once before landing. Of course I was stuck at a traffic light downtown as I heard this and quickly calculated that I might have at very most five minutes before the plane lands to make the 10-minute trip to the airport. There’s no way that’s going to happen but I’ll get there when I get there.
I drove up past the airport terminal just as the airplane touched down.
Luckily experienced Walla Walla University Director of Aviation Training Shawn Dietrich along with student Jae Kong had the situation well under control in the cockpit of the Piper Seminole. The plane stumbled in for a safe landing and taxied over to the Walla Walla University hangar as emergency response vehicles slowly headed for home.
“The FAA requires we teach shutting down and restarting one engine. This time the starter would not re-engage. It’s happened before in piston-powered aircraft … it’s not uncommon,” Dietrich would explain later to U-B reporter Sheila Hagar and intern Luc Brodhead. For more on the landing see their story on the UB’s website.
As much as I would have liked it, I knew there was no chance of getting out onto the tarmac so I resigned myself to shooting through the chain-link fencing that surrounds the hangar area. First I found an angle of the airplane taxiing past the airports fire suppression vehicle. I knew if there was nothing else that this would have to work:
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, ED AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR with Nikkor 1.4 II Teleconverter at 280mm, f/5.0, 1/1600 sec. and ISO 200.
I wanted something more though and circled back and forth around several hangars as I determined where the plan would stop taxiing. The fence kept a mostly straight line with the edge of the hangars so I couldnt’ see around them too well. Luckily I found a spot where the fence jogged out towards the runway further providing just enough of a view of the plane in front of the hangar as pilot and student stepped out:
Nikon D700, ED AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR with Nikkor 1.4 II Teleconverter at 185mm, f/8.0, 1/800 sec. and ISO 200.
The well prepared Walla Walla University instructors credited experience and a focus on safety with the safe landing. It’s much the same with spot-news photography. The safety of everyone on scene always comes first and foremost. From there it’s all about being prepared for just about anything and everything with a camera and the right lens choice in hand.
I’m always hoping for the best while prepared for the worst. Luckily everyone walked away without a scratch and with an interesting story to share on this day.
Independence Day Pow Wow
On Saturday Americans from all backgrounds celebrated their independence. Planned into the weekend full of barbecues and fireworks, Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Pendleton, Oregon hosted their 15th annual Pow Wow.
Other Fourth of July celebrations nearer to Walla Walla took precedence in Sunday’s print edition but I came back with several additional images I like and want to share here.
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G ED at 24mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec. and ISO 200.
When I first arrived most of the participants were shading themselves from the near 100-degree summer sun under huge tents. Three dressed-up teenagers were reclining in chairs chatting. I decided to try and take some photos of the kids being themselves before the grand entry and official start of the Pow Wow. When admiring their amazing clothing I found these great reflections in Zac Palmer’s neck piece. I waiting for a moment when I could see Shelby Snyder, one of the people he was talking to, and ended up with one of my favorite images from the afternoon.
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, Nikkor AI-S 50mm f/1.2, at f/1.2, 1/8000 sec. and ISO 100.
This frame was a difficult one to cut. The interaction between Peter Joe Olney (left), from White Swan, Washington, and Darrel Abrahamson (right), from Sacramento, California, is great. They are clearly happy to see each other again. I love the shallow depth of field at f/1.2 and the almost old feel it gives to some images like this as well.
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, ED AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR at 110mm, f/2.8, 1/4000 sec. and ISO 200.
Different groups of drummers began beating out rhythms one after the other as the Grand Entry to the Pow Wow began. Men, women and children of all ages walked and danced in a long procession behind tribal chiefs and elders. Perry Thompson, from Chinle, Arizona, kept his feathers flying the entire time. I wish I had shot this from the other side of the grounds to back light it and also take away the bright, distracting white and other colors on people in the foreground.
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G ED at 15mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec. and ISO 100.
This images provides a general view of the Grand Entry and a small selection of the amazing dress worn. I decided to lay in the grass and shot this really low to emphasize the detail in the outfits and feathers against the sky. That also had the added benefit of obscuring the bright tents behind the many people in the arena.
Nikon D700, AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G ED at 24mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec. and ISO 100.
As the Grand Entry came to an end I wandered around the outskirts and found this great moment between an uncle and his niece. Gary Olney, from White Swan, Washington, took a seat in the shade to cool off and his 3-year-old niece Analynn Olney decided to play among his feathers behind him. Analynn would casually walk below the headdress to play with the feathers and then tap her uncle on the back to get his attention. I knew immediately that this would be one of my favorite images from the day as well. I like the intimacy between family members especially considering the size of the event.
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, ED AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR at 160mm, f/2.8, 1/1250 sec. and ISO 100.
The Golden Age Men were the first to compete during the dance competition. I did not count, but anywhere from 15-20 men danced as one of the competition drum groups played and chanted. This is a simple image but I like it a lot. Unfortunately, after tracking down 4-5 other men for names after this dance, I was unable to find this man to ask for his name. C’est la vie! That’s the way the cookie crumbles. Insert whichever phrase you like here. (This was definitely a moment I wish I had the time to record some audio and video for a multimedia piece. Next year I will make the time.)
UN-PUBLISHED: Nikon D700, ED AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8 VR at 180mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec. and ISO 100.
During the same dance Lee Sorrelhorse, from Lame Deer, Montana, performed covered in amazing feathers and a staff with a Bald Eagle head on it. As America’s national bird I thought it striking to see the head on a staff, especially on the Fourth of July. I thought the image perfectly underscored the intentions of the Pow Wow on Independence Day – to celebrate the sovereignty of both native peoples and the United States of America.