Black & White In the Heat of Battle

In the Heat of Battle · **2 Likes**

I was a young US Navy photographer, serving aboard the USS Ticonderoga when I took this image. This was during the early days of the war and we were steaming somewhere off the coast of Vietnam, preparing to bomb Hanoi and Haiphong.

**Sir Nameless** · 10-11-2019, 08:55 AM

Viewed at 100%, it's soft, there's not a lot of shadow texture, and there are some blown highlights on the nose cone. Clearly you need a better lens, a better body with more dynamic range, and better noise reduction in post.

End sarc.

Excellent shot! I love the composition, very dynamic and adrenaline-inducing.

Edit: And thanks for your service--back at a time when it wasn't all that much appreciated.

reh321 · 10-11-2019, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by Dewman

I was a young US Navy photographer, serving aboard the USS Ticonderoga when I took this image. This was during the early days of the war and we were steaming somewhere off the coast of Vietnam, preparing to bomb Hanoi and Haiphong.

So by 'the war' you mean Vietnam - my parents meant World War II by that term/

Charlie Victor · 10-11-2019, 11:40 AM

Dramatic image! Thanks for sharing.
Best.

Dewman · 10-11-2019, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by reh321

So by 'the war' you mean Vietnam - my parents meant World War II by that term/

Ops.... my bad. Yes, it was the Vietnam War. This photo was taken, IIRC in late '66 and we were bombing Haiphong and mining their harbor and bombing Hanoi. The escalation was off and running. Don't get me started.

Note: I might mention, a good deal of my duty was manning the video camera in the "greenhouse." You can see it near the tip of the refueling probe on the nose of the plane. The walls were made of plexiglas and it was the best seat in the house. You could see everything happening on the flight deck, from stem to stern. We videotaped every launch and recovery.

**PJ1** · 10-11-2019, 03:06 PM

Nice one. The difference between film and digital!! There is no doubt what the image shows and you captured the feeling. That is what photography is about (for me, anyway).

Dewman · 10-11-2019, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by PJ1

Nice one. The difference between film and digital!! There is no doubt what the image shows and you captured the feeling. That is what photography is about (for me, anyway).

Thanks for the comments, Peter. If this scene had been shot digitally, with a longer length lens, it would have lost the aspect of the airplane "looming" over you and the steam from the catapult wouldn't have seemed as menacing. The edginess of Tri-X on some subject matter is irreplaceable.

**Videopilot** · 10-19-2019, 11:20 AM

Wonderful shot!

Dewman
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by Dewman
	Find threads started by Dewman
	Find threads in which Dewman has posted

10-11-2019, 08:55 AM	#2
Sir Nameless Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mass a chew sits Photos: Gallery Posts: 574	Viewed at 100%, it's soft, there's not a lot of shadow texture, and there are some blown highlights on the nose cone. Clearly you need a better lens, a better body with more dynamic range, and better noise reduction in post. End sarc. Excellent shot! I love the composition, very dynamic and adrenaline-inducing. Edit: And thanks for your service--back at a time when it wasn't all that much appreciated. Last edited by Sir Nameless; 10-11-2019 at 09:06 AM. Reason: I was remiss.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K5 heat exposure may cause ISO to get stuck on higher setting even when dialed lower	BB_Zone28	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	4	04-20-2019 09:17 AM
Forget the DSLR vs Mirrorless battle here is the real battle	Larrymc	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	20	03-11-2019 12:31 PM
People Beating the Heat	Perry Wilson	Post Your Photos!	2	07-05-2018 08:20 PM
Nature Hummingbird Braving the Heat	davidreilly3207	Post Your Photos!	3	06-30-2018 07:08 PM
Sports Shaka Smart in the heat of battle	WillWeaverRVA	Post Your Photos!	0	07-01-2013 06:29 PM

10-11-2019, 11:39 AM	#3
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,180	Originally posted by Dewman I was a young US Navy photographer, serving aboard the USS Ticonderoga when I took this image. This was during the early days of the war and we were steaming somewhere off the coast of Vietnam, preparing to bomb Hanoi and Haiphong. So by 'the war' you mean Vietnam - my parents meant World War II by that term/

10-11-2019, 11:40 AM	#4
Charlie Victor Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Durban Photos: Albums Posts: 1,227	Dramatic image! Thanks for sharing. Best.

10-11-2019, 11:45 AM	#5
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by reh321 So by 'the war' you mean Vietnam - my parents meant World War II by that term/ Ops.... my bad. Yes, it was the Vietnam War. This photo was taken, IIRC in late '66 and we were bombing Haiphong and mining their harbor and bombing Hanoi. The escalation was off and running. Don't get me started. Note: I might mention, a good deal of my duty was manning the video camera in the "greenhouse." You can see it near the tip of the refueling probe on the nose of the plane. The walls were made of plexiglas and it was the best seat in the house. You could see everything happening on the flight deck, from stem to stern. We videotaped every launch and recovery.

10-11-2019, 03:06 PM	#6
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Nice one. The difference between film and digital!! There is no doubt what the image shows and you captured the feeling. That is what photography is about (for me, anyway).

10-11-2019, 04:07 PM	#7
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492 Original Poster	Originally posted by PJ1 Nice one. The difference between film and digital!! There is no doubt what the image shows and you captured the feeling. That is what photography is about (for me, anyway). Thanks for the comments, Peter. If this scene had been shot digitally, with a longer length lens, it would have lost the aspect of the airplane "looming" over you and the steam from the catapult wouldn't have seemed as menacing. The edginess of Tri-X on some subject matter is irreplaceable.

10-19-2019, 11:20 AM	#8
Videopilot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Jersey Photos: Albums Posts: 481	Wonderful shot!