"Warbirds Over Paso" air show - Paso Robles, CA

Shots from the October 2013 edition of the "Warbirds Over Paso" air show, featuring classic warbirds ranging from Mustangs and Corsairs to a T-33 Shooting Star, and a California Department of Forestry S-2F Tracker that was activated during the show to help fight a fire somewhere. This was a somewhat bittersweet album for me to put together, as this features some photos of the late Eddie Andreini, who tragically lost his life performing in his Stearman Biplane earlier this year. Eddie will be forever in our hearts.

Enjoy the photos!

-James-

Atlas V 401 WorldView-3

On 13 August 2014 at 1130 hrs. (11:30 a.m.), a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle flying in the 401 configuration (a four meter fairing, no solid rocket motors and a single engine Centaur upper stage) launched the WorldView-3 payload for DigitalGlobe. The mission was a complete success, keeping the Atlas V's unblemished launch record intact.

Fourth of July fireworks

I took advantage of a beautiful, clear night in Lompoc to shoot the City of Lompoc's 4th of July (which was actually held on the 5th of July.Yeah, I said 5th of July...don't ask...LOL) celebration held at Huyck Stadium. These photos were shot from St. Mary's Episcopal Church, which overlooks the city and provides a beautiful vantage point to enjoy the show. I can't say enough about the hospitality of the folks at the church, who provided everybody watching the fireworks from there with cookies, milk, coffee, and, my favorite, glow necklaces (woo hoo!).

Enjoy the photos!

James :-)

PS I also added a photo to my Lunar Photography album as well, so check that out.

Miguelito Fire - Lompoc, California

 

 

On 13 May 2014, tree branches coming in contact with some live power lines sparked a fast moving fire that briefly threatened houses on the south end of Lompoc, CA. Thankfully, no homes were damaged or destroyed, and this event did provide some interesting photo opportunities. Hope everybody enjoys the photos!

 

James :-)

The passing of Eddie Andreini

Most air show fans are probably aware that legendary performer Eddie Andreini was killed when his Super Stearman biplane crashed at the Travis Air Force Base air show as he performed his patented inverted ribbon cutting maneuver. It's always tragic to hear of the passing of an air show performer, but it hits even closer to home when it's a performer you've photographed at several shows. I want to take this time to just say that my heart goes out to Eddie's family, friends and the entire air show community during this terrible time. He was a true gift to the world of air shows and aviation, and will be sorely missed.

Blue skies, Eddie.

-James-

Atlas V 401 DMSP F-19



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 3 April 2014, an Atlas V rocket flying in the 401 configuration successfully launched the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-19 payload into polar orbit from SLC-3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It appeared marine layer would be an issue for photography, as a wispy fog bank moved in about 10 minutes before T-0, but it hung low enough to just obscure liftoff. Still, these photos are proof that Vandenberg's famous marine layer really does hate me. Anyway, hope everbody enjoys the photos!

 

James :-)

More LAX Spotting



Spent some time at LAX back in December of 2012 doing some spotting. These are shots from Imperial Hill and the famous (well famous to aviation buffs, anyway) In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Blvd. right under the approach to runway 24R. Scratched an A380 off my "must shoot" list, and Air New Zealand's "Air Hobbit" showed up as well, which was a nice surprise. Enjoy the photos!

James :-)

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Some photos of the famous and historical Santa Barbara County main courthouse located in downtown Santa Barbara, California. This building is featured on the official County seal and is one of the most well known landmarks in Santa Barbara county. Enjoy the photos!

James :-)

More spotting at Santa Barbara Airport

A few more photos from a spotting day at KSBA back in 2012. Some general aviation stuff, and some commercial traffic as well, including a shot of one of the Frontier Airlines Embraer 190's, featuring "Ollie the Great Grey Owl" on the vertical stabilizer. Hope you all enjoy!

James :-)

2013 Wings Over Camarillo Air Show

The Wings Over Camarillo Air Show, held back in August, brought out all sorts of warbirds, from Mustangs to Corsairs to Hellcats, and much more. Always an enjoyable show that the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force puts on. Despite the fact there was no military involvement due to sequestration, this show turned out to be a massive success, and I thoroughly enjoyed shooting it. Enjoy the photos!

James :-)

Atlas V 501 NROL-39

 

 

On 6 December 2013, at 2314 hrs. local time, an Atlas V rocket carried a classified payload, known simply as NROL-39, and a host of small, student built CubeSats into orbit from Space Launch Complex-3E (SLC-3E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. These are shots from my vantage point approximately 2.75 miles from the launch site. It was a frigid night (by California standards) for a launch. So cold in fact that, as temperatures dipped below freezing at some points, there were concerns that it would be too cold to proceed with the fueling process. The pre-launch forecast actually called for a 60% chance of no-go for that reason. Thankfully that didn't happen, and it was definitely a show well worth standing out and freezing for, though.

Click on the thumbnail to view the photos, and enjoy!

James :-)

Just an update on Tomcat Photography...

Hey everybody! As you all probably have noticed, I've been on a sort of "hiatus" here as of late. Tomccat Photography is still going strong, and it will continue to go strong, but I have been blessed with a position on the Lompoc High basketball coaching staff, which over the next few months will take up large chunks of my time. The sport of basketball has always been my passion, but due to chronic knee issues, I was basically told that my body wasn't "built" to play, and that I had to give it up. Needless to say, this opportunity is one that I am beyond excited to have in front of me at this point. Don't worry though, I will never give up presenting the aviation and rocket launch photography that (I hope) everybody here has come to know and love.

On that note, still in the on-deck circle are albums from the 2013 Wings Over Camarillo show and the fantastic Warbirds Over Paso Robles show as well, so make sure you stay tuned for those.

Thanks so much for your continued support. Thank you a million times.

James :-)

Inaugural VAFB Falcon 9 launch

 

On 29 September 2013 at 0900 hrs., the inaugural SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base roared to life, successfully carrying the Canadian Cassiope satellite into orbit. This launch also marked the first flight of the Falcon 9 v1.1 with upgraded Merlin engines, and the first time a payload fairing has been used on this launch vehicle.

The launch was a huge event that marked many firsts for SpaceX and Vandenberg Air Force base, and I was honored to be there to photograph it. Click on the thumbnail to enjoy the album!

James :-)

Thank You

Hey everyone!

Well, as you are probably aware, I covered the Delta IV NROL-65 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 28 August 2013 and I posted the album here a couple days later. Well, I was playing around over on my photo hosting site today and I could not believe my eyes when I looked at the amount of views that the launch album got. I've been doing this now for two years, I've posted quite a few albums here, and for the most part, I've been thrilled with the amount of views that they get. This one, though? This one absolutely shattered, obliterated, and destroyed every record. Over 3,000 views for the launch album, and over 6,000 (yes, that is SIX THOUSAND!!!!) individual visitors to my website on 30 August 2013. I just wanted to say THANK YOU! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you all SO MUCH for supporting my little endeavor here and checking out my photos. You all totally rock and make this worthwhile. Love you all!

James :-)

Delta IV-Heavy NROL-65

 

On Wednesday, 28 August 2013, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, a massive Delta IV-Heavy launch vehicle successfully carried a classified payload, known only as NROL-65, into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Click on the thumbnail to check out the album!

James :-)

Off to Camarillo!

Hey everybody! Been a while, huh? Well, believe me, I have kept busy :-) The gear's all prepped, and I'm looking forward to finally getting back into the groove of photographing things that fly this weekend as I head off to the Camarillo Airport. "Wings Over Camarillo" features many vintage World War II warbirds, and this show has quickly become a show that I eagerly look forward to every year. Stay tuned for photos, folks. Tomcat Photography is back, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed! James :-)

Collings Foundation Visit - Santa Barbara Airport, 2013

For the second time in as many years, it was an honor and a privilege to spend a couple days on the ramp at Santa Barbara Municipal Airport shooting a trio of warbirds from the Collings Foundation. Their B-17G Flying Fortress, "Nine-0-Nine", B-24J Liberator, "Witchcraft", and their TP-51C Mustang, "Betty Jane" do a wonderful job of bringing you back to the time of the "Greatest Generation."

Click on the thumbnail to visit the album, and enjoy!

James :-)

Aluminum Overcast, Paso Robles Airport 2013

 

The Experimental Aircraft Association's B-17G Flying Fortress "Aluminum Overcast", an aircraft I was fortunate enough to fly on back in 2011 (see the album of my flight in the "Previous Albums" section here on the site), stopped over at Paso Robles Airport for a visit during it's annual tour. Click on the thumbnail and enjoy!

James :-)

Port San Luis Lighthouse

 

A tour of the beautiful Port San Luis Lighthouse (and some of the surrounding scenery) in Avila Beach, CA with myself and my very superbly talented associate photographer, Syndi Dukes. Click on the thumbnail and enjoy the photos!

James :-)

B-29 Superfortress "FIFI" visits Camarillo, CA

The Commemorative Air Force's Airpower History Tour made a stop at Camarillo Airport in mid-March to showcase some warbirds of days gone by. The centerpiece of the visit was the only airworthy B-29 Superfortress currently in existence, "FIFI". I was honored to be able to photograph these pieces of history up close, and the Commemorative Air Force folks are a pure joy to deal with. Despite the massive crowd, they made me and everybody else there feel welcome with warm smiles and great conversation, and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this photo shoot.

As always, click on the above thumbnail and enjoy the album!

James :-)