America by Air

Below is a photograph of the recently renovated “America by Air” gallery on the first floor of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. It had been at least two years since my last visit to Washington, and given that the Museum was undergoing a substantial and much-needed renovation, I was eager to visit if any portion of the museum was open to the public during my stay. After conducting some research, I discovered that while only certain areas of the museum were currently accessible to the public, a limited number of timed tickets would be distributed daily. Consequently, I made reservations and secured tickets for myself and Kathy.

Here is a brief overview of my personal connection to this museum. Back in 1975, approximately one year prior to the United States’ bicentennial, a news article caught my mother’s attention. It reported the construction of a dedicated national air and space museum, with Mike Collins, a former astronaut, serving as its inaugural director. Among his numerous accomplishments, Collins was the backup pilot for Gemini 7, the pilot of Gemini 10, and the command module pilot for Apollo 11, the historic first attempt to land humans on the moon.

Given my passion for space and aviation, my mother informed me about the museum. Recognizing my enthusiasm, she suggested that I send a letter to Mr. Collins. Despite my initial apprehension, as I believed that ordinary individuals did not correspond with such a prominent figure, my mother persisted, and I reluctantly agreed to write the letter.

She provided me with a general address for the Smithsonian Institution, and to my astonishment, the letter was routed to Mr. Collins or his secretary. Approximately eight weeks later, I returned home from school to discover a nine-by-eleven manila envelope addressed to me from the Smithsonian. Upon opening the envelope, I found a signed photograph of Mr. Collins in his Apollo space suit, accompanied by approximately ten pages of information regarding the museum’s plans. Additionally, there was a handwritten note expressing gratitude for my reaching out and encouraging me to visit the museum after its scheduled opening on July 4, 1976.

Despite my limited financial resources and upbringing as the child of a single, hardworking mother, I harbored a strong desire to visit the museum. However, the obstacles that stood in the way of fulfilling this desire seemed insurmountable. My mother was an ardent advocate for museums and lifelong learning, emphasizing the broadening of one’s horizons through experiential encounters. Consequently, my sister and I had had the privilege of visiting numerous museums in California at a relatively young age.

In the mid-1990s, I was employed by General Electric, where I worked with a group of engineers who shared a common passion for airplanes and aviation. They were somewhat surprised by my ability to contribute substantially to their discussions about aviation, and when I expressed my desire to visit the National Air and Space Museum, they inquired about my lack of a visit. One of them informed me about the affordability of flights to Washington, D.C., which ignited a sense of excitement within me, as it seemed that my dream of visiting the museum was finally within reach. I promptly communicated my intentions to my then-wife, and we proceeded to secure airplane tickets and hotel reservations. 

Upon arriving in Washington, D.C. early in the morning, I had a single destination in mind. I boarded the subway to the Smithsonian metro station and ascended the escalator to street level, arriving at the station in the heart of the National Mall. To my right, the capital building stood tall, while to my left, the Washington Monument, with the Lincoln Memorial visible in the distance, and various Smithsonian museums lined the mall, including the National Air and Space Museum, which I could discern in the background.

Despite the museum not opening for approximately three hours, I began walking briskly towards it. As you can observe from the photograph, the museum boasts expansive glass walls, and upon my arrival, I was greeted with an awe-inspiring display of artifacts. These were the same objects I had been captivated by for years, having encountered them through books and television documentaries.

As I approached the windows of the milestones of flight gallery, I finally had the opportunity to witness with my own eyes the Wright brothers’ flyer, the first heavier-than-air powered aircraft to achieve flight in human history. I also spotted the Apollo 11 command module, which had carried men to the moon, and the X-1 “Glamorous Glennis,” the pioneering aircraft that first broke the sound barrier. The further I progressed along the museum’s glass walls, the more remarkable and captivating the exhibits became.

Enthralled by the tangible presence of these historical artifacts, I felt a profound sense of fulfillment. While this experience may seem peculiar to those who do not hold a deep appreciation for history or the significance of these milestones, my upbringing in an environment that fostered a love for learning and history made this moment truly unforgettable. My heart was filled with emotion as I remembered the words of my mother whenever a something I had long desired came to pass “There’s your dream out now.” She later informed me that she became quite emotional when I was speaking to her on the phone later that day.. As for me, I endeavored to maintain my composure. The moment was both emotionally charged and filled with joy.

Since my initial visit, I have returned to the museum numerous times. Shortly after my first visit, I fulfilled another dream and brought my mother to Washington, D.C., for approximately ten days. We visited the museum together, and she thoroughly enjoyed it, as she did everything we encountered in Washington. She passed away in 2020, and while I still miss her presence in my life, I carry on her the insatiable thirst for knowledge and strive to transmit this passion to my extended family.

On the day this photograph was captured, I experienced for the first time in years a newfound perspective on these familiar galleries. The antiquated exhibits that once explained the artifacts had been replaced by contemporary, interactive displays. Furthermore, the lighting had been significantly enhanced, making the entire space even more captivating, even for an ardent enthusiast like myself.

San Diego Bay Sunrise

One of the notable advantages of being an early riser is the opportunity to capture moments like the one depicted in this photograph. Kathy and I were staying on Shelter Island, located on the San Diego Bay. We hold Shelter Island in high regard. It is a mere 10-minute drive from downtown San Diego yet offers a serene escape, free from the prevalent urban challenges encountered across the bay. Fortunately, Shelter Island boasts three hotels that cater to our preferences and are reasonably priced.

On this exceptionally early morning, I awoke just before 4:00 AM and endeavored to dress discreetly, refraining from illuminating the room to avoid disturbing Kathy, who was still asleep. Once dressed, I fumbled in the darkness, searching for my cameras and lenses. Once located, I made my way to the door and exited the room. The darkness persisted outside as I proceeded to the parking lot, passing my car on my way.

Crossing the street, I headed towards the water’s edge. A faint pink hue was already emanating from the eastern sky, a harbinger of an exceptional sunrise that morning. I was determined not to miss this celestial spectacle. At this early hour, the streets were sparsely populated. I observed a few fishermen at the pier, their fishing lines already cast into the water.

Selecting a suitable location, I set up my cameras and prepared to await the arrival of the sunrise. A harbor police car slowly passed by, its driver likely observing my activities. There was no indication of any illegal or nefarious conduct here; I was merely a photography enthusiast attempting to capture a memorable moment.

As time elapsed, the eastern sky intensified in brightness, transitioning into a mesmerizing blend of reddish-orange hues. I commenced capturing images. After a while, convinced that I had captured the desired composition, I moved closer to the pier and captured additional shots from that elevated vantage point. 

Azteca Whirl

Kathy and I made the decision to attend the Dia Del Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival in Whittier, California last year. The festival features a car show showcasing the types of vehicles we enjoy photographing, making it an event we were eager to attend. As we were busily capturing as many cars as we could, the sound of drums abruptly commenced, emanating from a nearby location. The proximity of the drums was such that they could be felt physically. Instinctively, I turned around to identify the source of these sounds and discovered an individual in Aztec attire rapidly approaching me. I promptly switched cameras and made a poor attempt to capture an image as he swiftly passed by. He was nearly out of frame by the time I took the photograph below. Regrettably, and perhaps fortunately, my camera was not configured to capture rapidly moving subjects, resulting in a vibrant blur that retained the essence of motion while maintaining a pleasing visual quality. Upon reviewing the photographs taken that day, I recognized this particular image as a standout and hopefully worthy of being posted here.

1948 Pontiac Streamliner - Silver Streak

During an early April morning at the Pomona Auto Swap Meet, I encountered a remarkable automobile. Coincidentally, this discovery occurred just prior to the due date for taxes in the United States. Having filed my taxes several months earlier, I was able to devote my attention to this exquisite vehicle, which I believe to be a 1948 Pontiac Streamliner Silver Streak convertible. Notably, some early 1948 Pontiacs were equipped with engines and transmissions sourced from Italy. While I cannot ascertain whether this particular car possesses this type of engine or transmission, I surmise that convertibles were likely relatively uncommon. My research indicates that, in addition to the convertible model, buyers had the option of selecting a sport coupe with a rumble seat, a business coupe, or a touring sedan.

Hood Ornament in a Twist

This is one of the few instances I can recall when I utilized a Lensbaby manual focus lens to capture a full bracket of HDR exposures. The bokeh (out-of-focus areas) that most Lensbaby models generate does not harmoniously merge into an HDR image. Consequently, the typical outcome is that these bokeh areas are rendered rather harshly. However, this was not the case in the photograph below. I employed my Lensbaby Twist 60 lens to capture this exquisite hood ornament, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the twisty characteristic of the bokeh was beautifully rendered within the HDR image.

This presents numerous new opportunities for me to utilize the Twist 60 lens, and I eagerly anticipate exploring its potential.

Five Times Around the Sun

Today marks the fifth anniversary of my mother’s passing, and I have spent much of the day contemplating the passage of time. Has it truly been that long since she has been absent from my life? It appears that at least once daily in the past 1,825 days, she has crossed my mind in some manner. Reflecting on her does not cause as much pain as it once did, and most of my thoughts of her these days are filled with fond memories. Nevertheless, I still deeply miss her presence in my life. To assert that she shaped me as a person is a significant understatement. She shaped me in the same way that the Sherwin glaciation shaped the Yosemite Valley. One of the last things she said to me during her final hospital stay and was moments from death was, “I have expectations for you! I expect you to comport yourself.” During our last significant conversation, she instructed me to offer all of her worldly possessions to the family, ‘Don’t hold anything back,’ and to promptly dispose of anything that remained. In her vernacular, I was not to dawdle. I endeavored to follow her final wishes as best I could, but the final disposition of her remaining belongings took several years. She would not have been pleased.

1951 Pontiac Chieftain

Kathy and I had a good time at the Pomona Auto Swap meet in late June. My nephew was in town and told me he and his significant other were planning to join us. Kathy and I arrived at the fairgrounds just after 5 am. It was a bit overcast and chilly, which was perfect for us. We usually steer clear of hot days when we’re out taking photos. We found a parking spot quickly and got our cameras out of the trunk. We made our way into the swap meet and even though it was still dark, we managed to spot around 20 cars of the type we’d like to take photos of. Many more cars arrived in the next two hours.

 I noticed this green 1951 Pontiac Chieftain right away. As always, classic Pontiacs are super attractive to me. At first, it was their beautiful hood ornaments that caught my eye, but as time went on, I started to appreciate the overall style of Pontiac vehicles. So, it’s no surprise that when my nephew arrived, I was taking photos of this stunning green Pontiac. In fact, I was just finishing up the 7th set of HDR images when he showed up. I had already taken over a dozen shots of the hood ornament alone!

 

1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Coupe

Immediately preceding the United States’ entry into World War II, the automotive industry witnessed a surge in stylistic expression and fervor.

During the Pomona auto swap meet, I had the opportunity to encounter a remarkable 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Coupe that epitomized this stylistic expression. This vehicle was exhibited at the show courtesy of the Memories of El Monte Car Club.

I was fortunate to locate this exceptional vehicle relatively early in the morning, before the parking area became excessively congested. Later that day, several additional members of the car club parked immediately adjacent to the coupe. I generally favor uncluttered backgrounds whenever feasible. 

Miss Judy

Here is a Lensbaby Sweet 22 image of a P-51 Mustang located at the Yanks air museum in Chino, California.  I acquired this lens when Lensbaby first offered it at a substantial discount. The lens exhibits a small area of sharp focus surrounded by well-rendered blur. I am still exploring the optimal usage of this lens. I recently discovered that the lens can be tilted to relocate the sweet spot within the captured area. 

Wet Dream

Kathy and I were strolling through the Chino Corn Feed car show when an unexpected downpour commenced. Seeking shelter, we found refuge in the covered parking lot of an abandoned motel. We engaged in conversation about the show, the vehicles we had captured, and observed the rain’s descent. As previously mentioned in another post, despite their high cost, our cameras and lenses lack waterproofing capabilities. Once the rain stopped, we returned to our initial location before the deluge began. In my case, my intention was to resume photographing a green 1951 Chevrolet truck. Upon returning to it, I discovered that it was covered in thousands of minuscule water droplets. While its appearance remained aesthetically pleasing, akin to a dream car, it guess it could be considered a “wet dream car”.