Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Photos of operational aircraft from bases, airports and "spotter" outings
Post Reply
sovietjet
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue 25 Jun 2013, 8:20 pm

Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by sovietjet »

In June I had the opportunity to visit the aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush during it s deployment in the middle east with airwing 8 CVW-8. This is the newest carrier in the USN fleet and only on its second deployment. What made this visit important was that this was the last ever deployment of the EA-6B Prowler. The squadron VAQ-134 "Garudas" is the last USN electronic attack squadron to operate the type. The ship just returned home last week and those last Prowlers with VAQ-134 will be the last ones with the US Navy. Of course, the Marines will operate them for some years to come. I tried to get as many angles as possible. Already filtered a lot of images out but still ended up with a lot so sorry for the huge post. I tend to have a hard time picking favorites so my posts always end up long.

1

Image

2

Image

3

Image

4

Image

5

Image

6

Image

7

Image

8

Image

9

Image

10

Image

11

Image

12

Image

13

Image

14

Image

15

Image

16

Image

17

Image

18

Image

19

Image

20

Image

21

Image

22

Image

23

Image

24

Image

25

Image

26

Image

27

Image

28

Image

29

Image

30

Image

31

Image

32

Image

33

Image

34

Image

35

Image

36

Image

37

Image

38

Image

39

Image

40

Image

41

Image

42

Image

43

Image

44

Image

45

Image

46

Image

47

Image

48

Image

49

Image

50

Image

51

Image

52

Image

53

Image

54

Image

55

Image

56

Image

57

Image

58

Image

59

Image

60

Image

61

Image

62

Image

63

Image

64

Image

65

Image

66

Image

67

Image

68

Image

69

Image

70

Image

71

Image

72

Image

73

Image

74

Image

75

Image

76

Image

77

Image

78

Image

79

Image

80

Image

81

Image

82

Image

83

Image

84

Image

85

Image

86

Image

87

Image

88

Image

89

Image

90

Image

91

Image

92

Image

93

Image

94

Image

95

Image

96

Image

97

Image

98

Image

99

Image

100

Image

101

Image

102

Image

103

Image

104

Image

105

Image

106

Image

107

Image

108

Image

109

Image

110

Image

111

Image

112

Image

113

Image

114

Image
Ivan Voukadinov

User avatar
ciaranchef
Posts: 1516
Joined: Sun 20 Jun 2010, 1:36 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by ciaranchef »

Outstanding set!
"It is generally inadvisable to eject over the area you just bombed"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciaranchef/

User avatar
Blackbird
UKAR Supporter
Posts: 3604
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 3:36 pm
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Blackbird »

I can forgive you the length of the post!! Superb set :clap: :clap:

A fantastic opportunity well captured.

Andy :smile:

User avatar
Ledhead27
UKAR Staff
Posts: 2210
Joined: Tue 20 Dec 2011, 6:49 pm
Location: Inverness (and occasionally 20,000ft - if the aircraft can make it that high)

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Ledhead27 »

Thank you for sharing this amazing set of images, good to see a few shots of the Prowler before it bows out after its amazing service with the USN
"PostMan, FuelMan, SpamCan, NoPlan, CivviMan, Dan"

UKAR Party Plane Captain

4 out of 5 baguettes

alizam
Posts: 243
Joined: Wed 25 Jan 2012, 9:05 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by alizam »

brilliant!

Niallxg
Posts: 1174
Joined: Wed 03 Sep 2008, 5:23 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Niallxg »

Superb set. Very jealous.

Question - any explanation for the $20 bills on the ops table?

Niall

reheat module
Posts: 604
Joined: Wed 01 Apr 2009, 8:53 pm
Location: Lincs

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by reheat module »

Simply brilliant.
Great opportunity excellently captured.
Loved them all.
Canon systems

User avatar
AlexC
Posts: 6040
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 6:40 pm
Location: New Forest

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by AlexC »

Great set of shots! Can't help feeling sorry for Lt. Adam Peters though. No 'Maverick', 'Joker', or 'Viper' etc. for him....no, he's 'Landfill'!
Pte. Aubrey Gerald Harmer, R. Suss. R. (att. to the Sherwood Foresters) KIA 26/9/1917 Polygon Wood, aged 19, NKG. RIP

User avatar
Talldan76
UKAR Staff
Posts: 1226
Joined: Sat 12 Oct 2013, 6:26 pm
Location: Colchester

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Talldan76 »

Wow... What a set!

Think we can excuse you for the number of photos in the post!

Dan

timuss
Posts: 4555
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 4:19 pm
Location: Sompting,West Sussex
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by timuss »

Oh wow to cool great set :clap: :clap:
Canon 7Dmk2
Canon 7D
Sigma 18-200
Sigma 10-20
Canon 100-400 L IS II
Icom ICR-2 Scanner
PSN: timuss

User avatar
Arno 01
Posts: 1316
Joined: Sat 06 Sep 2008, 8:35 pm
Location: Brize Norton

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Arno 01 »

Ivan, outstanding, best 'on-board' set for a few years, thank you for sharing with us. :clap: :yahoo:

User avatar
lynothehammer
Posts: 1926
Joined: Mon 26 Jan 2009, 9:45 pm
Location: Camberley, Surey

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by lynothehammer »

Great set of photos... Jealous ? Me ? Noooooooo of course not, well ok maybe just a tad... ;)

john001
Posts: 1317
Joined: Sun 30 May 2010, 7:25 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by john001 »

I guess I will be accused of being jealous but why not turn this great opportunity into a great set of pictures by doing some post processing on the highlights and shadows?

sovietjet
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue 25 Jun 2013, 8:20 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by sovietjet »

Thanks for the comments guys!

Niallxg wrote:Superb set. Very jealous.

Question - any explanation for the $20 bills on the ops table?

Niall


No idea about the $20 bills. Probably should've asked when I was there but I had so many other questions on my mind :oops:

john001 wrote:I guess I will be accused of being jealous but why not turn this great opportunity into a great set of pictures by doing some post processing on the highlights and shadows?


What do you mean? Which photos do you have in mind here?
Ivan Voukadinov

Stagger2
Posts: 1940
Joined: Thu 16 Jun 2011, 8:46 am

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Stagger2 »

And there was me, thinking this set of images are some of the most realistic shot from a Carrier as I have ever seen! I, like most everybody else will never witness this epic show for real & would therefore commend Ivan for the diversity & thought that is displayed in those shots. Excellent effort & well done to you.
Could they stand a touch of post-processing?..possibly. Do they need to be messed with?...not to my eye & clearly not to the OP. :clap:

john001
Posts: 1317
Joined: Sun 30 May 2010, 7:25 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by john001 »

OK - the bottom line is that if the OP likes them that way it does not matter a stuff what anyone else thinks.

But for me on many of them (not all and obviously not the evening or silhouette shots) the light is harsh (nothing you can do about that) but that can be balanced up a bit in post processing. That does not mean they are not good or great photos just that for me they could be better.

Not referring to this set but there is a reason why some of the pictures on the forum are better than others when they have been taken at the same place on the same day and at locations with yards of each other and with adequate equipment - the suppliers are PP experts and there are not many pictures that have been taken that could not be improved by them.

User avatar
funkygib
Posts: 278
Joined: Mon 20 Sep 2010, 11:33 am
Location: Worcestershire
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by funkygib »

Great stuff !
I particularly like the Prowler taking the wire but so many great pictures to choose from :clap:
Nikon D5100, 18-55mm VR, 55-300mm VR
These are my photos, there are many like them but these are mine.

User avatar
bigcrow
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 2:43 pm
Location: Worcestershire, U.K
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by bigcrow »

A great set, it's an amazing experience being on an operational carrier isn't it? I wouldn't worry about the knockers about your post-processing they look fine maybe a touch more saturation & contrast on a few of the take-offs but overall a lovely selection.

User avatar
Worldnis
Posts: 65
Joined: Tue 27 Jan 2009, 12:44 pm
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Worldnis »

Quality set! Looks like you covered all the angles on the deck beautifully.
Middle East and Med cruises tend to be harsh lighting, but hey, subjects and composition are top notch.
Prepare for the next mission, Darling.

sovietjet
Posts: 158
Joined: Tue 25 Jun 2013, 8:20 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by sovietjet »

OK, I understand now. I appreciate the feedback. Midday sun in June in the Persian Gulf is not the best, and I can't exactly tell the ship to turn such that I get the best light. Given that, I was actually lucky that in almost all cases I was not shooting backlit photos. However my post processing skills are pretty limited. I do some basic contrast and levels, NR if needed, saturation, sharpening. I have no idea how to do some of the stuff I see people post on here. As for shadows/highlights which was mentioned, I tend to avoid that tool because then I get a bunch of halos and those look even worse. Without mentioning names, I see some people who post here whose photos look way too overprocessed. I guess everyone has their own workflow.
Ivan Voukadinov

User avatar
Macc
Posts: 3287
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 10:55 am
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Macc »

47 and 107 are stunning. :clap:

john001
Posts: 1317
Joined: Sun 30 May 2010, 7:25 pm

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by john001 »

sovietjet wrote:OK, I understand now. I appreciate the feedback. Midday sun in June in the Persian Gulf is not the best, and I can't exactly tell the ship to turn such that I get the best light. Given that, I was actually lucky that in almost all cases I was not shooting backlit photos. However my post processing skills are pretty limited. I do some basic contrast and levels, NR if needed, saturation, sharpening. I have no idea how to do some of the stuff I see people post on here. As for shadows/highlights which was mentioned, I tend to avoid that tool because then I get a bunch of halos and those look even worse. Without mentioning names, I see some people who post here whose photos look way too overprocessed. I guess everyone has their own workflow.



I agree with you that some are over processed! But if you shoot RAW when you first import them in ACR and make adjustments to the shadows etc in that you will not get halos etc.

If you regularly want to produce top pictures it is worth getting to know what you already mention and the tools I mention - you don't need to know all of it just the basics they can make a big difference. The best pictures on here don't use much more than these.

Anyway - thanks for posting really interesting...

User avatar
bigcrow
Posts: 1323
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 2:43 pm
Location: Worcestershire, U.K
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by bigcrow »

sovietjet wrote:Thanks for the comments guys!

Niallxg wrote:Superb set. Very jealous.

Question - any explanation for the $20 bills on the ops table?

Niall


No idea about the $20 bills. Probably should've asked when I was there but I had so many other questions on my mind :oops:

The $20 bills that are placed on the 'Ouija Board' are due to fines that Sailors incurred for knocking, bumping or touching the Ouija Board from the Aircraft Handling Officer.

User avatar
Fumbles
Posts: 1657
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 3:30 pm
Location: Vancouver Canada Again

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by Fumbles »

Awesome set of shots from a great time out... I don't blame you for posting so many..... I would too! :grin: One of the shots that I like most and it is not even an aircraft.... The Catapult shot! and I'm not joking, it really is a different neat shot!

User avatar
MigF4
Posts: 398
Joined: Fri 05 Sep 2008, 2:11 pm
Location: Nörvenich - ETNN , Germany
Contact:

Re: Visit to USN aircraft carrier CVN-77 George HW Bush

Post by MigF4 »

Ivan, outstanding work buddy, best 'on-board' set for a few years, thank you for sharing with us....seems I need to goo back one day too :rock: :up:

Cheers
Mick
Cheers,
Mick

The sky is no limit.....visit: www.mbaviation-images.com

Post Reply