This Photo Of An F-16 High Over Arizona At Sunset Is Mind Blowingingly Stunning

Updated Nov 22, 2019 2:25 PM EST

We are blessed with a constant flow of great aviation photos in the digital photography age, but once in a while we come across an image that is truly spectacular and totally unique. Case in point, Keith Meachem’s photo of a Royal Netherlands Air Force Block 20 F-16A MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) popping flares high over the Arizona desert at sunset. Not only is the photo striking in its composition and timing, but its exposure in a very challenging lighting situation is absolutely perfect. Simply put, it couldn’t be any more marvelous, it truly represents flawless execution.

The image was taken during a photo shoot organized by our good friend and contributor to The War Zone , Rich Cooper, owner of the Centre Of Aviation Photography. Flying in a Short Skyvan that is usually used as a skydiving platform for Skydive Arizona, Keith pointed his Sony A7R IV DSLR with a Sony 24-70mm F/2.8 GM lens out the open rear ramp as the RNLAF Viper flew in formation behind it, grabbing the iconic fighter at a unique angle just as it popped a flare. The shoot took over the desert expanse southwest of Tucson.

The 148th Fighter Squadron, which trains RNLAF F-16 pilots, calls Tucson Air National Guard Base at Tucson International Airport home. The unit is far from camera shy, nor is the RNLAF in general . Some of the best F-16 photos around have Dutch Vipers as their subjects. In this case, the whole shoot was closely coordinated with COAP and 148th Fighter Squadron personnel. It’s a win-win. They can get some truly incredible photos of their jets in action and do some formation and intercept work behind the slow-flying Skyvan and the photographers get what for many would be a once in a lifetime experience.

Rich Cooper is a master at setting up such rare encounters and the proof is in the almost too consistent products that result from them. So many incredible photos come from these outings that it is easy to take them for granted, but that is a very good problem to have for Rich and his team.

The shoot didn’t end in the sky. Rich and his band of photographers also captured the jets and their crews on the ground. Check out some of Rich’s best snaps from the terra firma portion of the shoot:

So, if you have caught the photography bug, like what you see here, and have the itch to experience an aviation photoshoot of a lifetime, reach out to the Centre Of Aviation Photography , they will get you dialed in.

Make sure to follow COAP on Facebook and Rich Cooper on Instagram , you won’t be disappointed, trust me.

We also want to give a huge thanks to Keith Meachem for sharing his amazing photos with us.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2019年11月22日下午2:25

在数码摄影时代，我们有幸不断欣赏到精彩的航空照片，但偶尔也会遇到一些真正壮观、独一无二的佳作。例如，基思·米切姆拍摄的这张照片，展现了一架荷兰皇家空军的Block 20 F-16A MLU（中期升级）战斗机在亚利桑那州沙漠上空日落时分发射照明弹的场景。这张照片不仅构图和时机把握得恰到好处，而且在如此复杂的光线条件下，曝光也堪称完美。简而言之，它无可挑剔，堪称完美之作。

这张照片拍摄于我们好友兼《战区》撰稿人、航空摄影中心老板里奇·库珀组织的一次摄影活动中。基思乘坐一架通常用作亚利桑那跳伞中心跳伞平台的肖特Skyvan飞机，将他的索尼A7R IV单反相机和索尼24-70mm F/2.8 GM镜头伸出敞开的后舱门，拍摄身后皇家荷兰空军的Viper战斗机编队飞行的瞬间。他以独特的角度捕捉到了这架标志性战斗机发射照明弹的瞬间。拍摄地点位于图森西南部的沙漠地带。

负责训练荷兰皇家空军F-16飞行员的第148战斗机中队驻扎在图森国际机场的图森空中国民警卫队基地。该部队和整个荷兰皇家空军都乐于面对镜头。一些最精彩的F-16照片都以荷兰皇家空军的战机为拍摄对象。这次拍摄活动与荷兰皇家空军航空司令部（COAP）和第148战斗机中队人员密切合作，可谓双赢。他们既能拍摄到战机精彩的飞行照片，还能在低速飞行的“空中货车”（Skyvan）运输机后方进行编队飞行和拦截训练；而摄影师们也能获得一次千载难逢的拍摄体验。

里奇·库珀是安排此类难得一遇的拍摄机会的高手，而由此产生的几乎总是令人惊艳的作品便是最好的证明。这些拍摄活动中诞生了如此多的精彩照片，以至于人们很容易习以为常，但这对于里奇和他的团队来说却是一个幸福的烦恼。

拍摄并未止步于空中。里奇和他的摄影团队还在地面上拍摄了飞机及其机组人员。以下是里奇在地面拍摄部分拍摄的一些精彩照片：

所以，如果你已经迷上了摄影，喜欢你在这里看到的作品，并且渴望体验一次终生难忘的航空摄影，那就联系航空摄影中心吧，他们会为你安排好一切。

请务必在 Facebook 上关注 COAP，在 Instagram 上关注 Rich Cooper，相信我，你不会失望的。

我们还要衷心感谢 Keith Meachem 与我们分享他拍摄的精彩照片。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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