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My photography journey
I started off like most people start photography, by using my phone's camera. I started by just taking photos of stuff I found interesting, like animals and Max, my dog. I then moved on to doing toy photography. I have a collection of Schleich model animals, mainly horses. I took them to places I visited and took photos of them. It might seem silly, but everyone starts photography in their own way. I think it has taught me a lot, mainly how the angle of the photo affects the final image.
I then upgraded to the family camera, a FujiFilm FinePix S8200. It's a bridge camera, not for a beginner, but not quite for a professional. It is a perfect in-between camera. My hope was to use this camera to help me get the basic skills of photography and then when I was ready upgrade to a different more advanced camera.
My toy photography image carousel.
My first photo shoot event
My photos of Avro Vulcan B.Mk2 MX655 at Wellesbourne Airfield on the image carousel.
I took this little red Fuji camera to my first-ever aircraft photo shoot event. This photo shoot was the Avro Vulcan XM655. It was an evening shoot on the 4th of November 2023. With 'my' little red camera, I got to work taking some lovely pictures. Unfortunately, the British weather had other plans. It started to rain cats and dogs. I went into their gift shop, which helps to fund the maintenance for the Vulcan XM655. I got some badges for my plane jacket and some other XM655 things. After the rain had stopped, there were loads of puddles! I took some awesome reflection photos. What's better than one Vulcan? Two Vulcans! Later on in the shoot, it started to get dark and cold. Waiting for the sun to go down because of the awkward lighting. I got a nice hot drink of tea and spoke to some lovely people who were more than happy to talk about everything Avro Vulcan-related and plane-related. It was amazing to stand under an Avro Vulcan and get a true understanding of its size and power. That shoot is still my favourite one I have done.
First air show doing photography Cosford air show 2023
I went to RAF Cosford air show in June 2023. It's still one of the only air shows I have been to where the weather was lovely sunshine and only a few clouds in the sky. I took my little read camera even though I knew it struggled with fast-moving subjects like aircraft. I was practising with aircraft flying over where I live, and when I went to Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport (EGBO) for a flying lesson. The camera is really slow to focus. It just can't keep up with the focus on fast-moving aircraft, even propeller planes. It's really good for static aircraft. Even though it was very hard to get nice, in-focus photos, I did get a few great photos. It was really good! I saw a P-51 Mustang, a Chinook and the RAF Typhoon Display Team.
2023 was the year the RAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules was retired. The farewell flight was on the day of RAF Cosford air show 2023. I got to see one of the C-130s do a fly past at the air show. I didn't know really anything about the C-130 Hercules then, except knowing it was a cargo plane. I looked into the history of the C-130. Only then did I realise how lucky I was to see it on its farewell flight. What an historic moment it was! Farewell RAF C-130s, and thank you for your service.
North American P-51D Mustang G-CMDK at Cosford air show 2023.
Short SC.7 Skyvan 3-100 C-FARA at Cosford air show 2023.
Lighting photo shoot
Both pictures are of the same aircraft it has a different paint livery on each side XR713 and XR718. This aircraft is static only. View image carousel.
I didn't know about the English Electric Lightning until I got to do a photo shoot at the Lightning Preservation Group at Bruntingthorpe, I was very excited. It was an evening shoot, and I still had my red camera for this shoot. I didn't get many photos because it was very cold, and my camera batteries kept dying from being cold. Find more on my aviation story page. I was also quite busy talking to people and learning all I could. It was an interesting shoot. I would have loved to get better photos when it was dark, but the red camera really struggles with low-light photography. The other two English Electric Lightning XR728 and XS904 are both maintained in taxiable condition and can be viewed in close-up.
Cosford photography events
I have been able to do two photo shoots at RAF Cosford inside the base. The first one was very good. Shame it was all grey sky and bad lighting, but still nice to see Jaguars and Tornados up close. There were also a few Harriers. I got some great photos of the Harriers on that shoot. It was quite hard to get clear photos because I didn't have a tripod, and the lighting.
The Second shot was a lot better, with nice blue sky and the odd cloud. There weren't as many aircraft, but the ones that were there were ones you don't normally see. Like a Red Arrow Hawk, a Typhoon, Tornadoes and Jaguars. I had my new Canon 90D for the second shoot with a tripod. Having a camera that doesn't struggle with low lighting is very nice. I can get really nice photo's of an aircraft at night now. Still an art to low light or night time photography.
I have learnt a lot from these shoots, from camera settings to the difference a tripod makes. I'm keeping this vague because it is a RAF training base and don't want to get in trouble. If you get the chance to do a shoot I would definitely recommend!
Panavia Tornado GR1 ZA320 at the first Cosford shoot.
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon T1 ZH590 at the second Cosford shoot.
Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2024
Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon FGR4 ZJ913 (Moggy) the Royal Air Forces typhoon display jet for the 2024 display season.
Airbus A400M Grizzly 54+23 German Air Force.
McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Matador II+ VA.1B-38 Spanish Navy.
I was extremely lucky to go to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) for the first time in 2024. It was just incredible! I got some really good photos and learnt a lot. It was quite a change going from mostly slower propeller aircraft to very fast fighter jets. Find out more on my aviation story page. I was very excited that day, I had been waiting all year for this air show and even had a countdown on my phone for it. I was quite overexcited and a bit overwhelmed at the air show because of the number of people and the size of the air show. I didn't really focus on camera settings and was just taking it all in and enjoying it. Either way, good practice on tracking the planes and shutter speeds.
The Royal International Air Tattoo is a must-do for anyone into aviation. It will not disappoint! There is something for everyone, from shops to activities for young kids and adults. The best part is all the amazing aircraft and flying displays.
Harrier jump jet photo shoot
With my new Canon 90D camera, this photo shoot was going to be epic, not just because of the camera but because it was with a Harrier jump jet GR3! Its the only running one in the UK. Also, an evening photo shoot with reenactors and an engine run. I looked into the camera settings to work out the best setting, mixed in with trial and error at the shoot. It was really nice, great sky, and a great sunset. I love sunsets with a plane. They're really hard to get right in photography, and I still haven't quite got it right yet, but I'm still working on it. This Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 is owned and maintained by Millitons Engines.
Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3 XV808 at Millitons Engines on the image carousel.
English Riviera air show
Some of my photos from the English Riviera Air Show. The Spitfires where definitely the best ones! On the image carousel.
The English Riviera Air Show is very unique because it is free, no ticket required. It was fantastic! Even got to see a Jet Provost do a flying display for the first time. It was very busy but a great opportunity to talk to the RAF recruit and some of the lovely Typhoon display team members. I even got to meet Squadron Leader Nathan Shawyer, the pilot for the typhoon this year in person and also got his signature too. He was really nice! The display he did was brilliant! Really showed off his skill and what the typhoon could really do! Lots of trying different camera settings and just being in avgeek mode all through the air show.
Cosford air show 2025
Cosford air show 2025. I think it was a bit of a flop, to be honest. Not Cosford's fault at all, no blame on them at all. There were a lot of cancellations a few days before the air show. Some were called off because of the weather on the day, others because of the teams. It was very disappointing, especially at £40 a ticket. It was still good for what was flying, mostly propeller aircraft, P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt and the BBMF. We're really good. There were a few jets, an RAF Typhoon, a RAF F-35, which did a fly pass and the F-16 Tiger Demo Team Poland. Their display was breath taking! The weather wasn't very good with on and off rain, which made it quite a challenge to get photos because I didn't want my camera getting wet. Find out more on my My Aviation Story page. I really liked seeing the BBMF. I didn't get to see them in 2023/2024; it was a really good display of the 3 British icons, Lancaster. Hurricane and Spitfire. Overall all it was good, but I will probably give it a miss in 2026.
I think my favourites where the F-16 Tiger Demo Team Poland, Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) especially the spitfire and the Royal Netherlands Air Force Supermarine 361 Spitfire LF9B Mark IX which was really cool to see fly!
Royal Air Force Red Arrows display team. My top photo from the air show! Was very hard to get but very proud it did.
Some of my top photos from Cosford air show 2025.
Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2025
How epic the Royal International Air Tattoo was in 2024. I knew I had to go again in 2025! When the theme was announced for 2025, it made me want to go even more. The theme was 'Eyes in the Sky'. I was hoping a USAF (U.S Air Force) U-2 would be flying. With my new camera and a lot more practice under my belt. I was ready for the challenge of the fast fighter jets. It was beyond fantastic! I focused on quality over quantity in the photos I took. It was a very long day, but totally worth it! Got to see a USAF U-2 fly!
Compering my 2024 and 2025 RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo) photos the difference a year can make improving your photography skills is incredible and kind of mind blowing! Also having a better camera that can do the faster shutter speed is also quite a game changer.
I think the best part of RIAT is everyone I have spoke to have been really lovely and are happy to have a chat or help with any questions you have. Its also really interesting to talk to people who have come from all over the world to see the RIAT show! The only thing is it needs more Spitfires.
Lookheed U-2s AF80-094 United States Air Force at Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2025.
Some of my best photos from RIAT 2025! The improvement from RIAT 2024 is mind blowing! I have come a long way in my photography skills since then. See the image carousel.
The journey continues...
The journey continues...
If there was one thing I have learnt from doing photography is that it takes loads of trial and error, lots of messing up, getting things wrong and learning from them. Everyone has their own type of photography style, and it can take a while to find it. There are times when you want to quit because people are getting 'better' photos than you, but they have just been doing it longer and have more experience. Don't give up, you'll get there!
Want to see more of my photography? Check out my Instagram! @spitfiregirl_aviation
Want to see more of my photography? Check out my Instagram! @spitfiregirl_aviation
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