[Leica] SR-71 at the Smithsonian...and a shot at the end just for Ted. :)

[abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge)]

I was in Washington D.C. last week for a symposium and had a chance to
spend the day at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum Annex at
Dulles.

Several of you have been there and posted images. These are a few of mine.

First you have to know that I'm a SERIOUS SR-71 junkie. One of the
highlights of my life was driving down 99 in Sacramento with the top
down while a Blackbird (the pilots also called them "sleds") was in
the pattern shooting touch and goes at the airbase. ENORMOUS sound.

This was the first time I have been close to one. I was taken by the
beauty of her curves, all designed in the early days of digital
computers and with a lot of elegant math under the eye of Kelly
Johnson, leader of Lockheed's Skunkworks.

So I explored the curves and shapes. It was difficult because the
light levels in the museum are low. These were all shot at ASA 1600
and for the most part were taken at f2.8.

So take these as explorations of the SR-71 in the nude, as you will.

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3230.jpg>

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3231.jpg>

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3234.jpg>

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3235.jpg>

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3242.jpg>

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3268.jpg>

This last one is for Ted who I thought of instantly. It's a P-51C
modified for long-endurance flights over the North Pole. I was
captured by the chrome props.

<http://www.adambridge.com/Photos/2005/06/10/_L3U3298.jpg>

Canon 1Ds MkII with 24-70 F2.8L

Comments and responses most welcome.

Adam Bridge