Last weekend was the annual California Capital Airshow. If you know me, you know I love airshows. My family was a military family; even though my father retired 6 months after I was born, I practically grew up on McClellan Air Force Base.
The base pool and bowling alley were my parents' go-to babysitters for us. And the base theater was their way of treating us about once a month.
Whenever there was an airshow within 50 miles, I was there. And there were plenty since I grew up in "Airbase Alley". We were surrounded by military bases, which is one reason my parents moved here upon retirement. Three and a half years prior to my birth in Fort Dix New Jersey, my brother was born at Beale AFB in Marysville. I think it was around that time that they decided this would be a great place to retire. Besides Beale, there were two bases in Sacramento (McClellan and Mather) and Travis AFB in Fairfield.
Consequently, I grew up with a distinct love of planes and a healthy respect for the military. I really, REALLY wanted to be a Thunderbird pilot growing up.
Well, if you can join 'em. Watch 'em.
So on Friday night, for the first time, they had "Airshow After Dark!" Exciting! But I was not in a position to pay the $135 for the ticket and farm-to-fork buffet dinner. So I did the next best thing... Parked at the end of the airstrip along with some other fans/photographers. We had a good time talking and watching the flights and fireworks.
I took some truly fantastical photos!
What used to be Mather Air Force Base is now Mather Field - home to United Parcel Service. So it was appropriate that midshow everyone had to pause so this guy could take off.
And now...on with the show! If you look very closely, in some of these pictures you just might see an actual plane!
This photo was actually supposed to be the Big Dipper on a long exposure. But in a weird twist, the plane that was currently performing just happened to circle around (the Dipper was actually not in the direction of Mather) and fly through my long exposure.
You can kinda see the plane!
This plane was actually shooting fireworks off it's wings in addition to the sparks that most of the performers were trailing. Pretty cool!
Another "squint and you can see it" plane photo.
And I don't know what this was. But it looks cool. And you can see the base, so...
And then! Fireworks!
Firework bokeh!
And last, but not least, a finale filled with hearts!
Join me tomorrow for some Thunderbird action! It's not as dirty as it sounds. ;-)
xoxo
