Our Man In Afganistan

airnutz · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:52 am

Thanks Randy for the great pics and your service...keep safe and give 'em H3LL!
Thanks Jack for posting Randys' snaps! Looking forward to your model Ritger!,,,,

Oscar Duck · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:13 am

fly safe and look after some of my Aussie friends in-country too... :roo:

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:15 am

Thanks Randy -- Just joking about Nikon vs "the dark side" of course, but Nikon has served me well for 35 years now.

Regarding light falloff -- I believe that recent versions of Photoshop have a tool that does quite a nice job of dealing with lens-induced light falloff. Probably not terribly helpful in your present situation, but for important images could well be useful when you have less on your plate in the future and have time to come back to the images...

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:41 am

Wonderful images Randy, and my respects for your service. Please keep posting. Incidentally, with respect to the reflections off the plexiglas, you might be able to deal with these by putting some rubber padding around the end of your lens, so that you can put it up close to the canopy (without the risk of damaging it). I know other photographers do this.

On another note, I had a ride in an 90th FS F-15E last summer out of Elmendorf for an Air Forces Monthly article on the 3rd OG. The Strike Eagle I was photographing also had a replacement rudder from an F-15C, which I thought was pretty amusing. I flew with Col. Randy Roberts, and Maj. Evan Pettus. They couldn't have been nicer people to work with. I figured that since the F-15E community is pretty small that you might know them. Here are a couple of shots from the flight.

Fly safe,

Richard

Randy Haskin · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:12 am

Randy "R2" Roberts was my Squadron Commander in my previous F-15E assignment in North Carolina. He flies for Continental Airlines now, I think. That's GOT to be him in the front seat in the first shot you posted. He's the shortest F-15E driver I know.

Your shots are magnificent...sure is beautiful up there in Alaska. That squadron unfortunately has since closed down and moved to Mountain Home AFB.

Neal Nurmi wrote:

Regarding light falloff -- I believe that recent versions of Photoshop have a tool that does quite a nice job of dealing with lens-induced light falloff. Probably not terribly helpful in your present situation, but for important images could well be useful when you have less on your plate in the future and have time to come back to the images...

Do you know specifically which versions? I think I have version 7-something on my laptop, which is about 2 years old by now.

T33driver · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:14 am

Great shots with the camera and the JDAMs! Thanks for your service stickin' it to the bad guys. Fly safe!

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:29 am

Randy Haskin wrote:

Randy "R2" Roberts was my Squadron Commander in my previous F-15E assignment in North Carolina. He flies for Continental Airlines now, I think.

Your shots are magnificent...sure is beautiful up there in Alaska. That squadron unfortunately has since closed down and moved to Mountain Home AFB.

Many thanks for your comments Randy, I really appreciate them. Alaska is an amazing backdrop for sure. I've always loved the F-15E too... there's something about it which is quite remarkable. I loved your shots too!

Yes, I did know that the 90th's aircraft, and many of their pilots had moved on to Mountain Home. The air-to-air I did was sort of a "last hurrah" for the squadron before they disbanded and re-formed with new pilots and the F-22. It was also for Col.Roberts. R2 retired in April, and the 3rd OG actually asked for a print of him flying through the gorge (the second image). I felt honored to do that for them. I didn't know that R2 had gone on to Continental... that's good to hear. Please say hi for me when you hear from him next.

All the best,
Richard

PS. Re. your question on anti-vignetting in Photoshop. I think this filter first appeared in Photoshop CS. It's certainly in CS2, under Filter - Distort - Lens Correction. Hope this helps.

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:43 am

Richard -- That glacier shot is especially stunning -- great stuff!

Randy -- I think Richard is correct about that tool being new to Photoshop CS. CS was the first version I ever used, so I cannot speak to earlier versions. You may just have to upgrade -- Not cheap!

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:50 am

Neal Nurmi wrote:

Richard -- That glacier shot is especially stunning -- great stuff!

Randy -- I think Richard is correct about that tool being new to Photoshop CS. CS was the first version I ever used, so I cannot speak to earlier versions. You may just have to upgrade -- Not cheap!

Many thanks Neal... that means a lot coming from you!

All the best,
Richard

vg-photo · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:37 pm

Beautiful shots, Richard!

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:44 pm

vg-photo wrote:

Beautiful shots, Richard!

Many thanks! It's hard not to get a good shot considering he subject, and the backdrop, but I appreciate it all the same. I can't wait to see some more of Randy's work too.

Cheers,
Richard

cu360r6 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:18 pm

Hey stop wasting our tax dollars partying about the sky, and get back to work!

Joking, joking... fantastic pictures, and thanks for your service to our country.

jaybird · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:05 pm

Man, all those shots + Richard's are just so cool. I actually like the least "technically artistic" photo - the Flag photo the best. I sent that pic to a bunch of friends....I hope it becomes a patriotic chain mail.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:41 pm

Mike wrote:

Chicoartist wrote:

Does he really fly those things?

Wade

For now................ :shock:

(where do you put the nose art on these things?) :lol:

Paint it up like baby shamu or willie :wink:

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