About the image

This dramatic portrait was taken while I was on active duty with the Air Force. The subject, a dedicated flight student in the Combat Systems Officer Pipeline, and I managed to secure access to the flight line after hours (with proper permissions, of course) for this special shoot. To make this image stand out, I brought along an assistant to help with the lighting setup. Using a Canon EOS R with a 50mm f/1.2 Canon lens, I timed the shoot perfectly with the setting sun, creating a naturally stunning backdrop. To enhance the lighting, I used a Godox AD300 with a 35″ Glow EZ Lock Deep Parabolic Softbox equipped with a double diffusion grid. This setup allowed me to achieve the striking and dramatic lighting effect you see in the image. The result is a powerful portrait that combines natural light and precise artificial lighting, capturing both the subject’s poise and the technical beauty of the aircraft.