All Missions

Featured

Pixel Drag Edit

It’s time to get creative! How far can you drag those pixels? It’s time for a pixel drag! 🎯 This editing Mission is all about taking one of your aviation shots and applying that killer pixel drag effect where your aircraft stays pin-sharp and you create a streak from the subject. It's the perfect way to show creativity and style it in any way you can think of. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎨 Use a colourful aircraft. Aircraft with unique colours or patterns can make for a very striking effect. 🎯 Start with a sharp base image. The aircraft needs to be in focus for this to work. 💨 Use directional blur. Mask out your aircraft to keep it untouched. 🖌️ Experiment with pixel drag length and angle. 👌 Boost contrast and clarity on the aircraft to make it pop against the streaky background. Let us know, how did you create your pixel drag edit?

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In Your Face

Bold, punchy, and in your face - this one’s all about those head-on shots that demand attention! Whether it’s a fighter lining up for take-off, a heavy jet on short final, or a helicopter staring you down, nothing feels quite as dramatic as an aircraft charging straight towards the lens. This Mission is about capturing that raw, powerful perspective. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Centre up your frame and experiment with rotating the image to maximise impact 💪 Try a slightly longer focal length to compress the scene and make the aircraft fill the frame. 🗣 Share the story - was it a daring low approach, a surprise line-up, or just perfect timing? 💡 Did You Know? Shooting head-on exaggerates convergence — parallel lines (like runways or taxiways) appear to meet faster towards the centre of the frame. To keep it looking balanced, position yourself directly in line with the aircraft whenever possible, and use leading lines to enhance the sense of speed and power.

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Abstract

A whole new perspective on aviation! This Mission sees a different take on the aviation scene, as we channel our artistic side to showcase abstract aviation views. Discover tight crops of wing roots, artistic close-ups of fan blades, and detailed shots of rivets. Show the creative use of light as it highlights specific fuselage curves or glints off a cockpit’s glass. Let’s see the intricate patterns of mottled camouflage, or the sharp focus on titles and markings. Abstract and aviation go hand in hand with your creativity - let’s show it!

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Just the Jelly

That wobbly jet exhaust that looks like jelly! 🍮 This Mission is all about maximum jelly… go hard on showing the ripples, texture and distortion coming off the back end. Whether it’s taxi, take-off, or burner, see how you can make that jelly the centrepiece of your shot. Mission Tips: 🔥 Get low and line it up! Put something behind the exhaust (runway lines, trees, hangars, people, other jets) so the distortion is accentuated. 📏 Go longer if you can. A longer focal length compresses the scene and makes the “jelly” look thicker and more obvious. ⚡ Try a faster shutter if the jet is moving (around 1/800+). You want crisp detail on the airframe while the exhaust does its thing. 🖌 Edit for texture: Boost clarity and texture around the jelly area, keep sharpening controlled, and don’t overdo dehaze or it may make the shimmer look a little crunchy.

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Night

When darkness falls, aviation takes on a whole new dimension. Dramatic lighting, glowing airports, runway lighting, piercing afterburners and pulsating nav lights… Always a challenge to photograph but one that we all relish! Let’s Kolab with an airliner plugged into a terminal at night. A fast jet slamming in the reheat on a night mission. A historic machine under choreographed lighting. This is where your best shots come together to convey just how cool aviation looks at night.

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Black & White

Aviation stripped back... This Mission celebrates the timeless power of monochrome… And, well, you could say aviation began in B&W! This is where we remove the distractions and focus on what really matters… Think rich, deep blacks, contrasting with searing whites… Or much more subtle tones of greys to convey a totally different look altogether. Let’s see your images of gleaming fuselages… Metal and rivets in gritty contrast… Darkened skies peppered with white clouds… Maybe period edits of old school aircraft… Or perhaps even your own take on it! Let's build a collection that needs no colour to inspire. From gritty documentary-style airport scenes to fine art long exposures, this Mission is where we rediscover just how good aviation looks in black & white!⚫⚪

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Winter Wonderland

Aviation in winter weather is captivating. There's something about seeing aircraft battle the elements that just hits different - and when winter takes hold, aviation photography steps up a gear. This Kolab celebrates aviation's coolest (🥶) season! From military fighters kicking in the burners on icy runways to airliners fighting zero visibility on finals, show us your best winter action shots! Let’s see ground crews de-icing at dawn, jets generating epic vapour in the crisp morning air, or that special moment when the low winter sun rises over an airfield’s white landscape… Think atmospheric elements, harsh conditions, and those unique operational challenges that only winter brings ❄️. Let's build a collection that showcases aviation at its most dramatic - when the mercury drops and the photo opportunities rise!

Vapour

We're looking for those shots where aircraft generate their own atmosphere😮‍💨 Let’s see those wingtip vortices curling into tight spirals, dramatic bursts during high-G manoeuvres, or those mini weather systems created over the wing of a commercial airliner. This Kōlab is proof that aviation photography is both a science and an art… Drop your best vapour shots here!😶‍🌫️

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General Aviation

The lighter side of aviation life! If aviation is a way of life, then General Aviation is where it all begins! Light aircraft in local airfields bring the feel-good factor to any day. Buzzing Cessnas, Pipers, Cirrus and Pilatus types to name a few… There’s millions of light aircraft out there, all employed in a spread of leisure, private and business modes. Let’s build our very own GA scene with images from around the world of local airfields and light aircraft!

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Moon Crosses

This Mission is all about those epic shots where aircraft and the moon line up. 🌕✈️ Whether it’s a silhouette passing across the face of the moon, a contrail cutting close, or a perfectly timed approach framed against lunar light, we want to see your best moon crosses. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use a long focal length to make the moon appear larger and fill more of the frame. 💪 Shoot in burst mode - timing is everything when lining up an aircraft with the moon. 🖌 In editing, add a touch of clarity or texture to bring out lunar detail. 🗣 Share the story - was it careful planning, pure luck, or a once-in-a-lifetime capture? 💡 Did You Know? Because the moon is so far away, it appears almost the same size from anywhere on Earth. That means the key to a great moon cross is not location, but timing and focal length - the longer the lens, the more dramatic the result.

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Departures

Lift off! 🛫 This Mission is all about those moments when aircraft leave the ground... the rotations, the climbs, and the take-offs that capture the buzz of aviation. Whether it’s a fighter launching, an airliner lifting heavy into the haze, or a prop pulling up gracefully, show us your best departure shots! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Burst mode is your friend - timing is everything. 💪 Try framing so the horizon sits low and the climb feels steep and dynamic. 🖌 In editing, lift clarity or contrast slightly to bring out the sense of motion and energy. 🗣 Share the story - where was it and how did you get the shot? 💡 Did You Know? Most airliners rotate at around 150 knots, with pilots using a gentle pitch-up of about 10–15 degrees to balance lift and speed. Shooting from a lower angle can exaggerate that moment and make the climb look far more dramatic!

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Negative Space

Sometimes less is more! Negative space is all about letting your subject breathe, using sky, clouds, light, or emptiness to add some impact💥 Whether it’s a tiny aircraft against a huge backdrop or a bold composition that feels intentionally minimal, this Mission is about how to use space for confident framing! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Give your subject room — don’t be afraid to let the aircraft sit small in the frame. 📐 Compose with intention — balance matters. Where you don’t place the aircraft is just as important. 🎨 Simplify the edit — clean tones, gentle contrast, minimal distractions. 🧠 Think mood over detail — atmosphere, calm, scale, or isolation can say more than action. 🗣 Tell us what you left out — what made you choose this composition? 💡 Did You Know? Negative space helps guide the viewer’s eye and creates a sense of scale and calm. Choosing not to fill the frame is often used to evoke confidence… try it out!

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Sunset & Sunrise

Sunset and Sunrise… Is there a better time to get your camera out? The colours, those warm tones and contrasting clouds, mixing it up with a silhouetted aircraft. It’s aviation photography heaven. Let’s see those awe-inspiring scenes of aircraft caught in dramatic sunsets or in dawn’s first light. This Kolab is where we team up with Mother Nature & machines to make the magic happen.

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Panning Perfection

Smooth, sharp, and full of motion - let’s see your best panning shots in action! Panning is one of those techniques that makes aviation photography come alive. Whether it’s a fast jet screaming past at 1/200s or a heavy Airbus rolling in at 1/30s, the skill is in tracking your subject smoothly to keep it sharp while everything else blurs. This mission is all about celebrating that perfect mix of speed and precision. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Start around 1/125s for jets and go slower for props - tweak until you find your sweet spot. 💪 Plant your feet, twist from the waist, and follow through after the shot. 🗣 Got a near miss or a “lucky” pan? Share the story, we want to hear it! 💡 Did You Know? When you pan, the parts of the aircraft closer to you move faster across your frame than the parts further away - this is called parallax. It’s why wingtips might blur even if the fuselage is tack-sharp. To minimise it, pan when the aircraft is as side-on as possible, and keep your focus point near the middle of the subject.

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Wrecks & Relics

Long lost legends of the aviation world… The world is filled with airframes off the beaten track. Some are in tatters, barely recognisable. Others might be left derelict in the wilderness and some might escape such fate and end up as monuments to times gone by. This is not about preservation in museums or collections, but focusses on those fascinating aircraft that have almost been forgotten by everyone… Except you, the intrepid aviation photographer! Oh yes, the thrill of the chase to discover wrecks & relics is such an adventure! A WW2 machine strewn over a mountain after a dramatic fight. The old transport buried in the undergrowth. The wreck, left in-situ after a heavy landing. Or, the one-off gate guard standing over a base or on a pole as a community focal point… This is where those wrecks & relics come alive once more!

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Commercial Aircraft

Commercial aircraft literally make the world go round… And it’s time to celebrate the whole lot! This is the place to show the clean, sleek designs and colourful attraction of civil aircraft around the globe. It’s is just aviation heaven for the aviation photographer. Let’s absorb all those colourful liveries, enjoy the scheduled services & get excited by those rare movements. It’s a place for for everything from passenger fleets & massive cargo giants, through regional jets and turboprops, to super-sleek bizjets, and light twins… All at huge hits or far-flung airports… Is there anything else like it?! Aviation in commercial aviation is thriving and here is where we show it to the world!

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Low-Level Legends

500ft at 500kts… The domain of low-level flying is the epitome of speed & action! We spend hours (or days…) in anticipation, staring down valleys and mountain gorges, often in some of the most beautiful places on planet earth… Waiting in hope… The prize? Turning & burning fighter jets, winding and wallowing transports or nimble trainers & uber-low helicopters in their purest form - training in the low-level flight regime. It’s the thrill of the chase, which can be frustrating, in all weather, and there’s a million tales of woe… But this Kolab celebrates the ultimate high of nailing low-level action, all over the world!

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Wingtip Wednesday

This Mission needs no explanation - if it's Wednesday and features a wingtip, it's game on! Show us what you've got! ✈️

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Airbus vs Boeing

So who makes the best-looking planes? 😏 Let’s put the two leading aircraft manufacturers head-to-head and see which is most photogenic. From the elegance of the A350 to the power of the 747, show us what makes each design stand out and how you see them differently through your lens. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Focus on design details like wing shapes, cockpit lines, engine geometry, or how light hits the fuselage. 💪 Composition matters: think symmetry on the ground or dynamics in flight. 🖌 In editing, enhance what defines each shot — smooth tones, strong contrast, or refined texture. 🗣 Tell the story: was it a rare catch, a favourite model, or your creative take on a classic? 💡 Did You Know? Airbus and Boeing together produce over 90% of the world’s commercial airliners. Their aircraft often share the same routes, but each has unique design signatures that make them instantly recognisable once you start looking closely.

Final Approach

This one’s all about those aircraft on final approach 🛬! Think aircraft on short finals, touching down, or scenes that capture aircraft on the way in to land! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Look for light and perspective that show movement and direction; approaches, flares, and final turns all work perfectly. 💪 Use framing or leading lines to emphasise descent and motion. 🖌 In editing, enhance runway lights, golden tones, or low evening contrast to give that “almost home” atmosphere. 🗣 Share the story - where was it shot, and what does this moment mean to you as we wrap up the beta?

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Wide-Bodies

The giants of modern aviation! ✈️ This Mission celebrates the sleek, impressive presence of wide-body aircraft... those massive A350s, 787 Dreamliners, A380s and 777s that define long-haul travel... and don't forget those military wide-bodies either! Whether it's their smooth curves, impressive scale, or cutting-edge design, show us why these aircraft command respect on the ramp! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Get low and shoot upwards to emphasise their impressive scale and presence ✨ Wide-bodies look stunning in clean side profiles... those elegant lines really show 📐 Use leading lines from taxiways or terminal buildings to draw attention to the aircraft 🌅 Golden hour lighting makes those polished fuselages absolutely glow 💡 In post, boost clarity on the fuselage details while keeping backgrounds clean How did you decide to shoot this?

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Military Aircraft

Military aircraft in all their power and might… They offer the ultimate combination of speed, noise, weapons, camouflage, squadron marks, burners, smokey engines, grey paint, rivets and, well - for the aviation photographer - sheer outright coolness… Here’s the place for images that show the full diversity and allure of military aircraft - in all shapes, sizes and roles! Let’s see rows of initial trainers making the next generations of pilots, let’s enjoy fighters defending the frontline or displaying at an event. Don’t forget transports heaving personnel & equipment around the globe, bombers in all their ominous presence, plus those rare specialist mission aircraft in a myriad of tasks… And the tankers keeping the whole lot going! If you shoot any military aircraft, past or present, rare, exotic or mass-produced, this is the ultimate collection!

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Cockpit Views

From glass-paneled modern airliners to steam-gauge classics, let’s see those views from the pointy end! Perhaps it’s the overwhelming complexity of a 747 flight deck, the stripped-back functionality of a fighter cockpit, or the vintage charm of polished aluminum and bakelite switches in a museum-bound warbird.… whatever cockpit views you have, this is the place!

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Silhouettes

Bold, clean and instantly eye-catching! 🌅 This Mission is all about strong shapes and dramatic light. If the aircraft is dark against a brighter sky, sunset, moon, floodlights or twilight glow, it counts. Show us the silhouettes that make aircraft look graphic, mysterious and powerful. ⚡️ Mission Guide Try simple shapes: Side profiles, banked silhouettes, helicopter rotors, gear outlines. Make the outline pop. Shoot into the light: Sunsets, sunrise, ramp backlighting, moonlit, flood-lit lighting. Keep it clean: Look for clear backgrounds, strong horizons, and defined shapes. Edit for punch: • Drop shadows darker for a clean silhouette • Lift highlights to separate aircraft from the sky • Try warming or cooling the sky for extra mood • A touch of dehaze can make the sky pop Use angles: Banking shots and nose-up silhouettes always look dramatic. Play with perspective. 🗣 Tell us the story When did you catch this moment? Sunset chase, airshow golden hour, night ramp magic? What made the silhouette stand out?

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RIAT

Welcome to the world’s greatest military airshow! This Mission, sponsored by Clifton Cameras, is your space to showcase the best of RIAT - from jaw-dropping passes to quiet moments on the flight line. 🎯Your Mission? Capture as many different elements of RIAT as you can - from flame-filled departures to static stories, crazy shutter speeds to iconic aircraft types! Pick your targets, shoot with purpose, and add in your caption what it is you’ve captured. Whether it’s your first RIAT or your 20th, this Mission is open to all! Let’s make this the most epic RIAT gallery yet!😎

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Living History

WW2 heroes… 1950s pioneers… Cold War legends… Modern airpower relived. Aviation history being fired back into life is amazing to shoot. The dedicated historians, re-enactors and event providers working hard to recapture bygone scenes on our modern-day equipment… And the ln the challenge of period edits! What a great way to engage in aviation. This Kolab is all about living history scenes - any era, any type, any style!

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787 Dreamliner

The 787 Dreamliner. Clean, modern, instantly recognisable. This Mission is all about Boeing’s game-changing widebody and the details that make it stand out on the ramp and in the sky! Post your best 787 shot. Show us what makes this aircraft special to you, whether it’s rotation, wing flex, side-on power, or a crisp ground moment with presence. Mission Tips: ✈️ Look for wing flex on take-off or landing. A slightly lower angle makes that bend look even bigger. 🎯 Go clean with your composition. The 787’s smooth lines shine when the background isn’t cluttered. 📏 Frame to show the raked wingtips clearly. Don’t crop them tight unless you’re going for a detail shot. 🖌 In editing, keep it crisp. Add a touch of clarity and contrast to bring out those curves without overcooking the sky. 🌅 If you can, shoot in softer light. The Dreamliner looks unreal in golden hour with that smooth fuselage glow. Which airline’s 787 are you shooting, and what makes that livery hit different?

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Creative Contrails

This one’s all about contrails… Let’s see those creative shots that remind us that aviation rules the sky!😎 Let’s work together to show different creative compositions with those artistic leading lines. Show aircraft as distant dots or as close-up main characters, with long trails of bright white against deep blue, or perhaps being coloured by a golden setting sun🌅 How creative can you be? Think interesting compositions, contrasting colours, or geometric patterns. Let’s see those Creative Contrails!

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Lost In The Fog

When the fog rolls in and the lights come alive😍 This Mission is all about aircraft slicing through fog, mist or low cloud, creating that epic drama and sense of atmosphere. Think heavies taxiing on a foggy apron, fighters on short final with beams punching through fog, helicopters lighting up the night air. Mission Tips: 🌫️ Shoot into the light. Position yourself so landing or taxi lights are facing you to make the fog visible and dramatic. 📐 Keep it clean at night. Night + fog can get noisy fast, so use denoise to help clean it up. 📸 Slight underexposure helps. Protect highlights so the beams don’t blow out and lose shape. 🖌 In the edit, lift clarity or dehaze gently around the light beams to define the mist. 🎯 Focus carefully. Use a single AF point on a bright edge or logo to avoid hunting in low contrast conditions. Tell us the moment. Was it freezing cold on the fence? A lucky fog bank? Or a perfectly timed arrival into the gloom?

Dark & Moody

This one’s all about the edit. Take any shot and give it that dark, atmospheric look - deep shadows, rich contrast, and cinematic tones. Whether it’s a jet on the ramp at night, a heavy in stormy skies, or even a daylight shot re-imagined in post, the challenge is to use your editing skills to create mood and drama. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Drop exposure and blacks, but lift contrast to keep the image punchy. 💪 Experiment with colour grading - cooler shadows and subtle warm highlights can add depth. 🖌 Try using radial or gradient masks to shape the light and focus attention. 🗣 Share your process - how did you achieve the edit? What did you learn? 💡 Did You Know? Using the Tone Curve is one of the best ways to nail this style. Pull the shadows down, then lift the blacks slightly - it gives that “matte” cinematic feel while still keeping texture in the darkest parts of the image.

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F-16: The Viper

The F-16 defined a generation of fast-jet airpower. Riding on a 40-year battle-proven legacy, the multirole ‘Viper’ is something of an icon in all corners of the military globe. From burner-filled agile turns, impressive heavy weapon loads and those unmistakable lines, the ‘Viper’ has a presence that demands attention. This Mission is all about celebrating the aircraft that’s as photogenic as it is legendary! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Show the energy: high-G burner departures turns, vapour, tight angles on the unique features, or that perfect topside. The Viper never disappoints. 💪 Make the jet the hero: its silhouette is unmistakable, so go for bold compositions, clean lines, or deep crops that emphasise shape and presence. 🗣 Tell your story: was it a rare deployment, a perfect light moment, or a long-awaited catch? What made this shot stand out? 💡 Did You Know? The F-16’s frameless bubble canopy gives pilots one of the best fields of view of any fighter ever built. Its fly-by-wire controls and relaxed static stability are what give it that famously responsive, high-energy feel… which also makes it an absolute dream to photograph in dynamic manoeuvres!

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Colour Pop: Red

Make it bold, make it striking - this Mission is all about letting red steal the show. 🔴 Whether it’s the glow of a Red Arrows Hawk, the shine of a fire truck on the ramp, or a clever edit that pulls red out from the background, we want to see shots where red takes centre stage. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use selective colour or HSL sliders to desaturate everything else and let red pop. 💪 Try lifting contrast to make red tones stand out even more. 🗣 Share the story - was it caught naturally, or did you create the effect in the edit? 💡 Did You Know? In Lightroom, the red channel often overlaps with orange, especially on skin tones, sunsets, or aircraft paint. To get a clean pop, try adjusting both the red and orange sliders in HSL. Balancing the two will stop your reds looking too muddy or too neon.

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Civil Helicopter Action

Celebrating the glitz, skill & drama of civil helicopters! The civilian helicopter industry is fast-paced and fascinating. With constant upgrades, developments and new models, it’s a red hot rotary fest! This Kolab brings together the classy designs, passenger ops, the oldschool stalwarts, the swish VIP scene and the busy civilian contractors - and showcases all of their skillful prowess. Let’s see the civilian helicopter world at work!

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Symmetry

This Mission is all about precision. ✈️ Shots that line up clean, dead centre, or perfectly balanced. Think aircraft head-ons, formation flights, runway reflections, hangar scenes — anything that nails that satisfying sense of alignment. Whether you plan it in-camera or refine it in post, symmetry is a test of your eye and your control! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use grid lines or centre AF to keep your framing tight. 💪 Small crops make a big difference — clean up edges and verticals in post. 🖌 Reflections, twin aircraft, and runway centre lines all make strong symmetry. 🗣 Share your story — was it pure timing or careful planning? 💡 Did You Know? The easiest way to shoot perfect symmetry is to stand square on to your subject and keep the horizon level — even a few degrees off makes the whole frame feel unbalanced. In editing, use the Transform or Guided Upright tool in Lightroom to straighten verticals and centre lines precisely.

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Concorde

Concorde is the supersonic icon that still defines aviation's most ambitious era. From that unmistakable droop nose and delta wing to the afterburner glow at takeoff - let’s share those images that capture Concorde's unmatched presence. Whether you've shot G-BOAC at Manchester, F-BTSD in Paris, or any of the preserved airframes worldwide (or perhaps have an iconic shot of her flying?) - share your best of this supersonic legend!😎

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A Splash of Colour

Let's face it – aviation + colour = pure magic!🪄 Whether it's those jaw-dropping afterburners trailing fire across the sky, special airline liveries that scream "look at me!", or your editing wizardry that transforms a dull grey day into a vibrant masterpiece... this Kolab is all about that perfect SPLASH of colour!🔥 Time to raid your photo libraries for the shots where colour steals the show – think bold paintwork, dramatic sunset backdrops, or that one edit where you cranked the saturation juuuuuust riiiiight. From runway-ready rainbow schemes to that single flash of colour that makes the whole image sing – if it's got that wow factor, we want to see it! Ready to add a creative splash of colour to our feeds? Let’s go!🙌

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Leading Lines

How can you use lines in your shot to guide the viewer in? It’s time to experiment with leading lines! 😎 Runways, roads, fences, shadows, wings… if it leads the eye, we wanna see it! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Look for hidden lines: Can you use shadows, wing edges or even people to help lead in the eye? 📐 Be deliberate: position yourself so the lines naturally guide attention towards the subject. 🎨 Keep it simple: strong lines often work best when the frame is clean and uncluttered. 🗣 Tell us what you saw: what lines did you use, and why? 💡 Did You Know? Leading lines are one of the simplest ways to create depth and flow in a photo. They help control where the viewer looks first and how their eye moves through the image, making a scene feel more intentional and immersive.

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Your January Recap📸

Take a moment to look back on your last month! This Mission is all about sharing the work you were proud of in January… something you enjoyed shooting, editing, or experimenting with. It doesn’t have to be your best ever. Just the shots that sum up what you’ve been working on and to give the community a glimpse into your creative month😎 Any aircraft. Any style. Any vibe. 💬 And don’t forget to show some love - leave feedback on other posts and see what everyone else has been creating. Bring it on!

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Slow Shutter Showcase

How slow can we go? We’ve all tried panning at crazy low speeds... Slowing down the shutter and seeing how far we can push ourselves is a great challenge! The success rate for some attempts is high, others hit and miss but this Kolab is where you show your best efforts at the art of slow shutter speeds across the spectrum of aviation. Full rotors, prop discs, skilful panning, low-level action, bright light streaks, or just showing movement & speed - let’s see how slow we can go! PS. The good thing is, it’s not a competition - as long as your shot shows movement from a slow shutter speed, it’s good to go!

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F-35 in Action

Mission takeover by Frank Crebas! The F-35 Lighting II represents a new era of fast-jet airpower & a creative challenge for photographers. The incredible transformation into the hover, the sheer power in the take-off and low-level regimes, the still-classified full capabilities and the sea-going prowess… Let’s see the F-35 in action with all your creativity making this jet look the business! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Chase the phase: STOVL lift, vertical landings, low-level aggression, vapour-filled turns or controlled slow flight - the F-35 comes alive when it’s working hard. 💪 Work the design: Its reflective surfaces, stealthy panel lines and faceted shapes shine in clean light. Its hinged canopy and twisting nacelles scream abstract detail… Use bold compositions and intentional crops to make the design the hero. 🗣 Tell your story: Was it your first time seeing one fly, a rare base visit, or a moment where light, timing and access all aligned? 💡 Did You Know? Unlike traditional fighters, the F-35 was designed to manage information as much as the fight itself. Its sensor fusion and helmet-mounted display give pilots a complete picture of their environment. To compare the F-35 as a mere dogfighter is a mistake. This Fifth Gen jet is about multi-linked battlespace management that connects, coordinates and directs the fight, aided by the jet’s stealthy RAM coating (and canopy glass). This classified material on the aircraft’s skin changes so much with the light - and can make or break the image!

Reflections

It’s time to see double in this Mission as we challenge you to explore reflections! Getting down on the ramp and finding that puddle is a must! It brings a whole new dynamic to a static shot. It’s quite a challenge though… Finding the angle, the water being smooth (no wind or debris!) and then of course getting your camera low enough (and maybe even still dry…) to make it work. But when it does, it’s gorgeous. This is the place to bring together your best reflection shots and celebrate aviation photography twice-over!

Touchdown

Smoke, sparks, and perfect timing - this Mission is all about catching that split second when wheels hit the runway. 🛬 Whether it’s a fighter slamming in hard, a heavy jet floating forever before planting, or a classic warbird rolling out with style, nothing says aviation drama like touchdown. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use continuous burst mode - the action happens in milliseconds, so more frames = better chance of nailing it. 💪 A slightly lower angle can make the aircraft look more dramatic as it hits the runway. 🗣 Share the story - was it a smooth greaser, a smoky crosswind landing, or a lucky grab? 💡 Did You Know? Touchdown smoke often looks flat straight out of camera. A quick trick in Lightroom is to lift the Dehaze slider and drop the Blacks using a brush mask - it adds density and contrast to the smoke without blowing out the highlights. For extra punch, a subtle radial filter around the wheels will draw the eye right to the action.

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Taxi Shots

Engines running, lights on, wheels turning🚦 This Mission is all about aircraft moving on the ground, from slow rolls to tight turns on the taxiway! Share your creative taxi shots, whether it was taken yesterday or a fresh take on an old shot. Civilian or military, wide or tight, it all counts. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Look for leading lines in the taxiway or apron to guide the eye. 💡 Use lights, reflections, or heat haze to add atmosphere. 📐 Try both wide and tight compositions to capture movement and detail.

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Straight From a Movie

What if your shot was a scene from a film, how would you edit it? 🎬✈️ This Mission is all about bringing that cinematic feel to your aviation photography! Think bold framing, intentional light, and edits that feel like they belong on the big screen. Post a shot that feels cinematic through both composition and colour. Think drama, atmosphere, tension, scale. Make it look like a still from an aviation blockbuster! Mission Tips: 🎥 Frame with intent: leave space for movement, use foreground elements, and think in layers to add depth like a movie scene. 🌅 Chase dramatic light: golden hour, storm build-up, ramp lights at dusk… cinematic starts with atmosphere. 🎨 Grade with purpose: push colour grading slightly cooler or warmer, shape contrast carefully, and avoid flat tones. 📐 Go widescreen in your thinking: strong horizontals, clean edges, and confident crops make it feel like a film still. 🖌 Control the light in post: subtle vignettes or gradient masks can guide the viewer’s eye like scene lighting. Drop a caption like it’s a movie title… what’s this scene called? 🎬🔥

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Afterburners

Hot dayumnnnn! It’s time to light the burners🔥😎 This Mission is all about that explosive moment when the pilots kick in the reheat. Show us your shots that capture the noise, the heat, and the sheer drama of afterburners! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use faster shutter speeds (1/500s or higher) to freeze the flames clearly. 💪 Shoot at dusk or night for maximum glow and colour in the exhaust. 🗣 Share the story - was it a rare catch, a night launch, or the highlight of a display? 💡 Did You Know? Afterburners dump raw fuel into the jet pipe, igniting behind the turbine to create up to 70% more thrust. The flame colour shifts with conditions too - from orange at sea level to almost invisible blue at high altitude.

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Aviation x Landscape

This Mission is all about showcasing aircraft in the most epic surroundings. 🌄 Whether it’s a jet carving through mountain valleys, a heavy lifting off over farmland, or a warbird framed against the coast, we want to see shots where aviation meets landscape! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Think about how the landscape adds to the story — scale, shape, and contrast all matter. 💪 Wide angles work well to capture the setting, but tighter crops can show how the aircraft interacts with the terrain. 🖌 In editing, try subtle colour grading or tonal matching to blend the aircraft naturally into the scene. 🗣 Share the story — where was it taken, and what made the landscape stand out for you? 💡 Did You Know? Shooting aircraft against landscapes with depth cues — like foreground elements, haze, or layers of terrain — instantly makes your image feel more three-dimensional. Even small changes in angle or elevation can completely change the sense of scale.

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Smokey Sunday

Where rubber meets runway! This Kolab is all about those touchdown moments with a proper cloud of smoke😮‍💨 From heavies dropping onto concrete after long-hauls to fighters slamming down with full reverse, we want those split-second captures when we see proof of landing!🛬

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Warbirds

The most precious metal of them all… The active warbird scene is an absolute treasure trove of aviation - a tribute to the heroes and pioneers of the past, actively preserving aviation history in all its glory. There’s those one-off wonders, the last of a breed… There’s wider examples of mass-built machines… There’s mixed fleet of precious types all over the world, and there’s individual collectors. All of them are an absolute delight to the aviation photographer, from all angles! Let’s see those blades churning, WW2 fighters cavorting in the clouds, WW2 heavy bombers in all their majesty and troop transports & trainers playing the vital roles. The markings, the tributes, the amazing designs - all caught in evocative imagery! Whether shot during an airshow display for the public, or during a special private visit - this is the space to celebrate the legacy and privilege of having an active warbirds scene in our skies!

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Heavy Metal

Big, loud, and impossible to ignore!🤘✈️ This Mission is all about those transports, tankers, airliners, and anything that looks built to move serious weight. Whether it’s a C-17 banking low, a 747 rotating heavy, or an A400 rumbling through cloud, show us your best shots of those heavies! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Go for scale - use composition to show just how massive these machines are. 💪 Low angles exaggerate size and presence, while wide lenses can capture their surroundings. 🖌 In editing, lift clarity and contrast to emphasise texture, panels, and power. 🗣 Share the story - what makes this aircraft so impressive to you? 💡 Did You Know? A fully loaded C-17 Globemaster III can take off weighing more than 260 tonnes, yet can still land on short, unpaved runways thanks to its high-lift wing design and thrust reversers. Heavy really can be agile!

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Special Schemes

The most eye-catching aircraft in the sky… From bold tiger stripes to emotional farewell schemes, anniversary tails to heritage tributes - this Mission is the place to celebrate aviation’s most visually striking special schemes. It’s also one of the rare subjects that covers both civil and military aircraft! Whether it’s a slick airliner livery (think those gorgeous retro jets!) or a stunning US Navy CAG, special schemes bring photographers a rare opportunity to capture something out of the grey. Mission Tips… 💪 Let’s see those perfectly edited limited-edition liveries and squadron anniversary specials. 📐Consider composition and detail to show commemorative artwork and operational one-offs. 👀 Some aircraft become icons because of the paint they wear, so let’s see some classics from the archives as well as brand-new eye-catchers. Whether it’s military or civilian, aggressive or elegant – if it’s wearing something special, this is where it belongs! And if it’s high-quality details and striking colours that catch your eye, then www.fox-one.store is the place for your merch fix!

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MiGs & Sukois

We love the brute power & charisma of these famous fighters! The powerhouses of MiG and Sukhoi have produced some of the most iconic designs the fighter world has ever seen. They ooze presence, carry an enigmatic allure and have wowed the crowds at airshows and events with their often incredible flying. They’ve long been the symbol of Eastern airpower and been studied by Western military - and have always been respected by all. Alas, some of these classics are fast disappearing form in front of our lenses - MiG-21s, MiG-29s, Su-22s are being replaced as air forces modernise their fleets, whilst those Su-30 operators are hard to come by. Nevertheless, there’s been an amazing array of machines enjoyed by aviation photographers over the years, as well as some flying examples kept alive by private organisations – and here is the place to bring it all together.

Backlit

This Mission is all about those shots with the sun behind the aircraft. Think glowing canopies, silver outlines, golden haze, or full silhouettes. Backlighting can turn even the simplest subject into something dramatic! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Expose for the highlights to keep detail in the glow. Let the shadows go dark if needed. 💪 Try positioning yourself low so the sun catches the outline of the aircraft. 🖌 In editing, lift clarity or dehaze slightly to bring out rim light and haze. 🗣 Share the story — was it golden hour, an airshow silhouette, or just the perfect angle at the right time? 💡 Did You Know? Backlighting often creates a “rim light” effect where the edges of the subject glow against the background. It adds depth and atmosphere and is often a favourite technique in cinematic photography… although a little more challenging for us aviation photographers!

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People

Without the men & women of aviation, nothing takes flight. This Kolab hits a sweet spot in aviation - it’s a place to highlight the hardworking human side of aviation! Let’s turn this into THE area to show our appreciation for the maintenance crews, the support staff, the ops crews, ground crews, airfield management, and of course the pilots. Let’s see men & women doing their jobs as utmost professionals… and maybe having some fun whilst doing it. The concentration applied, the skillsets in action, the training kicking in… This is where we show teamwork in action!

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Your Local Airport

Home sweet home… This Mission is about the airport you know best! How would you capture this in a single shot? The one you grew up near, keep going back to, or perhaps just spend hours spotting at. Show us life around your local runway. We want to see the aircraft, terminals, towers, ops, fences, lights, people... Mission Tips 📍 Think sense of place. Control towers, terminal signs, approach lights, perimeter fences or familiar viewpoints all help anchor the shot. 📐 Mix it up. Wide shots to show the airport in context, tighter frames for details, moments and the little things that only you would notice. 🌤 Use the light you get. Grey days, golden hours, night glow, misty mornings. Real airports aren’t always perfect and that’s the point! 👀 Look beyond the aircraft. Ground crew, vehicles, passengers, architecture and atmosphere all tell the story. 🖌 Match the edit. How can you use editing to compliment the storytelling of the shot? What makes this airport yours? A view, a memory, a routine, or just too many hours spent by the fence?

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Air-to-Air

The ultimate flight photography! As if the aviation world isn’t dramatic enough, going air-to-air takes it to another level. There’s nothing like the adrenaline and ‘wow’ factor that comes with sharing the skies in close proximity to another aircraft as you dive and weave amongst the clouds. As cool as it is, it is not without its challenges - professionalism, control, planning, physicality & safe execution are all vital in this dangerous flight environment. There’s a lot to take in… But the images are oh so worth it. Fast jets head on and in-your-face… Warbirds dancing in evocative skies… Classic jets showing their stunning lines… Cargo machines looming large… All have such presence & bring amazing results. Let’s revel in the domain of air-to-air photography!

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Fire Fighters

Celebrating the heroes of the fire-fighting world! This is a genre that needs no introduction on the skill & bravery of the men and women that serve. Aerial fire-fighting is one of the most dynamic, colourful, varied and dangerous flying jobs out there. The industry has an amazing mix of types employed over the multiple roles required for aerial attack. There’s old designs with a new lease of life, there’s purpose-built machines & there’s cool, dedicated variants - and all wear bright, photogenic corporate schemes! Add in a water/retardant drop and you’ve got one of the most dynamic scenes you could ever shoot - all whilst honouring their work in saving lives and the environment. Let’s hear it for the aerial fire-fighting world!

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In The Details

Zoom in and get creative! 🔍✨ Think close-up moments where texture, shape and tiny features steal the show. Panels, rivets, engines, cockpits, reflections… if it looks cool up close, we want to see it! Go tighter, look deeper and show us the stuff most people walk straight past! ⚡️ Mission Guide • Fill the frame: Commit to the close-up. Big crops, bold crops, no holding back. • Find patterns: Rivet lines, repeating shapes, geometry, shadows… anything that feels satisfying when framed tight. • Chase good light: Side light and low sun make metal, paint and textures pop beautifully. • Play with depth: Shallow focus for a single detail, deep focus for shapes and symmetry. • Edit with intention: Lift texture and clarity gently to bring out detail, tune colours with the mixer so distractions disappear or add a touch of contrast to carve edges clean • Keep it deliberate: Straight lines, clean angles, tidy edges. Make it look purposeful, not accidental. 🗣 Tell us what grabbed you What tiny detail made you stop and take a second look? Why did it stand out? Let’s gooooo!

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Rule of Thirds

Let’s dive into composition!📏 Use the rule of thirds to make your shots feel more intentional and more interesting. Off-centre subjects, clean horizons, smart use of space… show us how you place aircraft in the frame to guide the viewer’s eye! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Place the aircraft on one of the grid intersections to give the shot a natural focal point. 💪 Leave space for movement. If the aircraft is flying left or right, give it room in the direction it’s going. 🖌 Try a fresh crop in your edit. Small adjustments can completely change the feel. 🗣 Tell us why you framed it that way. What were you trying to emphasise? 💡 Guide: Getting the Most Out of the Rule of Thirds Turn on the grid in your camera or editing app. Think in thirds across the whole frame. • Subject placement: Put the aircraft on a vertical third so the scene feels balanced but not static. • Horizon control: Keep the horizon clean. Place it on the top or bottom third, not drifting somewhere in the middle. • Direction of travel: If the aircraft is moving, leave space in front of it so the shot feels alive. • Refine in post: Use the crop tool to nudge things into position. Even small shifts can tighten the whole image. It’s a simple technique, but once you start using it, your compositions will instantly feel stronger. Have a play and show us what you come up with!

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Military Helicopter Action

Showcasing the raw power and skill of military helicopters! The world of military helicopters comes in all shapes and sizes - especially when you factor in the branches of Army, Navy and Air Force divisions. You can almost hear the thud, wokka and whirl of rotary action of this Kolab… Let’s see twin-engine beasts heavy-lifting on duty, personnel carriers inserting troops, rotary trainers getting the next generation ready, and battlefield attack helos armed to the teeth. The military world of helicopters is an incredible place - let’s enjoy the very best of rotary action right here!

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Colour Pop: Blue

Time for a fresh edit challenge. 🎨 This Mission is all about isolating and enhancing blue tones in your shot — skies, lights, liveries, reflections, afterburner haze, cockpit panels… anything that lets blue take the lead. Keep everything else muted or subtle so the blue really pops! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use HSL or Colour Mixer tools to boost blues while desaturating surrounding colours. 💪 Try cooling your white balance slightly to push the mood of the scene. 🖌 Add a touch of contrast or clarity to make the blue areas stand out cleanly. 🗣 Share your process — what did you adjust to make the blue become the hero of the frame?

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Display Teams

National display teams are the epitome of air force pride. Elite pilots, beautiful schemes, and absolute precision flying. Those tight formations and fast passes, combined with mind-blowing solo and pairs routines are a total feast of photography. Whether it’s the Reds doing their glorious best, the Thunderbirds and their raw power or the Blue Angels and their unbelievable formations… The Italian Frecce’s crazy antics, the flair of the French & Swiss Patrouilles, the passion of the Turkish Stars… Or perhaps something a little more exotic like China’s November 11 team, Korea’s stunning Black Eagles or the famous Aussie Roulettes… Let’s fill this Kolab with the best of the best from National display teams!

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Museums

Celebrating the history of aviation! Aviation museums are incredible places, full of history, inspiration and awesome photographic opportunities! They come in all shapes and sizes, from private collections, through specialist local themes, up to national treasures. One thing is for sure, all of them contain fascinating machines - each with a story to tell & an angle to shoot. Let’s see small preservation tributes off the beaten track. Show your images of specialist aircraft in those collections, displayed in a specific theme. Let’s see the volunteer-run smaller set-ups… Show the museums in far off lands & let’s go all the way up to the national treasures and world-class international museums. This Kolab brings aviation museums to the centre stage!

Banking Shots

Roll with it!🛩️ Whether it’s a fighter showing you the topside in a steep display roll, or a heavy airliner banking gently out on departure, this Mission is all about capturing that dynamic angle when an aircraft leans into the turn. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Track smoothly through the roll to keep the aircraft sharp and balanced in your frame. 💪 Longer focal lengths can exaggerate the bank - wider angles can show off the environment. 🗣 Share the story - was it an airshow topside, a commercial climb-out, or a lucky catch on rotation? 💡 Did You Know? Even a gentle 25° bank adds extra load on the aircraft - pilots and passengers feel around 1.1 G. At 60° of bank that jumps to 2 Gs, which is why tight turns look and feel so dramatic both in the air and through the lens.

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Phantoms Phorever

The Immortal F-4 Phantom II… There is little doubt that there will ever be a type like the F-4 Phantom. So many built, so many operators, so much action, so damn cool. This Kolab is about showcasing this epic jet in as many ways as possible. Bring your A-Game images of ops, rare, preserved, retiring, old and current Phantom photos. Think dramatic head-ons, smokey ‘Spook” landings, old school ‘Rhino’ camouflage & colour, spectacular take-off, preserved legends and airframe perfection… Phabulous!

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Golden Departures

That soft light, warm skies and aircraft moving through it just hits different. This Mission is all about catching planes as they taxi, take off or turn in that dreamy sunrise or sunset glow. Post an aviation shot where the light is doing the heavy lifting. Warm tones, long shadows, pastel skies or glowing edges all count. Mission Tips 🌅 Shoot low into the light to get rim glow on wings, tails and engines. 🎯 Keep the aircraft clean and simple in frame so the colour and mood stay strong. 📐 Try off-centre composition to let the sky breathe and show the light gradient. 🖌 In edit, warm the highlights gently and avoid crushing the shadows. Soft beats crunchy here. ⏱ Sunrise and sunset move fast, be ready early and shoot through the changes. Was this a last flight of the day or the first move of the morning?

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7 Shots, 7 Days

What a week this was! Well done to everyone that took part in this fun creative Mission designed for us to reflect, experiment, and finish the year feeling proud of our work! ✅ Day 1: A Shot You’re Proud Of ✅ Day 2: Your Most Challenging Shot ✅ Day 3: Your Rarest Catch ✅ Day 4: Your Most Creative Edit ✅ Day 5: The Shot With the Best Story ✅ Day 6: Your Most Unique Angle ✅ Day 7: Your Shot of the Year Thanks for taking part in 7 Days, 7 Shots. Whether you joined for one day or all seven, we hope it helped you reflect on your year and feel proud of what you’ve created👊

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Superbase: RAF Lakenheath

The Liberty Wing… What a concentration of airpower! RAF Lakenheath is a bristling hub of jet noise and action. With four extremely busy frontline USAF fighter squadrons, it’s non-stop fast jets and cool flying at this base in Suffolk, UK. Whether it’s daily ops, exercise missions & visitors or hitting the low-fly, the men & women and their F-15Es and F-35s are a massive hit with aviation photographers. Let’s fill this Kolab with the finest 48th Fighter Wing images and showcase Superbase Lakenheath!

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Airport Scenes

Airports are absolutely bliss for the aviation photographer! Oh yes, whilst most passengers might being just going through the motions of getting from A to B… Us aviation photographers are staring in wonder at the airport infrastructure, the airport ops, the gate, the stands, and our chariot of choice. There’s so much to airport scene photography - passengers embarking, airliners arriving into the gate, people waiting to board, the unique airport terminals… Let’s celebrate airport scenes and show the world what they’re missing verses what we see and appreciate!

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Cloud Sandwich

Aircraft caught between cloud layers! ☁️ This Mission is about those brilliant moments when your subject sits perfectly between different cloud formations... creating natural layers that frame and isolate your aircraft in the sky. Post an image where clouds above and below create distinct layers with aircraft in between. Think breaking through cloud base or cruising between layers. ☁️ Mission Tips: 📱 Watch for varying cloud densities to create clear separation between layers ⚡ Burst mode helps catch the exact moment aircraft emerge from or dive into layers 🌅 Side lighting helps define each cloud layer distinctly 💨 Don't forget vapour trails... they add another compositional layer What altitude were they flying? Share if you know the cloud base or flight level!

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Aircraft in the Wild

After a week of scale, layers, weather, motion, edits and monochrome, this one is your chance to post the Aircraft in the Wild shot that felt the most you. Welcome to the last day of the 7-day Aircraft in the Wild Challenge, celebrating the upcoming launch of Landscape on Kōlab! Post your strongest Aircraft in the Wild image. Big landscape, tiny aircraft, dramatic weather, calm scenery, creative edit… anything goes as long as the aircraft truly feels part of the landscape around it. Mission Tips: 🌍 Let the landscape lead the frame. Mountains, coastlines, forests or desert can give the aircraft a proper sense of place. 🎯 Think about placement. A small aircraft positioned well in the frame can feel far more powerful than a big centred subject. 🌤 Light changes everything. Early or late sun, shadows across terrain, or soft overcast skies can shape the whole mood. 📐 Keep the scene clean. Strong horizons, clear layers, and simple composition help the aircraft stand out naturally. ✨ In editing, focus on balance. Let the aircraft pop slightly, but keep the landscape feeling real and rich. Which shot from this week felt like the perfect “Aircraft in the Wild” moment for you? Tell us the story behind it! ✅ Day 1: Scale ✅ Day 2: Layers ✅ Day 3: Weather ✅ Day 4: Motion ✅ Day 5: RAW Remix ✅ Day 6: Monochrome ✅ Day 7: Freestyle Will you complete all 7 days of this Mission?

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Cleared For Take-Off

This Mission is all about that epic moment of take-off! From rotations and climbs to those split-second departures that feel full of momentum, show us your creative take-off shots or edits! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use burst mode or continuous focus to nail that perfect rotation frame. 💪 Low angles exaggerate the climb and give a sense of power and lift. 🖌 In editing, boost clarity and contrast to make the moment pop against the sky. 🗣 Share the story — where was it taken, and what makes this departure memorable to you?

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Heavy Landings

Not every landing is a greaser! 💥 This Mission is all about those hard-hitting arrivals when the wheels meet the runway (perhaps a little too hard…). Think tyre smoke, compressed landing gear, spoilers popping and that unmistakable moment of “ouchhh”. From heavy airliners planting onto the runway after a long haul to fighters dropping in with style, capture the drama of a proper heavy landing. Mission Tips 🎯 Use burst mode on short final so you catch the exact frame where the tyres hit and the smoke appears. 📐 A side-on angle usually shows the smoke and gear compression best, especially with the runway in view. 💨 Watch for spoilers deploying or reverse thrust kicking in, those details add extra storytelling. 🖌 In editing, add a little contrast or clarity around the wheels to make the smoke and impact pop. 📏 Leave a bit of runway in the frame so the viewer can feel the moment of contact. How did you edit the shot to increase the impact? Let the community know!

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Dark Skies

This Mission is all about those moody, dramatic moments when the dark skies arrive… storm clouds, twilight, silhouettes, and night scenes that make aviation feel a little… spooky👻. Whether it’s a fighter slicing through dusk, a heavy disappearing into cloud, or a burner lighting up the horizon, show us your best shots under dark skies! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Dusk and storm light give the richest tones — shoot when contrast between sky and subject is strongest. 💪 Slight underexposure keeps colour depth and preserves highlight detail. 🖌 In editing, bring out texture in clouds and shadows to add structure and intensity. 🗣 Share the story — was it moody weather, perfect timing, or creative grading that made the shot? 💡 Did You Know? Shooting during blue hour - the short period after sunset - gives you even, low-contrast light that’s perfect for moody aviation shots. It’s one of the best times to capture silhouettes or experiment with colour balance before the sky goes fully dark.

Queen of The Skies

What a wonder of the skies the Boeing 747 is! Absolute aviation royalty. The game-changing hype when it first flew, the impact on the industry and countless derivatives & operators around the globe... There’s nothing like seeing this gracious ‘Queen’ fly that brings wonder and appreciation of flight. Let’s celebrate the power & grace of lift-offs, enjoy side-on perfection showing all those classic, colourful liveries, study the cool variations (those cargo haulers are lush!), and marvel at the sheer size of the thing! And fun fact… Did you know that Boeing built 1,574 examples of the iconic ‘Jumbo’ over 54 years - let’s now Kolab together to celebrate this fantastic airliner!

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Close Pass😮

Some moments make you instinctively lower the camera and just watch. This Mission is all about those close pass moments, when an aircraft cuts through the frame, fills your view, and makes you feel right there in the action! (Or perhaps a little too much in the action😬) It doesn’t matter what’s flying or where you shot it. If it felt close, fast, loud or intense, join this Mission! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Get in the moment: low passes, approaches, fly-bys, departures or taxi-bys that feel right on top of you. 📐 Use perspective: longer lenses for compression, wider angles for drama - both can make a pass feel close. 📸 Any aircraft counts: jets, airliners, props, helis, GA… if it made you look twice, post it. 🎨 Edit for impact: contrast, clarity and timing help sell speed, proximity and presence. 🗣 Tell us the moment: what made this pass feel special? 💡 Did You Know? Photos that feel “close” often rely more on timing and perspective than distance. The right moment, lens choice and framing can make an aircraft feel right on top of you, even when it isn’t.

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Caught In Motion

That split second where aviation comes alive! This Mission is all about freezing movement at its peak. Wheels just lifting, burners igniting, rotors biting, vapour snapping on, props alive with blur… Fast or slow, air or ground, subtle or full send! The key is that sense of movement you can almost feel. Mission Tips 📸 Use burst mode to catch the exact moment when motion peaks. Rotation, touchdown smoke, burner light-up, rotor snap. 💨 Don’t fear blur. A little prop, rotor or background blur helps sell speed and movement. 📐 Leave space in the frame for direction of travel so the shot feels like it’s going somewhere. 🎯 Track smoothly and commit. Follow through and trust it. 🖌 In the edit, lift contrast or clarity where the action is happening to draw the eye. What was happening in this exact moment and why did you hit the shutter right then?

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Tilted Perspective

Let’s forget about those straight horizons and lean into something bolder! This Mission is all about deliberate tilt in your frame to add energy, tension and attitude to your aviation shots. Share an image where the horizon or frame is intentionally angled. Think banking aircraft, dynamic take-offs, taxi shots, or even static aircraft made dramatic through composition. Make the tilt feel purposeful, not accidental. Mission Tips: 📐 Commit to the angle. A slight accidental lean looks wrong. Go strong enough that it feels intentional and confident. ✈️ Use natural aircraft lines. Wings, fuselage and runway markings can guide the eye through the frame when tilted. 🎯 Keep your subject sharp. When the frame is off level, sharp focus becomes even more important to anchor the image. 🖌 In editing, fine-tune rotation carefully. Small adjustments can completely change the balance and impact. 🌤 Watch your background. A clean sky or simple backdrop helps the tilt stand out without looking messy. What made you choose that angle, pure instinct or planned from the start?

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Super Wide

All about those crazy wide-angles! Grabbing anything out the kit bag that’s below 28mm is going to bring a whole new angle on the world of aviation. Getting into tight spaces (think cockpits, cabins or cargo bays) or taking a new view on airshow statics, close-ups & crops on large airframes, hangars filled to the brim, museums tightly packed… Or perhaps even showing a display team in a big sky effect… Let’s see your super wide shots!

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US Navy: 250th Anniversary

Marking 250 years of naval aviation history. ⚓️✈️ This Mission celebrates the aircraft, people, and legacy of the United States Navy. From carrier launches and deck ops to classic warbirds and modern jets, we want to see your best creative Navy-themed shots — past or present. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Look for anything tied to naval aviation — aircraft markings, squadrons, carriers, or maritime backdrops. 💪 Deck crews, ground teams, and historical displays all tell the story. 🖌 If you’re editing, lean into blues and greys to bring out that classic Navy tone. 🗣 Share the story — where was it taken, and what makes this aircraft or moment stand out? 💡 Did You Know? The U.S. Navy traces its origins back to 13 October 1775, when the Continental Congress established the first American naval force. Naval aviation officially began in 1911, when Lieutenant Theodore G. Ellyson became the Navy’s first aviator, a lineage that’s still flying strong 250 years on.

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Cloudscapes

Nothing conveys “flight” like aircraft cutting through epic cloudscapes. There’s just something awesome about seeing a warbird flying around billowing cumulus clouds, giant airliners silhouetted against backlit, illuminated cirrus, or fast jets screaming around stormy skies… This Kolab is all about those moments when Mother Nature transforms a standard aviation scene into something special…. Let's see those images where clouds are part of the story! Of course, these wicked machines also create their own aerodynamic vapour & vortices… but let’s save that for a future Kolab. This one is all about cloudscapes x aviation… let’s go!🌩️

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Bad Weather

When the weather is bad… The photography is good! It may seem counterintuitive to get your camera out when the weather is bad, but when those clouds roll in and the rain starts to hit, the drama gets turned up a notch. Weather conditions can massively add to an image. Aviation is so intrinsically linked to weather that it’s impossible to avoid, so here’s where we embrace it. Low cloud, rolling fog, bouncing hail, blowing snow, heavy rain & twisting winds… What dramatic ingredients to add to a cool subject! Let’s brave the elements and create our own storm of weather images…

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The 4:1 Panorama

This Mission is all about trying out that super wide 4:1 panoramic frame in one of your aviation shots! Post a photo cropped to a 4:1 aspect ratio. Airport scenes, apron chaos, runway views, silhouettes, departures, arrivals, anything goes as long as it works wide! Mission Tips: 📏 Set and lock the crop to 4:1 first, then frame the image around it. 🎯 Give your main subject some breathing room. Wide shots look best when the aircraft sits off-centre with space to “move into”. 📐 Keep the horizon bang on. In a 4:1 crop, even a tiny tilt looks obvious. 🧹 Clean your edges. Chop out distractions like signs, cones, poles and half-aircraft that pull the eye. 🌦 Fill the width with story: terminal glow, service vehicles, heat haze, cloud layers, mountain lines, crowd rows, runway markings. What’s the one detail in your pano that people should not miss?

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Quick Climbs

Straight up and out of here! 🚀 This Mission is all about those high-energy moments just after take-off… the steep climbs, tight rotations, and powerful departures that show off an aircraft’s performance. Whether it’s a fighter blasting vertical, a prop lifting sharply off the runway, or a heavy climbing through cloud, capture the rush of those quick climbs. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use burst mode to catch the exact moment of lift-off or the angle of climb. 💪 A long lens helps exaggerate the steepness — frame tight and keep the horizon visible for context. 🖌 In editing, lift clarity and contrast to emphasise the energy and motion. 🗣 Share the story — was it an airshow take-off, an operational scramble, or just perfect timing? 💡 Did You Know? Aircraft pitch angles can vary wildly - fast jets can climb out at way over 45 degrees, while commercial airliners typically rotate around 10–15 degrees. Shooting from a lower vantage point can make any climb look even steeper and more dramatic.

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Colour Pop: Green

Time to try a new edit! This Mission is all about isolating and enhancing green tones in your shot… think liveries, grass, trees, cockpits, uniforms, lights, reflections, landscapes… anything that lets green take the lead! Keep everything else muted or subtle so the green really pops😎 ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use HSL or Colour Mixer tools to boost greens while gently desaturating surrounding colours. 💪 Adjust luminance carefully, lifting greens can make them feel vibrant, dropping it can make them moodier. 🖌 Add a touch of contrast or clarity so the green elements stand out without looking harsh. 🗣 Share your process, what did you tweak to make green the hero?

Analogue Tones

Let's go back to the times before Lightroom and Photoshop...! 📼 This Aviation Mission celebrates those rich, organic tones that only film could deliver. Deep shadows, creamy highlights, and colours that feel real and lived-in rather than digitally perfect. Post an aviation shot processed to recreate authentic analogue film tones and character. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use curves to create that classic S-shape... deep shadows, lifted mids, bright highlights 🖼️ Analogue had limited dynamic range so don't be afraid of pure blacks and whites 🎨 Colour grading is key... think warmer reds, cooler blues, and organic greens 📸 Add just a touch of chromatic aberration for that vintage lens character What's your favourite thing about the analogue era of aviation photography?

Your Favourite Livery

Time to show off the aircraft that makes your jaw drop every time it taxis past! 1️⃣ Find a photo you’ve taken of an aircraft with a paint scheme you love 2️⃣ Tell us why - the story, the colours, the nostalgia 3️⃣ Share it here with a caption explaining your pick 📸 Mission Brief: Maybe it’s a classic retro scheme that takes you back. Maybe it’s a vibrant special that turned heads at an airshow. Or maybe it’s just one you’ve always found beautifully designed. This mission is all about spotlighting the aircraft you think look best - old or new, civil or military, common or rare. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎨 Can’t choose one? Upload a few, we want to see them all 🧠 Share the story behind your choice - airline, squadron, nostalgia? 🗣 Engage with others - what do you think of their favourites?

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Aviation in Spring

Aviation in spring hits hard! 🌸 This Mission is all about composing aviation shots with spring's vibrant backdrops... cherry blossoms framing a departure, aircraft against fresh green fields, or jets cutting through spring skies filled with puffy white clouds. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🌸 Use blooming trees as natural frames. Position yourself so branches create leading lines towards the aircraft. 🎯 Spring's soft greens make excellent contrast against military greys or airline liveries. 🌤️ Those puffy spring clouds add texture. Use them to balance your composition and add depth. 💚 In editing, boost the greens and pinks slightly to emphasise that fresh spring feel. 🗣 Tell us about your spring spotting session. How did you get the shot? Did you do anything different in editing?

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Shadows

Bold, dramatic shadows can add serious punch to aviation shots! ☀️ This Aviation Mission embraces what many photographers avoid... that strong, directional light that creates deep shadows and high contrast. Show us those shots with prominent shadows on the tarmac, in the hangar or get even more creative with other shadows in the scene! ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use those shadows as leading lines or geometric elements in your composition 📸 Expose for the highlights and let the shadows go deep... embrace the contrast 🖼️ Look for interesting shadow patterns... propeller shadows, wing shadows, hangar door shadows 🎨 In post, pull back highlights but keep those shadows punchy for maximum drama Did you plan this shot around the shadow patterns or discover them while shooting?

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Saturation Boost

Turn up the colour and make it pop! 🌈🔥 This Mission is about pushing those colours to make your aviation shots really stand out... think vibrant sunsets, rich blues, and aircraft liveries that jump off the screen. Show us your most colourful aviation edits. Pump up those saturation sliders and make every hue sing. Sunsets, blue skies, colourful schemes... if it's bold and bright, we want to see it. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎨 Use selective colour adjustments to boost specific hues without making it look too much. 🌅 Golden hour and sunset shots respond brilliantly to saturation boosts. ⚖️ Push it but don't break it. Aim for punchy, not radioactive. 🎯 Mask your adjustments so you're only boosting the colours that matter, not everything. Tell us what drew you to really pump the colours in this particular shot!

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Edit Remix: A380 at Myrtle Avenue

One RAW, infinite edit possibilities… let’s see yours 😎 (Download link via our Instagram or Discord!) Massive thanks to @vdhoogen for this epic A380 shot coming into land at Heathrow from the legendary Myrtle Avenue viewpoint 🛬 Download the file, edit it your way, then upload your finished version. This is the perfect excuse to try something new, push your creative comfort zone, and see what you can cook up 🔥 Quick friendly note: the RAW file remains copyright Theo van den Hoogen and can only be used for the purposes of this Kōlab Edit Remix Mission - thanks for respecting that 🙏 ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Make it yours — moody, clean, cinematic, punchy, soft… anything goes. 🎨 Push your style — colour, contrast, crop, tones… experiment a little. 🧠 Edit with intention — what do you want the viewer to feel when they see it? 🗣 Tell us your thinking — how did you edit it, and why?

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Your 2026 Photography Goals 📸

New year, fresh energy, big creative plans! Share a shot and tell the community what your photography goal is for 2026… Maybe you want to try new edit styles, get braver with composition, tell stronger stories, or finally post without overthinking it😎 Whatever your goal is, share a photo that represents where you want your photography to go this year and add a caption to explain what it is!

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All I Want for Christmas 🎁 ✈️

If Santa could deliver you one aircraft this Christmas, which would it be? Share a photo of the aircraft you’d love to unwrap!🤩 Tell us why it’s on your wish list. Is it rare? Iconic? Loud? Nostalgic? A bucket-list catch? Let’s go!

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Your Favourite Aircraft

We all have that one aircraft that just hits different😏 Maybe it’s the jet that got you into aviation, a warbird you’ve loved forever, a chunky transport you can’t stop photographing, or the airliner you always look for at the gate! This Mission is all about sharing the aircraft you’ll never get tired of. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Add some creativity - not just your fave aircraft, but try to add a lil extra creative spark. 😍 Lean into the feels… nostalgia, noise, shape, story… why do you love it? 📸 Any aircraft counts - jets, props, airliners, helis, trainers, classics… if it’s your fave, it’s perfect! 🎨 Edit for mood - warm it up, cool it down, go bold or keep it clean… match the vibe! 🗣 Tell us why it’s the one or leave a fun fact in the caption! 💡 Did You Know? Ask any aviation fan their favourite aircraft and they’ll answer in 0.2 seconds. Pilots, spotters, engineers… everyone has “the one” - so what’s yours?

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Winter Light

Short days, low sun, long shadows🥶 Winter delivers some of the most magical light of the year! From golden-hour glow to icy blue mornings, misty airfields to silhouettes against a cold sky, this Mission is all about capturing the atmosphere that only winter can create. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Chase the low sun: winter light stays soft for longer, giving you more time to shoot warm tones and long shadows. 💨 Use the atmosphere: mist, frost, haze and cold air all add depth, layers and mood to your images. 🕶 Shoot both directions: backlight for glow and silhouettes, front light for crisp detail and winter contrast. 📏 Keep compositions clean: simple shapes pop beautifully in winter light; let mood do the heavy lifting. 🖌 Edit with intent: how can you use creative editing to let the softness of winter stay intact. 💡 Did You Know? Because the sun sits lower in the sky through winter, its light travels through more of the atmosphere, scattering blue wavelengths and creating those long-lasting golden tones and cooler shadows. It’s one of the few times of year where you can shoot “golden hour” almost all afternoon!

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Feedback Friday

Post a shot. Ask for feedback. Then give someone else feedback too! 🤝 This Mission is all about helping each other improve so share an image you’d like feedback on, tell us what you want help with, and take a minute to offer feedback on someone else’s post. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Be specific when you ask for feedback, do you want help with composition, edit, light, colour, storytelling? 💪 When giving feedback, focus on what works as well as what could be stronger. 🖌 If you’re re-editing based on feedback, share the updated shot too as it helps others learn too. 🗣 Engage in the comments... this Mission works best when the conversation keeps flowing! 💡 Did You Know? Photographers who seek and give feedback regularly progress faster than those who don’t. Learning through someone else’s feedback helps you learn too!

The 7-Day Edit Challenge

What a week! Well done to all of you that took part in this October 7-day challenge designed to push your creativity. Here’s what went down… ✅ Day 1: Gradients ✅ Day 2: Autumn Colours ✅ Day 3: Monochrome ✅ Day 4: Creative Crop ✅ Day 5: Retro Edit ✅ Day 6: RAW Remix ✅ Day 7: Creative Freestyle

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Teal & Orange

Ready to try a new edit? This Mission challenges you to give your shots the classic teal and orange treatment 🔵🟠 cool blues in the shadows, warm oranges in the highlights. It’s the colour grade you’ve seen in Hollywood blockbusters, now it’s your turn to experiment with it in aviation photography. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 In Lightroom/Photoshop, push blues and cyans toward teal in the shadows. 💪 Warm up skin tones, sunset light, or metal reflections toward orange for contrast. 🖌 Use split toning or the colour grading panel to control highlights vs shadows. 🗣 Share your process - did you keep it subtle, or go bold and cinematic? 💡 Did You Know? Teal and orange are complementary colours — opposite sides of the colour wheel. That’s why they create such strong contrast without clashing, instantly grabbing the eye.

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Because I Was Inverted

If it’s good enough for Maverick, it’s good enough for us😎 This Mission is all about exploring inverted flight and how you can capture or reimagine it creatively. From airshow passes and formation rolls to clever edits or crops that play with orientation, the challenge is to push beyond the usual angles and show aircraft inverted 🔁 ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 Use burst mode to freeze the perfect inverted moment or try rotating your crop to play with perspective. 💪 Edit creatively: a strong sky gradient or moody tones can make an inverted shot feel even more dramatic. 👀 Don’t just look for the obvious, experiment with flipping an archive shot in post to see how it changes the story. 🗣 Share your thinking - what did you try that’s different from your usual style? 💡 Did You Know? Flipping or rotating an image in post can drastically change how the eye reads a photo… horizontal lines suddenly become disorienting, and negative space can feel more dramatic. It’s a simple trick, but used well it can make even a familiar shot feel fresh.

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US Coast Guard

Mission Takeover by USCG personnel Scott Kellerman & Bradley Pigage! The US Coast Guard is one of the most unique and vital air arms in the world. Flying with military precision and a humanitarian soul, the USCG hits high drama in life or death operations on a daily basis. For us aviation photographers, it punches well above its weight thanks to its distinctive colour schemes, dramatic missions, and a mix of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. USGC assets are used in anything from homeland security and drug interdiction to medevac to disaster relief. And, as their famous motto “Semper Paratus” says, they are Always Ready… Whether it’s operational shots from remote outposts, action from ship-based detachments, or dramatic training displays, this is the place to bring together the aircraft and missions of the US Coast Guard. Let’s see those iconic red and white MH-60 Jayhawks battling the elements, HC-130s against moody skies, and MH-65 Dolphins poised for search and rescue from cutter decks. There’s a quiet pride to USCG aviation. A purpose. A presence. A promise. And for us as photographers - a striking subject with a ton of action!

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Harriers

Iconic, agile, and utterly unique - the Harrier is an aircraft like no other. Once you’ve marvelled at the jet in the hover, engine howling, it’s impossible to forget. The Harrier’s timeless versatility and heavy-load charisma makes it a dream to photograph. This Mission is all about celebrating the aircraft that redefined what was possible in aviation. ⚡️ Mission Tips: 🎯 If you’ve seen one at an airshow, show the hover - edit that heat haze, exhaust blur, and tell the story of rapid changes in speed. 💪 There’s no bad angle on a a Harrier, so crop into that cool airframe design, or go wide - like the jet itself, flexibility is key. 🗣 Share your story: There’s not many left… So was it a rare encounter, a long-awaited catch, or a memory from their busy frontline days? 💡 Did You Know? The Harrier was the first operational jet in the world capable of vertical/short take-off and landing (V/STOL). Its thrust-vectoring nozzles allow it to hover, then accelerate forward or upwards. Few aircraft test a photographer’s ability to adapt as much as the Harrier - no two passes ever look the same.

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