SATURDAY, 12th OCTOBER 2024 - SHUTTLEWORTH NIGHT SHOOT.

Westland Lysander

When I first saw this event advertised, I thought it was a bit expensive for me. But then a friend told me he was thinking of going and it only took me a few minutes to persuade myself to join him.

I do enjoy night photography but struggle to find good subjects locally. Adding to the appeal, the Collection's Westland Lysander was going to be the star of the show. It's one of my favourite aircraft and well-suited to a night-shoot because, during the Second World War, under the cover of darkness, it flew across the Channel and landed in fields in France where it was met by the French Rssistance. Agents were taken to/from France as well as returnibg escaped prisoners of war to the UK. One of the airfields they flew from was just down the road - RAF Tempsford. There is now a small museum there where visitors can stand in the barn where agents waited for their flight into occupied territory. When I was there, I felt very humble thinking of those brave men and women, some of them probably standing on English soil for the last time.

The event didn't turn out to be as rewarding as I'd hoped but that didn't prevent me having a very enjoyable evening. Given that it was Photography event, aith a professional photographer in attendance, I didn't feel the static aircraft were positioned or lit very well. And of the three aircraft due to taxi for photos, one had to be held/guided all the time by groundcrew (so they were in most shots), and one failed to start so was scrubbed from the event. Thankfully the Lysander did a nice taxi run but again, I felt the lighting could have been a bit better.

But anyway, I did get a few shots I'm reasonably pleased with, and as I said, a friend's company made it an enjoyable evening. Unfortunately, another friend who had intended joining us was unwell and couldn't. Hopefully he's making a speedy recovery.