Photographer’s Day Off

A photographer’s day off might sound like time to put the camera away – but for John Fox, it usually means something quite different. One of the very first things John ever pointed a camera at was an aeroplane at Leicester Airfield, just a couple of miles from where he grew up. That little camera (you can still spot it on the About page) wasn’t built for aviation, but that didn’t matter. Waiting for the film to return was part of the excitement. The magic was in the surprise.

Back to the Beginning – With Better Gear

Recently, John met a member of the Royal International Air Tattoo media team through a wedding. They offered him tickets to the show at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire – and of course, he accepted.

This visit brought back memories. Days out at airshows with his parents. The sound of engines overhead. But this time, he came prepared. Armed with some of the latest kit and a Canon 100-500L lens hired from The Flash Centre in Birmingham, he had everything needed to capture flight in full detail. This wasn’t a wedding – but the love for the lens stayed the same.

From helicopters and prop planes to fast jets, each subject needed a different approach. Settings were adjusted constantly. For John, this didn’t feel like work. It felt like play – a chance to chase the perfect shot just for the fun of it.

Just for the Love of It

There’s a real joy in photographing something for no other reason than passion. John took over 1,000 frames and a quick edit pulled out 60 early favourites. Now comes the hard part – choosing which one will go on the studio wall.

What started as a photographer’s day off turned into a reminder of where it all began – and why it still matters.

Your Photographer

Get in touch for your photography requirements by clicking here – I have photographed several pilots weddings over the years !