Bernard Zee Photography

BZ's picture gallery

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2011 San Francisco Fleet Week

This year's San Francisco Fleet Week show was simply spectacular! Because the show area is so huge, there are countless possibilities for pictures. Shooting from a variety of different locations over 4 days, I think I got a few keepers. :-) Just can't go wrong when you get to watch the Blues, Snowbirds, Patriots, B2, Super Hornet, Strike Eagle, all with the San Francisco bay as the background!
 
2011 Chino Planes of Fame Air Show

Spent an amazing 2 days taking pictures at the Planes of Fame air show in Chino, CA. I ended up with so many pictures that it's taking me a long time to whittle down the selection of pictures to post. Even so, I still ended up with WAY TOO MANY!. I have a long ways to go to finalize the pages (reorder, add captions, maybe some sound). But I thought I'd share what I have for now.
---- Pages under construction ----
 
B-17 Aluminum Overcast

Was happy to catch the B-17 Aluminum Overcast on their tour stop in Hayward, CA. Too bad, they only had one flight scheduled the day I was there. Though I would have liked to have had more chances to photograph the plane in the air, I was instead rewarded with a crowd-free, close-up look at the big bomber.
 
Nellis 2010

Nellis AFB hosts one of the biggest air shows out West with the Aviation Nation event. The show also marked the season Finale of the Thunderbirds. Along with the Raptor, Hornet, warbirds, and other acts, it was a tremendous show! It wasn't all smooth sailing for me, but I did get some nice pictures which I FINALLY got around to posting. :-)
 

Military shots

Littlefield Tanks 2010
2010 San Francisco Fleetweek
2010 California Int'l Airshow
Bovington Tank Museum
USS New Jersey
Chino 2010 Air Show
USCG Helo Ops
Dream Machines at HMB
2010 El Centro Airshow
Edwards AFB Open House
2009 San Francisco Fleetweek
Miramar MCAS air show
2009 CA Capitol Airshow
2009 Seattle SeaFair Blue Angels
Museum of Flight
2009 Collings at Moffett
2009 Chino Planes of Fame
Beale AFB Air Show
Nellis AFB Aviation Nation '08
San Francisco Fleetweek '08
Reno 2008 Air Show
Travis AFB 2008 Air Expo
Chino Planes of Fame Airshow
Collings Foundation
2008 California Capital Air Show
El Centro 2008 Air Show
San Franciso 2007 Fleetweek
2007 Nellis AFB Air Show
WWII Bombers at Moffett Field
Littlefield Tank Collection
Littlefield Tanks Part 2
 

People & Misc shots

USS Potomac cruise
San Francisco Fireworks
Niagara Falls Heli Tour
2010 Chinese New Year Parade
Oakland Holiday Parade
2009 Vegas car show
Zeppelin Eureka
More aerial shots
2009 SF DragonBoat Fest
2009 Seattle Hydroplanes
2009 Seattle SeaFair Lake Party
Model Rockets
Tern Change of Command
Cherry Blossom Festival
Chinese New Year Parade
Winter Break '08
Food
2008 Festival of Sail
2008 New York Int'l. Autoshow
Wintering in Maui
Odds & Ends
 

Wildlife shots

Elephant Seals at San Simeon
Birds in Flight, Gallery 7
CA Lake Birds, Gallery 6
(some) Birds in Flight, Gallery 5
Elephant Seals
Birds in Flight, Gallery 4
Birds in Flight, Gallery 3
Birds in Flight, Gallery 2
(Mostly) Birds in Flight, Gallery 1
 

Some thoughts on photography

I've always loved taking pictures as a way to capture the moment. With the proliferation of digital cameras, everyone is taking pictures! As a result, there's an explosion in the number of pictures posted on the web. The saying that 'Quantity has a quality all its own' (often applied to the Soviet post WWII military) doesn't apply here. Judicious editing is required to select the outstanding examples from the ordinary (or downright bad!). Pictures should tell a story. Too many similar pictures, no matter how well executed, will get boring for the viewer. I myself am guilty of that, but I'm working on it! :-)

Having taken lots of photos does not automatically make one a good photographer. Being able to operate the camera is only a minor aspect of photography. The photographer must understand the subject matter, the light, and how best to compose the shot. It really is an art, though it doesn't garner quite the recognition that other traditional art forms do.

Beyond the technicalities of taking the picture (camera settings, technique, equipment), the most important thing is location. As in real estate, it's all about location, location, location! The photographer who is in the right place at the right time can get amazing shots, while being in the wrong spot means lousy or no shots at all!

Am I a good photographer? I guess that's for others to judge. I do know what I like, and my pictures reflect that bias. They run towards action, and convey a sense of being right there. Photography also allows me to combine my different passions as represented by this gallery. Flying things, and things that go boom...preferably both!

BTW, I'm available for event photography around the San Francisco Bay area. You'd get full rights to the images, and I would charge based on time. Send me an email and we can work out the details!

If you have any comments, drop me a line at: szee1@comcast.net
Thanks!
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