Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is flying for a scheduled 12-day mission to the International Space Station which ends the shuttle program after 135 missions.
Wow, its been 5 months since I updated this. Lets start someplace fun..... like the final, historic space launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Here's the whole story:
This was pretty personal to me. I grew up watching the Shuttle program, mostly on TV From John Young & Robert Crippen's historic flight on April 20, 1981 with STS-1 on Columbia to Sally Ride on Challenger on STS-7, to Discovery's first launch, through fifth grade and the disaster of 51-L. I remember asking an assistant principal "What do you mean it just blew up?" I looked at all the photos in the Rogers Commission Report and knew I wanted to make photos like that; Some day I'd do it. I still wanted to be an astronaut but somehow knew it wasn't going to happen; I'd watched "The Right Stuff" too many times to know that it was very unlikely.
Later, the return to flight with STS-26, Atlantis and its DOD missions, Winning a reading contest in middle school and leaning up against the landing gear of Enterprise (oh come on, you'd do the same thing!) Endeavor and knowing that was it. College and STS-107, losing Columbia and shooting a basketball game that afternoon. Moving to Florida and seeing my first launch, STS-114 and the Return to Flight part 2 and deciding that somehow, I had to photograph it up close and personal. Shot 4 launches as a press photographer and decided that I had to be there when it ended.
I drove down two days early, L-2, or on Wednesday. Rolled in, got my credentials and found out that NPS had already lent out EVERYTHING they had, totally messing up my plans as one of my cameras is totally FUBAR and headed back to Melville for repair as we speak. Should have brought my D1x as it would have come in handy.
Drove out Thursday, complete with cooler and ice, lots of water, crackers, raisins, with the intention of sleeping in my car till the launch. Why? 1 million people expected, two roads to get there. 6 am rolls around and it was the Mos Eisley of photography. Ive never seen so many homebrewed contraptions for space launches in my life. I end up not making it on any of the first buses as they both were filled and made it out into the field at the "mound" as its affectionally known. My intentions were to set up 3 cameras - all D2x - on two triggers, one at the mound and one on the dyke to get water in it. (I borrowed one trigger from remote & NASA photography legend Scott Andrews of Canon Professional Services) This was the shot I was going for:
Its not artsy but i wanted something nice and tight and figured I'd do the artsy stuff elsewhere, not realizing the diving providence which would befall me.
Somehow i set the trigger sensitivity too low and the batteries died in the camera before the launch.
Our media escort Robert while others set up on the mound.
I'm setting up and moving out to the left near an AP camera when it dawns on me, I left my boots, stakes, and bungee cords back at the press site. NASA photo guru Ken Thornsley brought my stuff out to me and I bagged my camera and then was shuttled back to the press site as NASA decided to do RSS Rollback early to try and beat the weather. This didnt happen as a wicked thunderstorm rolled in. So i made my first of four trips to the NASA cafeteria.
Those are two British photographers as we're getting drenched outside the VAB.
That fiberglass shuttle is outside of the Cafeteria.
Overflow Media Parking Island.
The VAB reflected in a puddle.
After lunch, There were a few press availabilities in the Media Center. One made a photo.
Heather Paul, a NASA engineer for life support systems is reflected in the helmet of a space suit while she is interviewed at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, July 7, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
We went to RSS Rollback. Made Photos. Went back.
Astronaut Mike Massimino poses for a photo with Kanoko Nakashima while Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on launch pad 39-A as it waits for the final space shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, July 7, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
United Space Alliance put a banner on the gate for rollback. The RSS is the Rotating Service Structure, otherwise known as that clamshell thing that protects the Shuttle while it sits on the pad.
You can either shoot super wide or walk back and compress the image.
Obligatory Flag Shot.
Eventually, after much tenacity (or being a total PAIN IN THE ASS with NASA. In fairness, everyone did get their stuff set up in time.), I managed to hitchhike out to the field to set up my final cameras in a van with former Tampa Tribune shooter Michael Spooneybarger and they were headed into the pad perimeter.
Eventually, after much tenacity (or being a total PAIN IN THE ASS with NASA. In fairness, everyone did get their stuff set up in time.), I managed to hitchhike out to the field to set up my final cameras in a van with former Tampa Tribune shooter Michael Spooneybarger and they were headed into the pad perimeter.
After a quick pow-wow with my vanmates and some scrambling for sandbags, I set up my final two cameras inside the pad perimeter, on the eastern side of the launchpad, one on an 85/2 and the other on with a 35. Divine providence as I was able to scrounge up 3 sandbags and place my cameras. Here's what I was aiming for:
Something tripped the camera and I got this overnight on the wide. Very foggy out.
Somehow..... the focus on the 85 got knocked between setup and when the launch happened.
Spooney and his crew making last minute adjustments at a very close in position.
As soon as I got back to the press site, there's a sunset photo opp of the shuttle. Since i was trying to sell photos thru Zuma, i grabbed my cameras and it was back to the bus. Ran into old friend Jodie Fleicher (now with WSB in Atlanta, formerly WFTV in Orlando) and ended up holding a light while they taped a standup. Made more pretty photos.
3 hours later..... it went. I shot with two cameras. A D7000 with a 400/2.8 & a 1.4 teleconverter as the prime camera.... as it was a crop body as well as my D700 was messed up. The D700 was put on a magic arm with an 80-200 & a polarizer on shutter release.
Al Diaz of the Miami Herald photographs Space Shuttle Atlantis as it lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Something tripped the camera and I got this overnight on the wide. Very foggy out.
Somehow..... the focus on the 85 got knocked between setup and when the launch happened.
Spooney and his crew making last minute adjustments at a very close in position.
As soon as I got back to the press site, there's a sunset photo opp of the shuttle. Since i was trying to sell photos thru Zuma, i grabbed my cameras and it was back to the bus. Ran into old friend Jodie Fleicher (now with WSB in Atlanta, formerly WFTV in Orlando) and ended up holding a light while they taped a standup. Made more pretty photos.
Timed it right to get that nice blue.
Went for food before Editing, transmitting, and bumping back into Smiley Pool of the Houston Chronicle before checking into Casa de Honda and setting my alarm for 5 AM. Had to use my sunshade to block out the TV lights from CBS News as they were on all night.
5 AM comes around and I step out of my car and feel this wonderful cool dry breeze from the southwest.
In my mind, the board is green and we're going to launch. Get in line for the bus for Walkout and end up at the end of the line, shooting long next to James Nielsen of the Houston Chronicle.
Fortune smiled on me as I got a good, clean shot of walkout....
Went for food before Editing, transmitting, and bumping back into Smiley Pool of the Houston Chronicle before checking into Casa de Honda and setting my alarm for 5 AM. Had to use my sunshade to block out the TV lights from CBS News as they were on all night.
5 AM comes around and I step out of my car and feel this wonderful cool dry breeze from the southwest.
In my mind, the board is green and we're going to launch. Get in line for the bus for Walkout and end up at the end of the line, shooting long next to James Nielsen of the Houston Chronicle.
Fortune smiled on me as I got a good, clean shot of walkout....
Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus, left, and Commander Chris Ferguson, right, wave to the crowd as they head to Space Shuttle Atlantis for it's final launch at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Atlantis is flying for a scheduled 12-day mission to the International Space Station which ends the shuttle program after 135 missions.
....and saw Uhura herself, Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame.
....and saw Uhura herself, Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame.
Actress Nichelle Nichols of "Star Trek" fame poses with a fan before watching Space Shuttle Atlantis for it's final launch at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
I get back to the press center, go for breakfast, edit, send and set up for the launch itself.
Feature photo by the VAB. Can't resist.
I get back to the press center, go for breakfast, edit, send and set up for the launch itself.
Feature photo by the VAB. Can't resist.
Educator Bethany McCabe poses with her Space Shuttle socks outside the vehicle assembly building before Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
While setting up, I run into the red, fuzzy Muppet himself ELMO. Yeah, I got all fanboy here for the first time in doing this professionally for a bunch of years. Of course I got a photo.
While setting up, I run into the red, fuzzy Muppet himself ELMO. Yeah, I got all fanboy here for the first time in doing this professionally for a bunch of years. Of course I got a photo.
Sesame Street's Elmo is interviewed by Spacefilght Now's Leroy Chiao before Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
For 135 launches, ABC Radio has had the prime position.
ABC News Radio broadcaster Vic Ratner prepares to broadcast the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis from launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
3 hours later..... it went. I shot with two cameras. A D7000 with a 400/2.8 & a 1.4 teleconverter as the prime camera.... as it was a crop body as well as my D700 was messed up. The D700 was put on a magic arm with an 80-200 & a polarizer on shutter release.
The general plan was to shoot with the 400 & push the shutter release until the Shuttle hit the clouds. At that point, I would grab the 80, shoot some of the crowd and then switch to a 35 and get more of the crowd around me.
One problem in my plan: Totally overexposed the shots with the 400 as I was exhausted and not thinking to put it on manual and shoot normally.
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Maybe 15 seconds in before the 400's lens mount decided to keep me from shooting for 5 seconds.
Ascent and entering the clouds.
Al Diaz of the Miami Herald photographs Space Shuttle Atlantis as it lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Lidya Poljacek-Umphenour, of Anchorage, Ak., photographs as Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off launch pad 39-A for the final launch of the shuttle era at Kennedy Space Center on Friday, July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
And all that is left is smoke.
And all that is left is smoke.
From there, its quick edit, transmit, curse my mistakes and then make my final trip to the NASA cafeteria as it will be 3 hours before I can retrieve my remotes. Unbeknownst to me, only ONE worked correctly. But darn if it didn't give me some great frames.
Is this the end of Manned Space Flight? Lord only knows. Its about politics and funding. (No Bucks, No Buck Rogers.) A friend remarked to me that President Kennedy would be rolling over in his grave if he knew that 50 years later, it would just end. I agree completely.
I guess if it had to end, I'm glad i was there to document history.
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