US Air Force: Canon AE-1 + Portra 400
Written and Photographed by JaNae Capuno
Artist
JaNae Capuno, USAF Photojournalist
Photos taken 12 p.m, January 8th, 2020, at Mountain Home Air Force Base Idaho // Canon AE1 Program, Vivitar Lens 70-200mm with a 2x Teleconverter, Portra 400.
My portfolio with the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense is public domain, my imagery can be found here for free use: https://www.dvidshub.net/portfolio/1465296
US Air Force
In 2020, U.S. Air Force photojournalists typically use professional-grade DSLRs with wide-ranging ISOs, F-stops and shutter speeds while attaching pristine glass designed to auto-focus on any fast aircraft.
Taking those capabilities away, many people would assume their imagery would fall flat – but an average 35mm film photographer could speak differently.
Slowing down and waiting for the moment is exactly what most film photographers strive for. Shooting an approximately 60,000 lb aircraft that reaches a 1,600 mph top speed with a camera that can only go to 1/1000th of a second can sound like a challenge to any photographer - and with film, you can’t even check until you develop your roll.
Having the opportunity to pay homage to the 1980’s F-15E Strike Eagle by capturing its spirit with the Canon AE-1, a camera almost as “young” as it, contrasts most capabilities a typical DLSR user has. Portra 400 gives you only 36 attempts to get it right, which is opposite to the endless chances a DSLR has to create an image.
The cool thing to compare is, like the F-15E, film cameras travel around the world to this day, and are an inspiration to the people that use them. Like a generation of pilots flying a legend built in the 1980s, many photographers to this day “pilot” film cameras that have captured several moments in history.
Modern-day DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are like the fighter world's F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs. The next-generation technology gives amazing results, but there's no reason the shooters of old (both cameras and aircraft) can't still pack a punch.
Both the Canon AE1 and the F-15E can attest to that.
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