(Believe it or not I HATE having my picture taken!! Sorry for the bad pic! Although not a bad pic that my husband took and to teach my husband at 1800 feet and with out communication was not possible. Only the pilot and I had the communication. Angie, I wish I knew better sign language!!)
Have you ever faced one of your biggest fears head on? Well, that is what I did on October 22, 2011. I had gotten a phone call from Chris Shatzer, a local sports photographer, about doing some aerial photography for a local football field. He wasn’t able to do it that day. So, in my mind I am thinking abosuletly no way am I going in some small airplane to do a photo shoot!! Photography helps me do things that I wouldn’t normally do and well, to make a long story short, I agreed to do it.
I have been afraid to fly for as long as I can remember. I remember a particular time when my Grandma Jensen took my cousin and I to California. I think my cousin and I both still have scars from our nails digging into eachothers arms from being so afraid! Turbulence is the worst!!
Well, I felt like God was having me go head on with my fears and trust Him to see me through. When we got to the airport this wonderful older gentleman gave my husband and I a tour of the hanger area in Hagerstown Airport. He was asking ME for directions!! REALLY? I was a little worried at this point lol! He said that I would be in the front with him! What? I thought I would be in the back able to squeeze my husband’s hand and give him some scars. (Not really but you know what I mean) Then, he said I would open the window and take the pictures out the window. Ok, that was hard for me to swallow. Tiny airplane + open window = AHHHH!
We went out to see the plane and for the pilot to give us instructions. This is the plane:
Wow, that is very tiny is all I could think of. He showed us the ins and outs of what we were to do. We got into the plane and waited a little for the “OK” to go on the runway. I was still thinking I could back out of this whole thing and high tail it out of there!! I prayed, “God if you really want me to do this, I need your peace!”
I received peace and we got the go ahead and we lifted off and I didn’t even know we were off the ground at first. It was that smooth! I am holding my husband’s hand at this point. We get a little higher and we started to jolt a little and then I was squeezing Bob’s hand. A few minutes later I felt Bob’s other hand touch my hand as to say, “Ease up honey, my hand has no circulation!” Ok, so I eased up and tried not to worry as much.
We were trying to find the football field now and I was thankful when my husband pointed us in the right direction. We got over there and then the pilot said to open the window. Oh boy, here it goes. I opened the window and started shooting. It was a ton of fun and loved being able to be above the subject I was shooting! The foliage was so beautiful! That is one thing about flying that always helps me get through it: God’s creation is so amazing!
We got the shots we needed and we were heading back. The pilot took his hands off the “wheel” and said go ahead and fly the plane. WHAT? I said, “No that is just fine! I will let you do that part!” I was thinking this guy is nuts! Thankfully, he took the “wheel” and we were on our way back. Here are some shots that I took during the flight. If you look at the first and last field pictures, you can see Robert Hoover of the Fayetteville Browns on the field to the right at the top of the pics.
This one was used for a poster that you may see at the Fayetteville Browns Stadium at Sunday’s game:
I know some of you photogs may have been expecting more on the amazing shots line but I was so wrapped up in, “I am really doing this!” stage that I took what I could and thanked God I was still alive. I am sure I will be more relaxed and able to be more free to take more next time. maybe 😉
Thank you Mr. Bowers for your hospitality and an excellent flight!
I found out after the flight that this nice man was 80 years old! What a trooper!
Well, thank you for listening to my story about a day of HUGE break through for me! Anyone out there that is afraid to fly, I understand but you won’t believe what you are missing! It is so worth it!
