130410-F-TJ158-036

by SrA Christopher Calloway

U.S. Air Force airmen from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron jump out the back of a MH-47 Chinook Helicopter at Wynnehaven Beach, Fla., April 9, 2013. The helicopter conducts overt and covert infiltration, exfiltration, air assault, resupply and sling-load operations in a wide range of environmental conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher Callaway)

Photographer's Narrative

 

I first saw this image when we were riding on the boat to get out to the location. The Boeing CH-47 Chinooks were doing practice runs before letting the Operators jump out, and every time they got close to the water they would be engulfed in a sphere of water. I asked the driver of the boat to get on the side of the helicopter so I could capture the scene in the best possible way. After taking a photo of the helicopter in the sphere, I realized the water gave the helicopter a spooky pattern, and that’s when I decided to get closer and capture the image making it appear the Chinook had an abnormal paint scheme.