131212-F-TJ158-008

by SrA Christopher Calloway

A U.S. Air Force pilot waits in the cockpit of an F-35 Lightning II during a hot refuel on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 12, 2013. The F-35 is a single seat, fifth generation, multi-role fighter in development to perform ground-attack, reconnaissance and air defense missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Callaway)

Photographer's Narrative

 

This image was taken during one of the most impactful training events I have been involved in. I was asked to spend the week with Airman Magazine as they were doing a story on the maintainers who work on the F-35. At the time, Tech. Sgt. Bennie J. Davis took me under his wing and was giving me pointers. I saw this image as the F-35 was holding and began taking a few photos of it while on my knee. Davis came over and expressed to me that I should try lying down on the ground, use the sky to clean up the background and emphasize the composition I was going for. In the end, this is the image that came out.