Gull flying in formation with AC-130

was taking photos at beach and a plane, I believe AC-130, flew over, and while attempting to photograph it a gull flew into the frame and snapped this. Thought it looked like it was in formation flying with the plane.

BTW, I screwed up the ISO due to my bad eyes, and selected ISO 1000 instead of 100, and got shutter speed of 1/8000, resulting in freezing of props rotation, so it looks kinda odd.

Why does the gull's wing look like it has a shadow?

Kinda funny looking photo in formation. Looks like your processing was a little extreme since there's a black edge around the Herk giving it a photoshopped look (at least on my screen)

BTW, that's an MC-130P Combat Shadow, not an AC-130. If you're in the panhandle of FL it was most likely from the 9th SOS out of Eglin AFB. I flew them for 7 years.

96whiteknight wrote in post #15787100
Why does the gull's wing look like it has a shadow?

it was extreme editing, I will post the original for clarification

FotoPilot wrote in post #15787114
Kinda funny looking photo in formation. Looks like your processing was a little extreme since there's a black edge around the Herk giving it a photoshopped look (at least on my screen)

BTW, that's an MC-130P Combat Shadow, not an AC-130. If you're in the panhandle of FL it was most likely from the 9th SOS out of Eglin AFB. I flew them for 7 years.

it was extreme editing as I had mistakenly put ISO at 1000 on a bright beach day, so got extreme image. I will post the original.

I did layer via copy to remove blue color cast from the plane and guess I am not yet competent enough at that, I certainly don't do it very often. Did the same with the bird but they are both originally there, not a composite.

yes, I figured it was a MC-130, had a nurse on my staff many years ago whose husband flew it but wasn't certain since both fly out of Eglin, thanks for correcting it. There were many, probably 10 130's flying in line formation approaching Eglin in a big swooping circle coming over the beach from the SE approach to Eglin over Destin beaches. When her husband flew the MC she had told me there were only 2 in the Air Force so her husband was always gone abroad on missions, are there many more now or where there likely different versions of the 130 involved?

thanks for the clarification.

here is the original raw converted in LR only, no high pass/sharpening or layering in PS nor any levels or curves

I think the plane looks much better but you can see the bird is blurred. My attempts to sharpen it made the first image look poor.

kinda looks like a 1970s or 1980s photo, which is pretty cool

Liquid Dark wrote in post #15787217
yes, I figured it was a MC-130, had a nurse on my staff many years ago whose husband flew it but wasn't certain since both fly out of Eglin, thanks for correcting it. There were many, probably 10 130's flying in line formation approaching Eglin in a big swooping circle coming over the beach from the SE approach to Eglin over Destin beaches. When her husband flew the MC she had told me there were only 2 in the Air Force so her husband was always gone abroad on missions, are there many more now or where there likely different versions of the 130 involved?

thanks for the clarification.

No problem. There's definitely more than 2 MC-130's in the USAF that include types, numbers and operating locations around the world. MC-130E Talon I, MC-130H Talon II, MC-130P Combat Shadow and the newest version MC-130J Commando II. Most of them are disappearing now since the new J models (Commando II) are coming off the assembly line. Not sure which versions besides the Shadow you saw that day, but with the retirement ceremonies for these birds going on they may have been involved with that.

FotoPilot wrote in post #15788919
No problem. There's definitely more than 2 MC-130's in the USAF that include types, numbers and operating locations around the world. MC-130E Talon I, MC-130H Talon II, MC-130P Combat Shadow and the newest version MC-130J Commando II. Most of them are disappearing now since the new J models (Commando II) are coming off the assembly line. Not sure which versions besides the Shadow you saw that day, but with the retirement ceremonies for these birds going on they may have been involved with that.

Now that you mention the individual names the Talon rings a bell, think that was the one her husband was on. Great info! Thx

I learn something new all the time. Friend across the street from me flew helicopters for the Air Force. When he told me, I thought he was pulling my leg, especially since he wore contacts too (I am old enough that pilots were always perfect sighted). He explained that they relaxed the rules, at least for the helicopter pilots and that he piloted the Pave Low for Special Forces. Another staff member's son graduated 1st in his class, what did he pick to fly? F-22.....no, he picked the Osprey. Can you explain that one?

Liquid Dark wrote in post #15788940
Another staff member's son graduated 1st in his class, what did he pick to fly? F-22.....no, he picked the Osprey. Can you explain that one?

There are several personal reasons I would think of for that decision, but you need to ask the person who chose it.

Personally,after flying in Shadows in Special Operations for over 12 years, (yes, I know many Pave Low pilots as well) this is the wave of the modern battlefield. The opportunity to get up close and personal to the action is always present. Fighters are definitely a necessary force for any military, but it's personal preference in the types of missions everyone wants to fly.

Special Ops aircraft are in business every day performing clandestine and rescue operations (both in the battlefield and out). It's cool to fly Mach 1+ yanking and banking in a chick magnet fighter, but take an MV-22 on a night low-level on NVGs at 250 KIAS, air refuel enroute, stop on a dime to insert special forces, then perform a rescue on the way back to base.

Ask your friend's son why he chose it. It may be an enlightening explanation, and from me, tell him congratulations for choosing the Special Operations way of life and thank you for your service.

FotoPilot wrote in post #15794640
MV-22 on a night low-level on NVGs at 250 KIAS, air refuel enroute, stop on a dime to insert special forces, then perform a rescue on the way back to base.

Ask your friend's son why he chose it. It may be an enlightening explanation, and from me, tell him congratulations for choosing the Special Operations way of life and thank you for your service.

well put. now I know what you are talking about.

I will indeed let him know and thank YOU for your service as well

Not an AC-130. See previous post...

^ Excellent contribution to thread.