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This is a "safe" image. It was taken for NASA (public domain), but it is also my photograph, so I guess it's doubly safe.

This is the instrument panel of the Shuttle Columbia. I took it not too long before Columbia disintegrated on reentry.

It's not particularly artful, but it was a real technical nightmare to light. I thought maybe some of you would be interested in seeing what I like to call "the dashboard". The sad thing is that it's a photo of something that no longer exists.

Nice framing and lighting. Good job of centering as much of the panel as you could and keeping it horizontal so that it would appear you're sitting in the cockpit.

B23 wrote:Nice framing and lighting. Good job of centering as much of the panel as you could and keeping it horizontal so that it would appear you're sitting in the cockpit.

Thanks, B23! It sounds like you have some appreciation of problems involved. The flight deck is very small (maybe ten by ten). I used the widest lens I had without going to "fisheye" (which would have been really distorted).

The big trouble was keeping my lights from reflecting in the glass panels of the instruments. I used incandescents instead of flash so I could see the reflections while I was setting up (I digitally corrected the color balance, later). It still took many hours to set up.

Well, I am not an expert on photography but let me just say this is a very cool picture!

Wow!

Thanks for sharing it with us!

How were you able to get this photo?

~td~

truth dancer wrote:Well, I am not an expert on photography but let me just say this is a very cool picture!

Wow!

Thanks for sharing it with us!

How were you able to get this photo?

~td~

Thanks, truth. Your are obviously a woman of refined tastes ;).

I did contract work for NASA and Boeing (both combined at the same time) for about four years. My job was to document Shuttle modifications (both photos and illustration) in Palmdale, CA.

I was privileged to work on both Atlantis and Columbia. Easily, the best gig I ever had. I have thousands of images, but only a few that I can share without getting into trouble.


Here's another. Columbia on the "ramp" moments before her last ferry flight. To give you an idea of scale, there is a mechanic standing on the wing wheel at your left.

Quasimodo wrote:

B23 wrote:Nice framing and lighting. Good job of centering as much of the panel as you could and keeping it horizontal so that it would appear you're sitting in the cockpit.

Thanks, B23! It sounds like you have some appreciation of problems involved. The flight deck is very small (maybe ten by ten). I used the widest lens I had without going to "fisheye" (which would have been really distorted).

The big trouble was keeping my lights from reflecting in the glass panels of the instruments. I used incandescents instead of flash so I could see the reflections while I was setting up (I digitally corrected the color balance, later). It still took many hours to set up.

I took photo in high school (both B and W and colour!) and so have some idea of the basics of framing/space/etc in making a photo look as good as it can. I earned that B+ Mr. Whateveryournamewas (I forget his last name, he was a cool dude though :D )

Quasi:

You should find out if the photo really belongs to you and what you're allowed to do with it. This would make a great poster - I can think of several catchy phrases to go with it. As, I'm sure, a lot of the folks here can as well.

Hoops wrote:Quasi:

You should find out if the photo really belongs to you and what you're allowed to do with it. This would make a great poster - I can think of several catchy phrases to go with it. As, I'm sure, a lot of the folks here can as well.

Thanks, Hoops! It belongs to NASA, the people that paid me to shoot it (essentially, you). Since all published NASA images are public domain (as is this one) anyone is free to make a poster of it (even you).

They paid me well to make images like this and I have no complaints.

I wish I was still doing that work. Every day was fun! I'd love to hear what catchy phrases you were thinking about.

How about:

Nasa's Mile High Club


But I was thinking of the instrument panel picture. It's FABULOUS!! (the other one is great as well)

I just looked at it again. The instrument panel pict. is spectacular!! I mean, art show, "wow, this guy's good" kinda good.

I envy artists like you and shades and all the others. (but it's a Godly envy - as far as you know)