Last summer I promised myself to photograph the final space shuttle launch. Not only was it to be a historic event, and the last of its kind, but I can probably generalize here and say that every kid born under the influence of gravity will do whatever it takes to watch stuff shoot into the sky – the bigger, louder, and higher the better.
And a shuttle launch is just that – big, loud, and high. Even from 6.5 miles away (the closest public viewing location) it is an awe-inspiring demonstration of power. From that distance, the sound didn’t reach us until just before the rocket disappeared into the cloud, but as the roar of the engines came flooding over us the magnitude of what I was witnessing began to sink in – after 30 years of service, the Shuttle Transport System was now to become a relic of the past.
Early on I made the decision to shoot the launch on 4×5 film, knowing full well this thing would happen fast. As it turned out I had plenty of time (hah!) to get 10 hurried shots (8 sheets and two polaroids) before the shuttle disappeared through the clouds in something like 30 seconds:
Comments 5
One of my memories of visiting your house as a kid was you, Matt, and Ben shooting rockets off. Some things never change.
Glad you got to be there! I love the shots.
Posted 21 Jul 2011 at 10:54 am ¶er… I meant Kenn. Sheesh, I know my cousins.
Posted 21 Jul 2011 at 10:55 am ¶No worries, Daniel – if only I had a dollar for every time I confused you and your siblings’ names…
Posted 21 Jul 2011 at 1:22 pm ¶Amazing photo Matt! And so timeless…it may easily have been taken on the first launch in 1981. I love the collective heads in the crowd all looking up, arms raised to snap pictures. Really well done.
Posted 22 Jul 2011 at 5:35 am ¶I was there for the launch too. A nail biter until the last minute. I wanted to purchase a print of the final launch but did not want something too “stocky”. Is it possible to get a 5X7 or an 8X10 print of the the first photo?
Thanks,
Posted 03 Aug 2011 at 10:08 am ¶PK
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