I’ve seen the Life Flight medical/rescue helicopters lift off from the helipad at Intermountain Medical Center numerous times. I have also been standing there with the sole purpose of capturing photos of the magnificent birds in flight. But today, with the amazingly blue sky and white clouds reflecting in the windows of the 14-floor hospital in Murray, I got really lucky with being in the right place at the right time.
Canon 60D | 105mm | 1/320 | f/8.0 | ISO 200 | RAW
I walked out of my office to see the helicopter making final preparations for take off. I grabbed my camera from my car and made my way out to State Street with my 70-300mm lens attached and my basic manual settings set. Usually, the helicopters take off and immediately make their way east, away from the patient tower. Today, as if the pilot knew exactly what I was hoping for, lifted off from the helipad and headed straight up, parallel to the tall building with the reflective glass. I snapped away – in fact, I snapped so many photos my SD card couldn’t keep up with it. But I still think I got the money shot I was hoping for.
I love the colors, reflection and contrast between the blue sky and the red helicopter. I’ve submitted this photo to Life Flight’s public relations department with hopes of it being selected for use in their 2015 calendar. I think this would look awesome as a large metal print as well (which would look amazing in my office at work).
~signed, Carltonaut
Carltonaut 