02/14/2026
So i want to share a little story about why i enjoy taking photos so much. Last August i was shooting a airshow in Granite Falls at the Fagen AIr Museum. It was a huge event becuse of the very specific WWII aircraft flying that day. Some very very rare aircraft, there was a group of 3 together that comprised of the last 3 known on earth that still flew. pretty amazing. However during the night 2 of them got damaged during a freak weather event so only 1 was able to fly during the show. As i was set up along the flight line in my portable stool, my 300 2.8 with a 2x teleconvertor on it and a mono pod, looking like somone official. I mean after all i was here talking with the pilots, the owners of planes, the photographers from MN FLYER magazine, the local papers and many of the local PD and MN HP since i grew up around the area.
Towards the end of the show the star attraction made its flight debut the TBM-3E AVENGER HELLCAT serial number 87A2222 one of 3 left in the world that can fly and owned by Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite falls MN. during its flight i was in heaven and taking a few select photos while taking time to also enjoy its beauty in flight when a women approached me aksing me if i ever sell my photos. I told her i did. She explained to me her husbands grandfather flew that exact plane in WWII and would like a photo of that plane flying for her husband. Her family had all traveled from across the country for the show and by this time she was in tears and i was missing the rest of the flight. i told her to speak with me in a few minutes after the plane landed and i would get her details and send her a large print for FREE to honor her husbands grandfathers service. at which she broke down in tears giving me a huge hug (and for those that know me best all know how much i hate hugs) almost knocking my $10K investment out of my hands.
I hurried back to grab the final few photos, we exchanged information after the show and here are the prints i am sending her for her husbands birthday.
