Mark Rourke

Reporter & Photographer

SEE MARK’S GALLERY HERE.

Mark’s interest in aviation came about by living under the approach to RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk. The photography came after with the purchase of a Zenith 12S with 300 mm lens.

Mark joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1997, serving with 800 NAS in the Persian Gulf and Kosovo as a Sea Harrier plane captain. During this time he updated his camera gear with the purchase of a Minolta SLR in Dubai. After leaving the Royal Navy on ill health his passion for aviation photography grew and he entered the digital revolution with relish.

Mark has had numerous photographs published in publications including Air Forces Monthly and Combat Aircraft, as well as local and national media which include the Daily Mail and the BBC. Mark is currently the European Correspondent for the Illustrated Guide to Weapons and Tactics, which is a magazine in circulation in Taiwan.

Chris W. Balmer

Web Guy & Photographer

SEE CHRIS’ GALLERY HERE.

Chris has been an aviation enthusiast since he was a kid, and has only really taken up photography in the last 10 years or so. Growing up near RAF Leuchars, he grew up with the Lightnings, Phantoms, and Tornadoes of the RAF, as well as plenty of overseas visitors, but photo opportunities were rare due to the lack of a camera in those days!!

Over the last several years, he has taken to travelling around Europe to see airshows and visit aviation related museums and sites, taking opportunities to see the variety of airframes dotted about everywhere.

Working in IT as a profession now, he also spent a few years creating digital art utilising Photoshop, Lightwave, and many other graphics packages, with some of his artwork being displayed in various exhibitions around the UK, including the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

Graham Bright

Reporter

SEE GRAHAM’S GALLERY HERE

Graham’s interest in aviation began at an early age embedded in the exploits of the RAF during World War 2, he joined the Air Training Corps where he gained first hand (but limited) experience with gliding, powered flying and life in the RAF. He joined the RAF in 1974 and it was working in the control tower at RAF Wattisham that focussed that general interest into limited photography and an expansion of a career into a hobby. 8-years in the Air Force took him around Europe with a posting to II(AC) Sqn at Laarbruch between 1978-1980 as the highlight, at that time they operated the Jaguar GR.1, and this aircraft remains a firm favourite.
Graham moved into the digital age in 2005 with a Canon 350D, and has upgraded regularly since with later models from the same Company.
While aviation related subjects remains the main focus of his photography he also enjoys travel and combines the two on regular trips to shows and museums in the UK, Europe and North America. Graham is also a fan of anything Cold War, particularly East European and Russian, so visits to the former Warsaw pact countries are always relished.