The Chicago Air and Water Show is an annual tradition dating back to 1959. It has grown to be the largest and oldest free admission air and water show in the United States. The air show showcases daredevil pilots, parachute teams, and jets flying in formation. My husband Nick is a total aviation geek, and over the years his passion for photographing the show has rubbed off on me. It really is a thrill to try and capture these incredible machines. The jet noise alone generates a boost of adrenaline that is nothing short of addicting.
This year we were treated to an amazing line up which included the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, USMC Osprey, Sean D. Tucker, Firebird Jack Knutson, US Air Force A-10, US Air Force F-16, The Royal Airforce Red Arrows, US Air Force F-22, Team Oracle, and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
New to the line up this year was the The Royal Airforce Red Arrows — and boy, did they put on an entertaining show!! They are one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, England. Chicago was lucky enough to be the first American stop on their 2019 North American Tour. According to their website, “they assist in recruiting to the Armed Forces, act as ambassadors for the United Kingdom at home and overseas and promote the best of British.” They fly in a trademark Diamond Nine shape and feature red, white, and blue smoke. Overall, a stunning performance that was so much fun to photograph.
This year I had the chance to shoot the show from two incredible vantage points; high in the sky from 360 CHICAGO’s observatory, and up close and personal at show center from the rooftop of Castaways boathouse at North Avenue Beach. I chose two days at 360 CHICAGO (Friday practice day and Sunday show day) and one day at the beach (Saturday show day), while Nick decided to do one day up at the observatory (Friday practice day) and the two official show days at the beach. Both locations have their pros and cons.
360 CHICAGO provides an elevated, 360 degree vantage point (94th floor), awesome cityscape backdrops, and air conditioning! Lots of pros in my book. Drawbacks include being pretty far from show center, no play-by-play from announcers, and the major con – having to shoot through glass. The distortion can be pretty tough and it’s a real challenge to get tack-sharp shots.
Alternatively, North Avenue Beach is literally show center. All of the acts are focused on performing to this exact spot, so from here you get prime viewing of parachute landings, high speed passes, opposing jet passes, and demo hovers. At show center you can also hear the play-by-play of all the action from legendary announcer Herb Hunter and a pretty stellar all-American sound track. It adds an element to the show that is both informative and entertaining. Another pro of watching beachside is the adrenaline-pumping jet noise I mentioned earlier. When the fighter jets zoom overhead or come whizzing by for their high-speed passes the rumble shakes you to the core. It is an invigorating rush and really implants a memory you won’t soon forget. Some cons of the beach: parking, crowds, heat, and sun. All of these factors can be managed if you plan accordingly, but none-the-less they are things to be considered.
So, without further ado, here is a collection of my photos from the 61st annual Chicago Air and Water Show. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them!
