In the BP (Before Photoshop) years
Discussion
Came across this:
Before:
After:
'Back in the early days of World War II, Bell Aircraft and the U.S. Army Air Forces got a lot of publicity mileage from a spectacular photo of one of the new Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters that was firing its guns at night. As printed in the newspapers and magazines, the picture appeared to be a very close-in shot of the powerfully armed fighter in full flight with all guns blazing. The use of tracer bullets added to the effect.
Getting an actual flight scene like this would have taken some doing. A check of the perspective reveals that the camera used a normal lens and was placed quite close to the subject. If the camera were in another plane, the formation flying would have been terrifically close. It would have been tricky enough under the best of conditions, and even more difficult at night, particularly with the subject pilot firing his guns as well as holding formation.
As can be seen from the second photo, the flight was a fake and the photographer was safely on the ground. Other than the gunnery, which was real enough, all the "action" was the result of a retouched photo.
There was a lot to do, such as blacking out all of the ground details and then removing the landing gear and closing up the nosewheel doors. To get a little more action into the scene, the "flight" picture was tilted a bit. It may be confusing to those who come across this shot in old magazines to find it credited to two sources. The manufacturer released it, with the military censor's approval, and got the proper credit lines in various publications. The Air Force made copies of the photo and released them on its own, so other prints appear as "Official Photo U.S. Army Air Force" even though it was not an original Army photo ' .Much can be written on the subject of incorrect photo credits.
As is to be expected from any new and successful gimmick, it was soon copied, and both Lockheed with its P-38and Republic with its spectacular eight-gun P-47 were soon out with "night flight" shots of their own.'
From http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Bell-...
Before:
After:
'Back in the early days of World War II, Bell Aircraft and the U.S. Army Air Forces got a lot of publicity mileage from a spectacular photo of one of the new Bell P-39 Airacobra fighters that was firing its guns at night. As printed in the newspapers and magazines, the picture appeared to be a very close-in shot of the powerfully armed fighter in full flight with all guns blazing. The use of tracer bullets added to the effect.
Getting an actual flight scene like this would have taken some doing. A check of the perspective reveals that the camera used a normal lens and was placed quite close to the subject. If the camera were in another plane, the formation flying would have been terrifically close. It would have been tricky enough under the best of conditions, and even more difficult at night, particularly with the subject pilot firing his guns as well as holding formation.
As can be seen from the second photo, the flight was a fake and the photographer was safely on the ground. Other than the gunnery, which was real enough, all the "action" was the result of a retouched photo.
There was a lot to do, such as blacking out all of the ground details and then removing the landing gear and closing up the nosewheel doors. To get a little more action into the scene, the "flight" picture was tilted a bit. It may be confusing to those who come across this shot in old magazines to find it credited to two sources. The manufacturer released it, with the military censor's approval, and got the proper credit lines in various publications. The Air Force made copies of the photo and released them on its own, so other prints appear as "Official Photo U.S. Army Air Force" even though it was not an original Army photo ' .Much can be written on the subject of incorrect photo credits.
As is to be expected from any new and successful gimmick, it was soon copied, and both Lockheed with its P-38and Republic with its spectacular eight-gun P-47 were soon out with "night flight" shots of their own.'
From http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Bell-...
I wonder why they chose a different shot from a slightly different POV from the first shot
for the final re-touched image?
I think it's a bit confusing that in the re-touched shot, the tracer from the wing mounted guns aligns perfectly with the cannon (and its tracer) firing through the aircraft screw,
which is not the case in the first image.
Interesting stuff though
.
for the final re-touched image?
I think it's a bit confusing that in the re-touched shot, the tracer from the wing mounted guns aligns perfectly with the cannon (and its tracer) firing through the aircraft screw,
which is not the case in the first image.
Interesting stuff though
.JimNotJon said:
How would they of removed the aforementioned landing gear door on the nose and the wheels then? Would they of just shaded it in with ink and then copied the photo?
Airbrush the negative I believe; a skilled job.Elderly said:
I wonder why they chose a different shot from a slightly different POV from the first shot for the final re-touched image?
I expect they took several and couldn't use the one they airbrushed for the 'before' photo as it had been, well, airbrushed! No Ctrl/Z...The lighting is quite different too.
Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 29th May 00:00
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