Blue Angels Air Show I Thunder Over New Hampshire

 

F-35 Lightning II fighter jet performs a high-speed banking maneuver against a cloudy sky backdrop.

I went to my first Blue Angels show this summer… and it rained.

But I still walked away with some of my favorite images I’ve ever taken.

F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet flying against blue sky during aerial demonstration.
F-35 Lightning II fighter jet performs a banking maneuver against cloudy sky during flight demonstration.
F-35 fighter jet performs aerial maneuvers against a cloudy sky backdrop.
Military jets perform aerial maneuvers with contrails against a cloudy sky.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet aircraft performs aerial maneuvers during an airshow demonstration.
A sequence of US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets performing aerial maneuvers against a cloudy sky.
A skydiver descends through cloudy skies with a yellow parachute and American flag trailing behind them.
Blue and gold US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets perform precision formation flying maneuvers against a cloudy sky.
Six US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet aircraft flying in formation with smoke trails against cloudy sky.
Four military jets performing an aerial formation maneuver against a bright blue sky with white contrails behind them.
US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet aircraft perform a tight formation maneuver against a cloudy sky.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets perform aerial maneuvers in formation against bright blue sky.
A US Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet performs aerial maneuvers against a bright blue sky.
A sequence of contrails from airplanes form parallel white lines across a bright blue sky.
Five white contrails streak across a bright blue sky creating parallel lines in a clear daytime atmosphere.
A sequence of images showing a passenger jet flying through blue skies leaving white contrails behind.
Two airplanes performing an aerial maneuver creating a heart-shaped smoke trail against a bright blue sky.
Military jets fly in tight formation with white contrails against deep blue sky during an aerial demonstration.
Blue Angels F/A-18 fighter jets perform aerial maneuvers leaving white smoke trails against bright blue sky.
A red vintage drag racing car speeds along a dirt track during a motorsport competition event.
Military jets flying in formation through a blue sky leaving white contrails behind them.
A vintage World War II fighter plane performs an aerial maneuver against a cloudy sky background.
A red jet car performs a high-speed run on a runway with flames shooting from its exhaust during a demonstration.
Yellow aerobatic aircraft performs aerial maneuver with white smoke trail against blue sky during airshow.
Parachutist landing on airfield runway with American flag while dragging feet during touchdown sequence.
Military aircraft performing aerial refueling maneuver with fuel boom extended between two planes in flight.
Military helicopter hovers low over grassy airfield during training exercise or demonstration flight.
Yellow aerobatic planes perform synchronized flight maneuvers with smoke trails against cloudy sky.
Birds soar across a cloudy sky above a tree-lined landscape with rolling hills in the distance.
A panoramic view of a dramatic cloudy sky with sunlight breaking through over a mountain landscape.
Military fighter jets fly in formation leaving white smoke trails against a bright blue sky during an air show display.
Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet jets perform precision aerial maneuvers with white smoke trails in the blue sky.
Four airplanes flying in formation against a blue sky leaving white vapor trails behind them.
Military jets flying in formation leave white contrails against a bright blue sky during an aerial demonstration.
Three military jets fly in formation against a bright blue sky, creating a dramatic aerial display.
Three military jets perform a synchronized aerial maneuver leaving white smoke trails against a bright blue sky.
Contrails from multiple airplanes streak across a bright blue sky in a parallel formation pattern.
A sequence of photos showing a Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornet jet performing aerial maneuvers against a blue sky with clouds.

 

Blue Angels in Motion


I went to my first Thunder Over New Hampshire air show this summer… and it was all clear skies...until it rained. Not just a light mist or passing cloud, but the kind of rain that makes most people pack up early and call it a day.


But I stayed.


Because moments like this don’t come around often, and I knew there was something worth capturing… even if the conditions weren’t perfect. And honestly, that’s where some of the best images are made.


Photographing the Blue Angels is nothing like photographing a still subject. There is no pause. No reset. No second chance. Jets move at incredible speeds, and every frame requires precision, anticipation, and complete awareness of both light and motion.


You are not reacting to the moment…

You are predicting it.


Watching the sky, reading the formation, tracking movement before it even happens.

Because if you wait until you see it, you’ve already missed it.




What It Takes to Capture Motion Like This


Air show photography pushes every part of your skill set:


  • Understanding light in constantly changing conditions
  • Tracking fast-moving subjects with accuracy
  • Adjusting settings instantly without losing the moment
  • Composing intentionally in unpredictable environments


It’s controlled chaos.

And yet, when everything comes together… the result feels effortless.




Why This Matters Beyond the Air Show


While this type of photography may look completely different from a portrait session, the foundation is exactly the same. Whether I’m photographing a jet moving across the sky or a family standing along the coastline at golden hour, my approach never changes.


I am always looking ahead.

Watching for the moment before it happens.

Positioning myself intentionally so that when everything aligns, I’m ready to capture it.


Because the most meaningful images are never accidental.

They are anticipated.




A Reminder About Conditions and Creativity


It would have been easy to leave when the rain started.

To assume the conditions weren’t ideal.


But some of the most striking images came from that exact moment… dramatic skies, diffused light, and a completely different atmosphere than a typical clear day.


Photography isn’t about waiting for perfect conditions.

It’s about knowing how to create something meaningful within whatever conditions you’re given.




Interested in High-Impact Photography?


While my primary focus is on portrait and heirloom photography, I also take on a limited number of:

Automotive sessions

Event coverage

Custom creative projects


If you’re looking for photography that goes beyond simply documenting a moment and instead captures it with intention, I would love to connect.

 

 

View More Work or Get in Touch

Explore more of my portfolio or reach out directly to start planning your session.

 

Book Now