SHUTTLE LAUNCH, WIN McNAMEE

photo by Win McNamee/ Getty Images

This was the first time I photographed a shuttle launch. To say the undertaking was a bit confusing at first would be an understatement. When you're in that situation the best thing to do is to seek advice from people who have done it successfully many times before. This picture was made with a sound activated remote trigger produced by Scott Andrews, from Nikon.

We purchased several remote kits because they are often the best source of pictures from shuttle launches. Scott is a genius at this stuff and a terrifically generous fellow with his knowledge - enough good things can't be said about him - and his pictures are amazing. Without Scott, and his advice, we would have been lost.

The camera was an old Canon 1D with an old beat up 20-35mm lens. The basic exposure was 1/1000th of a second at f10, at 200 ASA.

Red Huber from the Orlando Sentinel was also particularly helpful in offering advice for remote locations and he too is a true professional at this kind of photography - making most of us look like rank amateurs. Without his advice the launch would have been much more confusing from a practical standpoint. Last but by no means least, Ken Thornsley - the Director of Photography for the Kennedy Space Center was also an invaluable help. His years of experience, collective wisdom and his helpful nature are some of the best things going at NASA.

All of the things you might hear about witnessing a shuttle launch are true. It's an amazing sight. Once the shuttle has departed, and the initial rush is over, you just wanna do it all over again.

GETTY IMAGES