5D Mk IV – EF 24-70mm F/2.8L II – Einstein 640W Studio Lights – 1/125, f/9, ISO 100

Tools of a bygone era

Hard to believe that it’s been 37 years since I was issued many of the items in this picture. It’s also hard to believe that this was a career path that has essentially been replaced by technology – GPS. A good navigator, back in the day, could navigate around the world using just the MB-4 computer, a plotter, divider, stopwatch, a chart, and, of course, a compass.

The chart in the photo was one that I used specifically when departing and approaching Grissom AFB. If you look close, you can see the Purdue airport where the checklist and the MB-4 intersect.

I had 3 studio lights in use. The main light was a diffused beauty dish sitting very close to the subject. I had a second light on the left with a 40 degree grid to provide some fill light. I also had a light on top putting some lumens on the white background. Oh, and for those with a discerning eye, yes, this is a focus stacked image (10 images total).