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PREMIUM CONTENT/BEHIND THE LENS

Mitch Coad
ANZ192 to Auckland departing off runway 05 into the stormy Adelaide sky. I still cannot believe how early this Boeing 777-219LR rotated, and how clear my shot of it was.
Double trouble! The unique Jetstar “Jaffa Jet” departing into the late evening sun at Adelaide Airport, as another Jetstar lines up at the start of runway 23.
My favourite shot. A five-second exposure of the flight deck of Qantas Airbus A380 VH-OQB. Big thanks to the Qantas pilots and flight attendants for the awesome flight!
A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-941 departing off runway 23 at Adelaide Airport, in some perfect summer evening light. I love this photo as the early rotation and summer light brings the photo together very nicely!
Thai Airways Airbus A350-941 pulling into the gate at Adelaide Airport, after diverting from Melbourne due to bad weather.
Qatar Airways A7-ALZ in the beautiful oneworld livery moments from touchdown on runway 23 at Adelaide Airport. Some fabulous weather and light from the terminal that day.
A recent shot of a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1041 (B-LXD) taxiing along the Foxtrot taxiway at Adelaide Airport, performing a COVID-19 cargo only flight from Sydney, then onto Hong Kong. This was our second A35K to visit Adelaide Airport.
A Royal Australian Air Force Dassault Falcon 7X on final approach for runway 30 at Adelaide Airport, conveniently flying over my house allowing me to get this creative shot through the trees.
A Cargolux Boeing 747-400F (LX-KCL) parked overnight at Adelaide Airport in December of last year. Probably the best birthday present I could have asked for!
The first A330-900 NEO to come to Adelaide Airport. A Lion Air (PK-LEJ) taxiing along the Alpha taxiway at Adelaide Airport after performing a repatriation flight from India.
A unique shot of two Virgin Australia pilots, waving at the camera before their flight to Brisbane. Shout out to Rich and the captain for the great photo!
A Royal Australian Air Force Airbus A330 MRTT (A39-004) taxiing along Alpha 4 at Adelaide Airport underneath the air traffic control tower, which I was visiting that day. The light wasn’t brilliant, but the experience was awesome! Shout out to Patrick and Mark for the great day!
Probably one of my more famous shots. An Antonov Design Bureau An-124 parked on taxiway Foxtrot 1 at Adelaide Airport. This shot shows the nose being raised up, as they unload the crates of mining equipment onboard.
Here are two of my favourite Qantas 747 shots. The Qantas 747-400/ER will always have a special place in my heart, especially in the 2007 livery with Qantas. Here featured is VH-OJU landing at Adelaide Airport performing a military charter from Rockhampton in 2019. This aircraft was retired in November of 2019 and now flies as a test bed with Rolls-Royce.
Here are two of my favourite Qantas 747 shots. The Qantas 747-400/ER will always have a special place in my heart, especially in the 2007 livery with Qantas. Here featured is VH-OJU landing at Adelaide Airport performing a military charter from Rockhampton in 2019. This aircraft was retired in November of 2019 and now flies as a test bed with Rolls-Royce.
An airline we may never see again in the Australian skies. A Tigerair A320-232 (VH-VNG) on final for runway 23 at Adelaide Airport, taken on one of the best spotting sessions I’ve ever had involving both golden light and contrasted clouds.
Another Antonov! Here is an Antonov Design Bureau An-124 touching down on Adelaide Airport’s runway 23 with some stunning clouds and contrast in the background. Fortunately, there was enough direct light on the aircraft to really distinguish the aircraft from the background.
Probably the rarest aircraft I have in my collection. A CAVOK Antonov 12 parked overnight at Adelaide Airport after delivering military equipment. The orange fuselage, blue propellers and green wheels makes this aircraft very appealing to photograph at night.
A recent shot during the Virgin Australia aircraft groundings. Two Virgin Australia Boeing 737-8FE aircraft parked facing each other at Adelaide Airport. Adding to my luck, a beautiful rainbow forms after the showers we had prior. The cherry on the cake is the Pilatus PC-24 (VH-JMU) departing past the rainbow.
A Qatar Airways Airbus A380 parked at Adelaide Airport after diverting from Perth due to poor visibility and weather. The aircraft parked in the best spot, allowing me to capture this awesome long exposure under the large terminal spotlights. The aircraft departed 24 hours later back home to Perth.
A Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 (9V-SSG) departing off runway 23 at Adelaide Airport, with the most perfect light and background.

Through The Lens

Mitch Coad

1. How did you get into aviation photography?

I became passionate for aviation when I flew onboard the Qantas A380 and 747, respectively, in 2012 from Sydney to Los Angeles and back. Ever since then I would occasionally go to Adelaide Airport and watch the aeroplanes arrive and depart, sometimes even taking photos. I began spotting properly in 2015, however more frequently in January of 2018. Ever since then I continued my passion, and I love every moment of it, even when its pouring down with rain!

2. Why aviation photography?

Mostly because I love watching and capturing how these tubes of metal we call aircraft fly in the sky! As much as I understand the physics behind aviation, the reality of man-made sky buses flying still baffles me. I also do other types of photography such as landscape, aerial and a bit of car photography too. But aviation photography is my favourite.

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Through The Lens

1. How did you get into aviation photography?

2. Why aviation photography?

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