News
8 July, 2022
Join us during AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on 29 July for a presentation about our WWII "bomber jacket" book project. We'll discuss our time in January of this year photographing jackets at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. Ten very unique jackets were photographed there, including the jacket that belonged to academy award winning actor Jimmy Stewart. It will be given in the EAA Museum Theater, beginning at 1130-1245. Seating is limited, so please arrive early.
27 September, 2021
We are pleased that our work has been selected for an upcoming exhibition at the Atlanta Art Institute, as part of the annual Atlanta Celebrates Photography month. The show runs from 30 September to 31 December, with an opening reception scheduled for October 7th at the school, from 6-8 pm. Here's a link for further information.
8 July, 2021
Finally, our summer newsletter has been published. To see what we've been up to, future plans, speaking engagements, and exhibitions, head over here to take a look. Enjoy!
9 May, 2021
We are pleased to share that an image has won accolades in the 2021 Plane & Pilot Your Flying World photo contest. Created in a hangar south of Atlanta, the 1916 Gnome et Rhone rotary engine was undergoing restoration at the time the image was taken. Owner Chris Hill is in the process of getting his replica Fokker DR-1 Dreidecker ready to fly with this engine, and was kind enough to allow me to photograph it during this stage of the process. Once completed, this will be one of the most period-correct aircraft of its type in the world.
9 May, 2021
The WASP Museum in Sweetwater, Texas recently licensed 19 original portrait images created over a period of several years of Women Airforce Service Pilots from World War Two. The images will adorn the walls of a new exhibition space in their newly constructed hangar. The WASP's were instrumental in freeing male pilots for combat duty overseas, flying completed aircraft to points of debarkation all over the US, towing targets, ferrying people around, and serving as instructors where needed. Thirty-eight WASP's lost their lives in the effort, and the museum celebrates the rich heritage of these trailblazers. If you are ever in central Texas, stop by for a visit!
4 December, 2020. Another Winning Entry...or Two!
Learned today that two of my images have been selected as "Editors Picks" in the annual Aviation Week photo contest.
See the winning entries here. Be Well!
Link to Bomber Jacket Webinar...
Recently I had the opportunity to share some insight into the back story of my bomber jacket book project, courtesy of the fine folks at Atlanta's Capture Integration. The 90 minute webinar was recorded and has been posted for your perusal. Should you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. Be Well...
Our Fall Newsletter is Out...
The Pandemic Edition of our newsletter is out on the streets now, and includes recent aviation and automotive work, as well as a tribute to veterans on Veterans Day...
31 October, 2020
Join us on Friday evening, the 13th of November at 5:30 pm (Eastern) for an online presentation about my "bomber jacket" book project, and how the files were processed. Kindly sponsored by Atlanta's Capture Integration, the meeting is open to everyone who has an interest in high-end digital capture and file processing. These talks are very informal, and strive to not only provide a bit of information about such endeavors, but also is a way to build "community" amongst working photographers. Registration is required, and there is no fee. Best of all, it's fun!
27 June, 2020
The Presentation is Now Live on YouTube...
The presentation about the bomber jacket project is now live on YouTube, as part of a continuing education webinar series through the Military Aviation Museum, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Here’s the link if you’d like to listen in. The presentation is 1 hour and 15 minutes, with 30 minutes of questions. Many Thanks to the Director, Keegan Chetwynd, and the staff at the museum for their hospitality. Enjoy!
7 June, 2020
Bomber Jacket Update - Tuesday Evening...
Hello Folks!
We'd like to extend an invitation for a webinar next Tuesday evening, 9 June, about my bomber jacket book project. The Military Aviation Museum, located in Virginia Beach is the host.
Here's the link to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist…/4950986918016115723
In case you can’t view it live, the webinar will be recorded, so tune in later to watch it: https://militaryaviationmuseum.org/webinar-archive/
Here's a bit more information...
Bomber Jackets & Untold Stories
Guest Speaker: John Slemp, Photographer
Tuesday June 9 @ 7pm
The A-2 flight jacket was a ubiquitous piece of clothing across the USAAF during World War II. Often painted and personalized by flight crew these “Bomber Jackets” have become prized relics in museum collections around the world. Each tell the story of a mission, a crew or an individual. Leading the effort to capture these stories and document the jackets is aviation photographer John Slemp. Slemp will explore the reasons these jackets were created, and share with us some of the more poignant stories he has uncovered. Jackets from collections at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the 390th Memorial Museum, and from private collections across the United States will be showcased. We'll also discuss the techniques used to capture these images, and our experiences encountered on the project. We hope you'll join us!
6 January, 2020
John Slemp is pleased to announce that once again he’s had an image selected in the prestigious annual photo contest conducted by the American Society of Media Photographers. His aviation photography was previously selected in 2008, and again in 2015, and this year's entry of a Hondajet garnered third place honors in the Commercial Category. Created for Epps Aviation in Atlanta, the image was created by using a technique known as “light painting,” where a static object is lit (in this case with a battery powered strobe), which is moved over the object while several different images are created. The resulting images are then combined in Photoshop to create the finished result. This image consists of nine different images, which took about 30 minutes to complete, right at dusk. This technique allows for great control over the lighting, without the need for a great deal of time consuming set-up, and a minimal crew. In this case, I was working by myself, and with the assistance of one of the Epps line crew, was able to create the series of images necessary for the finished composite. The image was used for advertising Epp’s charter service. John continues to hone his skills and has recently added video production to the mix. Should your company have a need for award-winning images or video, please feel free to contact us anytime.
25 September, 2019
Our most recent newsletter is out, and features images created earlier this year. Check it out when you have a free moment...
5 September, 2019
We are back in the public eye this morning, with ASMP's " Questions with a Pro...". Enjoy!
13 March, 2019--Another Article on Our Work
Pro Photo Daily has written a nice article on our "Bomber Jacket" project. Enjoy!
26 June, 2017--Remote Pilot Temporary Certificate
It's OFFICIAL! Having taken (and PASSED) the Remote Pilot sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) exam, I'm now an FAA licensed Drone Pilot. So much easier to say it that way, but that's the FAA for you. What does this mean? I can now offer video and still image capture from a lofty overhead perspective...at least up to 400 feet legally. I'm now in the process of learning how to fly, and shoot at the same time a DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus drone, which is capable of 4k (very high resolution!) video, and high res still image capture as well. It's a very capable system, and should provide excellent results for your imaging needs well into the future. Call me when you are ready to put me to the test...the FAA already has!
21 January, 2017--Live Demonstration and Exhibition Lecture
Aviation photographer John Slemp will be speaking at the Fulton County Aviation Community Cultural Center on Saturday, 21 January, 2017 about his "bomber jacket" exhibition and book project. It is on the grounds of Fulton County Airport. Additionally, he'll be offering a live demonstration photographing a jacket owned by Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) Dawn Seymour. This will make a total of 60 jackets that have been photographed to date. Activities begin at 1pm and last until 3pm, and is free and open to the public.
The address is: 3900 Aviation Circle, NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30336 Phone: (404) 612-8600
7 November, 2016
Please join us for the first public showing of our "Bomber Jacket" project at the Fulton County Aviation Community Cultural Center, at Fulton County Airport, on 19 November, 2016. The opening reception is from 2-4pm. The facility is located at Atlanta's Fulton County Airport. Twenty-three life-sized prints, both jackets and portraits, will be on display. There is no charge, and refreshments will be served.
6 July, 2016
John Slemp is pleased to announce that, for the first time ever, custom archival prints from our “bomber jacket” series are now available for purchase. Printed on premium paper, each print will be signed by the artist, and numbered. A Certificate of Authenticity will also accompany each print. The prints are available in sizes ranging from 11 x 14 to 36 x 48 inches. Each purchase will go directly to the production of a book about the jackets, and the men who wore them. Created using the finest in archival photographic technology, these prints will last well beyond our lifetimes, and will serve as a lasting tribute to those who answered the call of freedom.
5 July, 2016
John is pleased to announce that he will be speaking at the largest airshow in the country - AirVenture - on 27 July, 2016. The topic will be his WWII "Bomber Jacket" book project. The lecture will be presented in the Vette Theatre, in the main EAA headquarters building, from 10:00 to 11:15 am. There is no charge and all are welcome!
1 November, 2015
The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) recently announced their selections for the 2015 "Best of ASMP". For the second time, John and his aviation work was selected for this prestigious industry honor. Click this link to view his images, and the other honorees.
1 November, 2015-
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association November issue of AOPA Pilot magazine recently featured a nine-page portfolio of John's "bomber jacket" book project images. Click "Preview" to gain access to the online version of the magazine. This project has been ongoing for almost a year now, and will feature WWII flight jackets of the Army and Navy/Marines, along with stories of the men who wore them. When possible, portraits of the airmen are being created, along with video/audio interviews.
9 May, 2014
Very pleased to announce that, in collaboration with the Donald A. Hall Photo Archive, Aerographs is now the exclusive online portal to this never before seen collection of images. Mr. Hall was the designer of the Spirit of St. Louis, the aircraft specifically built for Charles Lindbergh's historic flight across the Atlantic in 1927, in pursuit of the Orteig Prize. The images are available for licensing, and may be purchased as prints too. A portion of each sale will go to the Lindbergh Foundation, to STEM education, and to the Donald A. Hall Foundation.
23 April, 2014
The Bright Ring Foundation announced that the official opening of “To Feel the Clouds,” a uniquely curated photographic art exhibition of selected works by acclaimed Georgia photographer John Slemp, will be held on Saturday, April 26 in the Georgia gallery of the Hudgens Center for the Arts. On display through July 10th, the exhibition features 25 select photos of aircraft and the medium they fly in – clouds - in a free-floating display that evokes the ethereal beauty of flight. Saturday’s reception, scheduled from 2-4 pm, will be combined with Family Day and is free and open to the public. “It occurred to me that by showing both clouds, and aircraft, in the same exhibition, it would help to blend the two in the mind of the viewer...especially since they are so intertwined”, says John.
9 March, 2014
Cameron Davidson, a very well-known US photographer recently interviewed me for his fusevisual.org website. 5 questions, their answers and 5 images are featured. Thought you might enjoy reading it, when you have a free moment. Let us know your thoughts when you've had a chance to mull it over...
8 March, 2014
We are pleased to announce our participation in a group show entitled The Art of the Craft, at the Colquitt County Arts Center in Moultrie, Georgia. A first class facility in the former Colquitt County High School, built in 1928, they recently received the Governor's award for the best cultural arts program in the state. The show runs through May 30th, 2014.