My name is Simon Blakesley and I’m an aviation photographer living in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Aviation and photography have always meant excitement. They form a central piece of my identity. My Dad was a Royal Navy photographer and metallurgist in the aviation industry. We always had a darkroom and a mix of turbine blades, cameras, and lenses around the house.
At age 10 I started helping Dad in the darkroom, washing his trays, tanks, and films. The first time he made a print appear I was amazed. I knew I was hooked and wanted him to teach me the magic that I still feel today.
Aviation and photography came together when, at 17, I joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Aero-Engine Technician, working at bases in Canada and in Germany. The CC-130 Hercules and CC-138 Twin Otter were my main aircraft types, though servicing fighter jets always added excitement.
I’m now a volunteer photographer with the RCAF’s Associate Historian program, contributing imagery of military aircraft and crews whenever they visit the Yukon. I later became a teacher, school administrator and director in the Yukon.
For the past 20 years I’ve contributed aircraft, staff, food, and event photography as corporate photographer for Air North, Yukon’s Airline. The relationships, trust, and personal connections that I have developed with the Air North team over the years are so meaningful and cannot be replaced.
My main gear is Nikon – that’s what Dad used as I grew up. For my aviation work I primarily rely on Nikon full-frame mirrorless cameras and a range of lenses given the variety of what I shoot. My day can include being in the 737 cockpit, floatplane photography, or shooting on the airport ramp. The Nikon Z8s I use are great and work well even when it dips down to -40C.
I use Fujifilm X-series cameras (X-T5) when photographing cabin crew and staff on the ramp. Their size doesn’t intimidate like bigger cameras can. People are curious about their retro styling. They’re also tactile: one glance down shows me the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings. That’s convenient during fast-paced moments and is a process I grew up with.
No matter the gear, sound knowledge of aircraft operations and procedures is critical: Planning is key and there’s little room for error- safety always being the # 1 non-negotiable factor.
In retirement from education I’ve made it my personal goal to celebrate the Yukon’s aviation community and incredible scenery through my photography. I’ve always tried to challenge myself to learn in order to do the best work possible. In my school-based career I completed a PhD in Education. As an aviation photographer, I’m accredited by the Professional Photographers of Canada. While my images may receive recognition at a national level, I still feel there is so much more to know.
Living “north of 60” and 800 miles away from the nearest comprehensive photography store poses its challenges. Thanks to the Vistek Edmonton team for always being there to help- either in person or at a distance!
You can see more of Simon Blakesley’s work on his Instagram channel or his on his website.
Image(s) Credit: Simon Blakesley and used with permission