Over Exposed on Bleaklow – night shoot

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Night Shoot

It was a slightly daunting idea, spending the night amid the wreckage of crashed American B29 "Over Exposed", alone and miles from the nearest other human being.

Over Exposed was a photo reconnaissance Superfortress. It crashed during a routine flight on 3rd November 1948. All 13 men on board were killed.

Pilot; Captain Landon P. Tanner
Co-pilot, Captain Harry Stroud
engineer, Technical Sergeant Ralph Fields
navigator, Sergeant Charles Wilbanks
radio operator, Staff Sergeant Gene A. Gartner
radar operator, David D. Moore
camera crew, Technical Segeant Saul R. Banks,
Sergeant Donald R. Abrogast,
Sergeant Robert I. Doyle
Private First Class William M. Burrows.
Two other crew members were Corporal M. Franssen and Corporal George Ingram.
Acting as photographic advisor was Captain Howard Keel of the 4201st.

The wreck site is at grid reference SK 09042 94912 which is just to the West of the trig point on Higher Shelf Stones. It is about an hour’s walk there from the summit of Snake Pass.

25 comments on “Over Exposed on Bleaklow – night shoot
  1. pasujoba says:

    They look not bad at all Ian , did you use a tripod and long exposure at all or did you rely on a light and flash .?

  2. Ian D B says:

    Yeah they are all long exposures, no flash on any of them. Used a torch and a lantern to get the light.

  3. rob of rochdale says:

    Great idea and a belting shot Ian!

  4. Keartona says:

    You’re lighting is very theatrical and dramatic.

  5. Billy Currie says:

    Looks superb at night, very atmospheric

  6. andyholmfirth says:

    Yeath awesome atmosphere.Any ghosts ??

  7. SolarScot. says:

    those Poor Lads so Brave and their whole life ahead of them,i get so sick of this Stressed World we Live in ,taking time off work over nothing when we see our boys in Afghanistan, and these lads,now thats stress

  8. Ian D B says:

    Thanks everyone. Yeah, John, they went through a lot. This crew were due to return home a few days later n all.

    No ghosts Andy, though this particular crash site has a lot of ghost stories associated with it. First time I ever heard of a crash site in the hills, it was a ghost story about this place in The Great Outdoors magazine, around 1987.

  9. C J Paul (chris) says:

    man i sit here shaking my head amazing…..

  10. Tech Owl says:

    You got some good light on the subject here – it works well

  11. GaryJS â„¢ says:

    Looks pretty darn cool by night! I can see a series coming!

  12. **Hazel** says:

    Incredible photos Ian,

    I am in awe of your technique and processing, and the exceptional effort you go to to get your photos!

  13. het broertje van.. says:

    splendid work man!!!!

  14. James G Photography says:

    Excellent – did you camp or something to get this shot?

  15. mick cooke says:

    ian ,cracking photos

  16. Ian D B says:

    [http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyjs/]
    You could be right there, Gary!

    [http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesgphotography/]
    Thanks James, yeah, did a bivi, spent the night up there, wandering around and taking snaps.

  17. James G Photography says:

    Good commitment!

  18. redrocker_9 says:

    I like how these are lit without the help of a flash!

  19. Reflective Kiwi %-) says:

    Great capture. Such interesting detail and info too! %-)

  20. Pleasureprinciple2012 says:

    Liking the long exposure and use of torchlight to make this shot, it works very well.

  21. P.A.B. says:

    Great capture and tastefully done..

  22. jr55 (John Richardson) says:

    Nice photography, well worth the effort.


    Seen on your photo stream. (?)

  23. Mark Littlejohn says:

    Extremely well done – Lots of atmosphere.

  24. Mike J Chapman says:

    I guess it’s all been said above already, but this is definitely a great shot and a very meritable subject. These photos help us to remember those people who never got to celebrate the end of the war…

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