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 As a civilian artist in residence at the Wisconsin ANG, Joe Oliva produces high-quality photography in exchange for access to aircraft and photo opportunities. His work is used by the Wisconsin National Guard and the Guard Bureau in Washington DC for recruiting, promotional, and informational purposes. In addition to being published in Code One, Murray has been published in Aviation Week and in various DoD and international publications. He has flown with B-2 and F-117 Stealth aircraft as well as with the F-16 and other fighter aircraft. He has also done projects with NASA’s SR-71 Blackbird and ER-2 operations.
“The F-16 fireworks picture happened as depicted. No double exposure, no computer trickery. The planning and test shots that led to the image took three years. My weapon of choice is a medium-format camera that has a film area five times greater than a typical 35mm camera. The format produces ultra-high quality, grain-free pictures. The downside is a lack of motor drives, zoom lenses, and automatic exposure, which makes for a lot of work on my part. While most aviation photographers blast away at five frames per second to make sure they get the one shot, I have to plan each picture carefully and press the shutter precisely.
"Without a doubt, one of the greatest experiences of my life was a flight in an F-16. My instructor pilot demonstrated a maximum performance takeoff and climb, almost 1,000 feet per second at one point. After we leveled off, the jet was mine until landing. I flew aerobatics and pulled eight g’s on several occasions. From a pilot standpoint, the F-16 is an amazing jet. It’s highly maneuverable, yet very stable when you want it to be. My proudest accomplishment in the jet was handling the g’s and not getting sick!"
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