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The very first engine start of the day is a dramatic one. It's relatively silent throughout the airport, when suddenly you hear the spool up of an engine. The bleed air spinning the turbofn blades is a rising, high-pitched whine, getting louder and louder, and then the pilot cuts in the fuel. If you're really lucky, you'll also catch sight of the the puff of smoke as residual fuel and moisture ignites with a whoom! An airplane's first start for the day tends to be a little smokier than the rest.

Even luckier is being able to catch it in the pre-dawn hours. This picture captures the moment of start for the CFM56 of the A320 (ironically enough, dubbed "Refresh Air," by the way). The cloud of smoke is visible as a haze around the tail as the engine lights and all that early morning moisture trapped within is burned away.

This picture is a composite. The moon was added for dramatic effect.

Aviation is a passion of mine... always has been. And photography is a means of sharing that passion with others. If I'm not flying a plane or sitting in one, then I'm likely training a lens towards it. While I've flown planes for only a fraction of my life, I've always considered myself a pilot. And pilots love sharing their experiences with others. It's easy to tell others how to takeoff, but only when I pass on that sense of joy that I feel of breaking Earth's surly bonds do most people understand why I love doing what I do. That's what I try to do with my photos. Besides proximity, I aim to convey a story or stir up the emotions within the viewer when they gaze upon my work. Here's hoping you enjoy your little stay in my...