MIKE SHORE "A propeller that's spinning will always be mesmerizing to me." Position: Freelance photographer and videographer Years active: 11 Gear: Canon 5D Mark III, Sony FS700 for video Pictured: Sean Tucker tumbles in his modified Pitts. WEB Meet other photographers and learn the story behind their shots (www.aopa.org/ behindthephoto). WITH A PREVIOUS CAREER as a computer developer and success as a rock climber and adventure photographer, Mike Shore took the long way to aviation photography. Now he combines his love of extreme sports with breathtaking photos and video. Follow a passion... I was a Java coder and I couldn't take it anymore. I quit and became a climbing photographer. There were some really cool jobs in the beginning. I was on El Capitan and a storm came in. There was a chopper plucking climbers off the wall and this amazing light. National Geographic published it. My mom keeps asking when I'll be back in that magazine. Love of power... I was always interested in weird things like torque and engines. I love to see smoke and people going upside down. Challenge yourself... A big thing for me is shooting something that we haven't seen before. I worked forever to get this shot (above). It's taken from a Cub. We worked with the tower. Told them we would be orbiting above the aerobatic box. I knew from being a pilot and flying acro when the airplane would dump energy and I anticipated it. Gear... My memory cards are critical. Don't ask me why I say that. The future... Gimbals are getting smaller and smaller. We can now get stabilized shots at a high quality for less. I also can't wait to take drones into the airport environment and the acro box. AOPA www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 59http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2016/May/Pilot/f_photogs http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2016/May/Pilot/f_photogs http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2016/May/Pilot/f_photogs http://www.aopa.org/pilot