Capturing aviation history

PTO: F-84B follows MotoArt PlaneTags founder Dave Hall as he unearths a historic American turbojet fighter-bomber (F-84B) embedded in the concrete basement floor of the Soplata estate in Ohio. The property is known as a resourceful aircraft boneyard, having supplied aircraft to both museums and aviation restoration experts. Miranda accompanied Hall and his team to document their mission of extracting the plane and transporting it to the MotoArt Warehouse in Torrance, California – all within just seven days.

Miranda’s task was to safely film alongside the team as they worked to remove the airplane from the house. This required navigating structural supports and avoiding potential hazards, not least the risk of the roof collapsing. The house had been vacant for several years, and the aircraft was buried under layers of accumulated debris, collectibles, and airframe material. “I had to document the process as an invisible voyeur,” Miranda explains. “I couldn’t ask for anything to be repeated, or done a different way. If I missed something, the opportunity was gone.”

Without the support of a larger team, Miranda relied heavily on his equipment. He used the Sony A7S III camera paired with the Atomos Ninja V monitor-recorder to achieve high-quality ProRes RAW HQ recording. “The Ninja unlocked all the benefits of shooting in RAW, giving me a better image from my Sony camera,” Miranda explains. “I was able to film for hours without interruption, needing only one battery change throughout the day. This ensured I never missed a crucial shot or a spontaneous moment.”

Miranda utilized the Ninja’s built-in tools, including Focus Assist, LUTs, Onion Skin, and Playback for immediate review of footage. “The Ninja’s features are a huge time saver – integrating it into my workflow has become essential. Honestly, if I couldn’t use it, I’d consider changing my entire camera system.”

“Whether it’s shooting hand-held from speeding 4x4s, or working in rain or shine, the Ninja withstood it all.”