Today we watched and photographed the USS Nimitz pull through the Rich Passage as it began deployment. I hope for everyone’s safety – both those deployed and their families here at home. More can be read about the Nimitz at the Kitsap Sun.
Click on the photos to open the gallery. Please allow for a little longer loading time, I wanted these photos clear.
I was honored to see the USS John C. Stennis return from deployment last month. Earlier this year I photographed the carrier capable of holding 5,000 sailors leave it’s homeport of Naval Station Bremerton, destined for a multi-month deployment full of numerous port visits and replenishments at sea. Watching the massive ship traverse the Puget Sound was awe inspiring but the dreary weather was a reflection of the emotions surrounding the ship. We have gone through a deployment, and it was sobering knowing that these men and women were leaving their families behind.
The ship departed on Blue Friday, so in honor of their hometown Seattle Seahawks the 12th Man flag was flown.
This article (Stennis Returns Home After 7-Month Indo-Pacific Deployment) has some great information about what went on during their deployment.
When the Stennis made its way around the final bend towards home, the weather was in sync once again. A gorgeous afternoon welcomed the sailors home to the Puget Sound and their families.
Welcome home!
An overcast day makes for perfect photography weather! We braved the traffic and made the trip to Lake Washington to see what Seafair in Seattle was all about. The US Navy Blue Angels did not disappoint; as we walked onto the closed I-90 bridge we could hear the roar of their engines! The show lasted about 45 mins so then we made our way to Genesee Park to catch the hydroplanes and grab a bite to eat. We had a surprise fly-by from a couple of US Air Force A10s! The big hydroplanes rival the Blue Angles when it comes to loud engines fyi. Needless to say I’m thankful for the somewhat cloudy weather that kept the heat at bay and made for a great day by the lake.
