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You may not recognize the name Mike Sroka, but you will recognize the organization with whom he has spent five incredible years. We’re talking Snowbirds.
Photojournalist Mike Sroka is one lucky man. For five years he has lived the excitement, the anxiety, and the challenges with the Snowbird Demo team. And on Sept 18 at Camosun College in Victoria, he is going to make a presentation for us to see what goes on behind the scenes.
"This presentation is the first of its kind," says Sroka. "The general public will be treated to a personal look at the team that has never been done before. They will see what it's like to try out for the team, learn about the intense training, discover the challenges of taking the show on the road, and meet some of the pilots and their families."
"It is also a look at both the process of getting a book deal and becoming a part of the Snowbird family," says Sroka. A variety of multi-media techniques will be used during the presentation including a video, slide show and still photos.
"It would be of interest to Snowbird fans, aviation enthusiasts, photographers, writers, pilots and members of the general public that are simply curious," he said.
His book Snowbirds: Behind The Scenes With Canada's Air Demonstration Team covers Snowbird teams of 2003 - 2005 with updates from 2006 and 2007, and looks at both the show team and the Moose Jaw, SK, home team.
"One of the conditions of the book deal was that no door be closed," he said.
"People always compare it to a roller coaster, but it's definitely a bit more. You are constantly changing directions, flying upside down, and pulling up to five Gs takes its toll on your body. Add a camera and photography to the mix and you can see where it becomes a very challenging photo environment," he says. "As for the fun factor, it's hard to find anything that compares to flying military aerobatics surrounded by planes basically a few feet away."
"Although I had a bit of a reputation as one of North America's 'high energy' photographers, my flying experience prior to the Snowbirds was basically limited to the coach section of major airlines.�Snowbirds: Behind The Scenes With Canada's Air Demonstration Team was published at a time when no one was doing hard cover coffee table books. I think people will find the process of 'crazy idea to published book' worth the price of admission," he said.
The cost of admission is $25.00 plus HST and includes refreshments. Please pre-register at Camosun's Continuing Education department at www.camosun.ca/snowbirds
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