Change of Command
July 14, 2008
Last week I was sent out to shoot the Change of Command ceremony of the 7th Bomb Wing at the local air force base.
The ceremony took place inside a huge B-1 hangar, and I was quite impressed with the pageantry and pomp of the whole thing. Technically, the change of command (the practice of which predates the Norman conquest of England, according to the handout) requires only eight words: The departing commander hands over the colors and guidon of the wing to the reviewing officer and says “Sir, I relinquish command.” The reviewing officer then hands the colors to the new commander who says, “Sir, I assume command.” But, of course, there were much more than eight words spoken that morning.
As an aside, the departing commander’s speech was the first time I had heard “Death from Above” (Mors Ab Alto is the Bomb Wing’s motto), and “My Personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” used so closely together without being in a fire-and-brimstone sermon!
Posted in Assignments, Colors, Published, Reporter-News
July 15th, 2008 at 12:01 am
As a novice, those appear to be difficult colors to photograph with the available light - hard on the skin tones. I’m intrigued by the facial expressions. The old and new commanders could even be related, the eyes and mouth look interchangeable!
July 16th, 2008 at 10:29 am
They should reverse the order. The first person should assume command, before the other relinquishes. As it is, there is a brief period of commandlessness…
As for the picture, I don’t know if it is the lighting or not, but both of their eyes have an eery shade of blue to them.
Finally, I think profile shots of men in uniform are always intimidating shots. Did you happen to catch any that day?