ShowLinePhoto features the photography of Michael Riffle. Starting in 1985 with the purchase of a 35mm SLR camera while serving in the United States Air Force, Mike has taken a keen interest in photographing the aircraft displays and aerobatic maneuvers that make up an airshow. With the addition of a camcorder in 1991, Mike's skills as a airshow photographer steadily improved. In 2004, Mike converted to digital SLR phtography, a format which he now shoots exclusively. If you enjoy Mike's photography and would like to contact him he can be reached at mikeriffle@showlinephoto.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Where did the name ShowLinePhoto come from?
    At an airshow, the show line is the imaginary line along which a performer flies their act. It is usually aligned with a runway and is parallel to the crowd. Since the majority of photos on this site are of aircraft flying along the show line, ShowLinePhoto was a perfect match.

  • What kind of camera do you use?
    From 1985-2004 my gear consisted of the following (all Minolta):
    • X-700 35mm SLR body
    • Motor Drive 1
    • MD 70-210mm f/4 macro zoom lens
    • MD 35-70mm f/3.5 macro zoom lens
    • MD 50mm f/1.4 lens
    • 280PX flash
    • generic 2x teleconverter
    In 2000 I began to experiment with digital photography for static aircraft photos. After using several point & shoot digital cameras, I finally made the switch to a DSLR camera in November 2004. My current gear consists of the following (all Canon):
    • EOS 40D DSLR body
    • EOS 20D DSLR body
    • BG-E2 battery grip
    • EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM zoom lens
    • EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens
    • EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens
    • 580EX flash
    In the 90's I also shot video using a Realistic Model 102 VHS MovieCorder, an RCA Pro-883 8mm Camcorder, and a Panasonic AG-456 SVHS Camcorder.

  • Can I use your photos to...?
    Plese see my copyright statement concerning photo usage.