Vintage Aviation and 30s Shoot in an Abandoned Wind Tunnel Workshop
(Part 1)
Another workshop, led by professional portrait photographer Andrew Mason, in Farnborough
Written on the 8th of July, 2026
Workshops led by expert photographers offer a unique and immersive learning environment. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a portrait photography workshop hosted by the renowned Andrew Mason during my visit to the United Kingdom. His reputation and creative approach made this an unmissable experience.
I have had the privilege of shooting in both studio and environmental setups. Shooting on location, especially in places with unique textures and atmosphere, evokes a sense of nostalgia and adds depth to each photograph.
We were granted exclusive access to the historic Farnborough Wind Tunnels for this workshop. The theme centered around World War II vintage aviation with a 1930s style. While the original plan included both indoor and outdoor shoots, inclement weather led us to shoot indoors only—which proved to be a fantastic experience in itself.
Commissioned before World War I and operational through the Cold War, the Farnborough Wind Tunnels have remained in their original state since their closure. The vast space offered a remarkable backdrop for this shoot, combining the unique venue with styled models to provide endless opportunities for stunning photography. Saved from demolition by FAST and granted listed status, these historic buildings were at the forefront of aerodynamic research and development from the early 1930s until 1994.
We had access to the location from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beginning the shoot after a detailed briefing and setup of the shooting areas.
Our session spanned half a day and embraced a vintage aviation theme inspired by WWII and the 1930s. The creative team featured two female and two male models, supported by talented hair and makeup artists and a dedicated stylist.
Featured models included:
Participants collaborated in small groups, rotating between shooting areas to capture a wide variety of scenes and perspectives.
One of the most compelling elements of the workshop was the layered narrative crafted for our models. Chris Wilson assumed the role of the commanding Air Force general, while David Galea embodied a daring, instinct-driven fighter pilot. Cassandra Bell portrayed the disciplined Air Force instructor, and Liza Rdqueen took on the intriguing role of a German spy embedded within the British ranks. Does this narrative remind you of a certain movie? The concept brought a cinematic quality to the shoot, reminiscent of a WWII-era drama, translating storytelling into each carefully composed image.
Chris Wilson (The Commanding Air Force General)
Since we were shooting in groups, we often had to share a Profoto flash unit. Whenever the transmitter was with another team member, we relied on the Profoto’s continuous light to continue capturing images. This required frequent adjustments, as camera settings for flash photography differ from those for continuous lighting—typically using a higher ISO for continuous light and a lower ISO when using flash. While the resulting images were excellent, achieving consistency in post-processing required individual editing to ensure all photos shared the same look and thematic coherence.
The Gear I Used
