A chance rescheduling of the launch of STS88 from Kennedy Space Center made this shot possible. A location shoot planned for December 4 in Titusville Florida necessitated an overnight stay for one night. The launch, originally intended to take place on the 3rd, was scrubbed at the last minute and postponed until the following night.
The 3 am wake-up call was rewarded with a perfect view of the liftoff, some 12 miles distant across the Indian River. A crowd gathered along the hotel fence on the water, and at 3:36 AM the horizon lit up as the solid rocket boosters ignited. The orange column of flame rose silently into the sky for a minute or so before the muffled thunder of the engines reached us.
This image is assembled from three negatives shot during the launch, using two cameras. The spotlight beams were exposed first, as they needed about a minute to register. The liftoff itself was shot at a much faster speed, and the second camera recorded the reflection on the water over a period of several minutes. These three negatives were drumscanned and assembled to create the visual seen here, accurately showing how the eye perceived the launch.
Many thanks to Plymouth Tube Company (The client whose job was to be shot later that morning in Titusville) for the chance opportunity to make this picture.