A Photo Trip Searching for Lost WW2 Artwork (most exciting find yet)

[@Rick-rf7om]

As a former Airman in the RAF during the 1980s-90s, I spent four years at RAF West Raynham in Norfolk. The history in the old stations is just incredible but it's disappearing so fast. I'm a photographer too and I can't thank you enough, Kyle, for taking the time to document heritage that means so much to so many. This is a great project and I'm sure there's a book worthy of your work too. Thank you so much. All the Best, Rick.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Rick. I'm amazed by what's still out there if you look close enough. But I'm also aware that it won't be around forever. Hoping to document these things while I can.

[@studiojege287]

Great video 👏

[@destrewilliams6589]

I’m getting emotional watching this, it’s so important that people like you continue to document this history. Your reverence for these places is very much appreciated.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks. It feels like something very important that needs to be captured before it's gone.

[@fibonacho]

❤ Thank you for doing this! My grandpa was part of the 392nd. He flew on 31 missions.

[@LensForgotten]

Photography of abandoned and mystic places is a lot about ACCESS. All the reason it's good to get out and talk to people. Great video.

[@ReimannPembroke]

This series is amazing! I am fascinated by WWII history. So glad you’re doing this!

[@ymW-yd5zg]

More than art, it's also about history, which gives these photos meaning. Love that.

[@chrisjmiller6]

Watching and thinking about all those brave men that have likely passed on. Thanks for sharing

[@Dylanwade_]

That last one was jaw dropping. You weren’t kidding. Even the woman with the martini glass was very cool even tho was it bits and pieces. Anytime I’m feeling stuck, a Kyle video always gets the gears turning again. Love seeing the progress of this project.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheFullFrame35mm]

Fantastic video. Seeing your eyes light up when you’re walking round showing those signs is really great. Your passion for this subject really shines through.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you!

[@balintshootsfilm]

I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching these videos! I'm happy to see that you are having a good time exploring and taking photos, working on something amazing! Thank you for sharing!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks for watching!

[@ckhicks]

“Even though it’s deteriorating, that’s still really interesting.“ That’s a profound way to sum up the pursuit of documentary photography. Love hearing your passion for stuff like this. Also, your storytelling was great when contrasting the vandalism with the museums, keep up the great work.

[@basstubert]

Oh this is cool Kyle, I love these hidden gems! All those rows of B-24s on that mural, wow!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yeah, the mural at the end was incredibly impressive!

[@DLivingston]

Love that this series lives on. Very cool that you're capturing these places.

[@ChrisRoutledge]

This is great Kyle. Fascinating how young Americans had so much affection for English folk tales. Robin Hood and Little John in that first hut look like copies (probably from memory) of illustrations in a children's book.

[@Focusing_on_the_light]

An absolute wild episode. That history just ones something to me I can’t explain. Amazing thank you

[@jo.diseviscourt]

Kyle, I love everything you do, but this project stands out for me! As someone who studied history, it excites me to see how one can combine photography and history. Also, I think the images are so much more rewarding because of the „challange“ of finding them/gettin access to them. But how do you find the murals in the first place? What is your research like? Could be part of a future video! Keep it up, these videos are a main source of inspiration for me, and for others as well.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you! And yes, I agree. For me there's something more to the images as they're documenting a fading peice of history. As for research, lot's of time spent on google, FB groups, forums, images searches, and then also visiting these places and exploring. I actually had visited the last location a year before, but no one was home at the house.

[@peacetaro8007]

😊This is meaningful and tells stories. Fantastic work.

[@briansilcox5720]

I just finished reading the “Masters..” book. When you consider the massive infrastructure of the air war in place in Britain during WWII, it would be hard to imagine that more of this stuff did not survive. I have spent most of my adult life chasing photography of surviving WW II airplanes, and admire your passion for this artwork.

[@eatenbyopium]

Awesome video Kyle hand-painted signs are such a pure artform with so much history. They go all the way back to ancient time ancient Rome also Medieval times, and the wild wild west. It’s crazy how people have been doing this for thousands of years. There's just something so cool about the fact that every brushstroke is done by hand. It gives so much personality and history that modern signs and vinyl stickers just can't touch!

[@brianbeattyphotography]

really loving this historical WW2 search! so much great stuff

[@Nutterorgables]

Thank you for preserving a part of our history. The school attended by my father was demolished to make way for a WWII airbase, and my mother's family were bombed by German planes attacking another base. Luckily they all emerged from the partly wrecked house without serious injury. Both the airfields however have completely disappeared. This was one of the most worthwhile videos I've seen on KZbin.

[@sampsammystone869]

These are some very cool locations! Happy somebody is documenting them before they’re gone

[@mattbray_studio]

Great project Kyle! Thanks for taking us along

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you, Matt 🙏

[@jasonabrahamsmith]

As a muralist who occasionally takes photos, this is really awesome!

[@Kentonbmw]

Hey Kyle I have to say, I am always intrigued by your vids. This one, and the history it represents is remarkable… Looking forward to the next… Thanks so much … keep up the great work…

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you!

[@andrewgifford7740]

I wonder what paints were used. I like that you're photoing the faded and damaged pieced too. Would be incredible if this finds its way to someone who was involved in making one of them.

[@warren4261]

What a fantastic project and video .. best of luck with it & thanks for taking us along

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@carbonejack]

Great work. And such amazing history. Thanks so much for caring enough to document these places. I can almost visualize the men sitting at the bar.

[@scothunter3221]

I am so glad you are doing this, and I have absolutely loved your videos and this one in particular. I’ve watched Masters of the air twice now and it’s absolutely fascinating to see the real place with these men and women, so incredibly brave, lived, and for too many of them prepared to die. This is truly hollow ground that you were walking. I hope someday you might consider doing something similar on the beaches of Normandy. I’ve been there myself, and it is truly hauntingly beautiful, and really reached deeply into my soul while walking Omaha Beach were so many men died. Keep up the wonderful and beautiful work. Oh, and partly inspired by you. I now have a large format camera that I’m starting to play with. Haven’t had one for many years so it is really nice to get back into it again.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you've enjoyed this one. There's so much history in these places, and a lot still to explore.

[@mjcatto]

That was a tremendous video, Kyle. Both interesting and wonderful images. I really enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@steve834]

A wonderful project.

[@JohnnyMcMillan]

Fascinated to know your research that goes into these. Brilliant work

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. Lot's of google searches and digging in the internet.

[@munmelenfrance6710]

Fabulous project, this is so interesting and fascinating.

[@ericonly]

An fascinating project. All the best in your endeavors working towards the goal.

[@tedphillips2951]

Amazing! Wonderful to see.

[@RostykMakushak]

❤ Loved the video! It is so wonderful to follow you on this journey, to see your process, how you are working on this project. In the past I commented that one day someone will be making a project about Ukrainian airfields that now play a crucial role in defending the country against the Ru-ZZ-ian aggression 🇺🇦✌🇨🇦 Currently I am working on the project about back roads in rural Ontario featuring local farms and farmers. And I am using my Fujifil GFX50R :) It is such a great camera for this purpose. I was thinking of documenting and filming the whole process and to make it into a YT videos. But I just couldn't make myself do it. It takes so much discipline, energy and time. Not to mention editing it later! I am no stranger to filming and editing videos. But it is so much work! Therefore I appreciate all the effort you put into making your videos!!! I love the project you are working on, it is such a specific and niche theme. The murals are fantastic! Can't wait to see it when it is done. Probably it will be not only online but also in the form of book or/and exhibitions.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. Glad you've enjoyed this. It's something that interests me a lot. Going to take my time with this one and see where it goes.

[@szecek]

Amazing episode. Thanks Kyle!

[@richardjames3022]

Thank you so much for recording our history before it disappears

[@chriscard6544]

Last one is really awesome

[@steveneate]

I enjoy your enthusiasm about this project as well as the contrast between all the pictures showing their age and the restored hall. Very cool history, and I think it's quite an original thought for a photo project. Have you thought about including any portraits to try and expand on the stories of the wartime artwork?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. Just slowly working away on this and expanding / shifting direction as I discover new things. I'm not sure about portraits and how they would fit.

[@ItsYourDistraction]

These are incredible finds. Thank you for sharing!

[@alexander.starbuck]

Love goin on these roadtrips with you! :)

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, man 🙏

[@motorvelo]

Aside from just documenting the artwork, I feel you missed a chance at Thorpe Abbot to ‘create’ an image that showed the juxtaposition between the historical wall art and the modern graffiti.

[@ogshadow113]

Fantastic series!

[@TheSchnauzie]

Thanks for sharing this video, nice pictures.

[@thomasfarley2688]

Really fascinating. Many thanks gor sharing your finds. If/when the project is finished do you intend to publish your photographs in either a book or a zine?

[@KyleMcDougall]

If it does go to print, I'd love for it to be a book.

[@markrawlings1496]

Great work. Assuming the UK WW 2 air bases were similar to the US Army Air Corps bases in the U.S. in the 40s (no assumptions just a thought), the training bases often had 3 to 5 auxiliary airfields. Most of the auxiliary fields in Texas (where I've been researching) were dirt strips and nothing remains, but a few remain and converted to civil airfields. A possible research avenue in the future. Wish you the best.

[@motorvelo]

All the 8th Army bomber bases in the UK had hard runways etc.

[@gonzalovillar83]

what a great video! you're such a cool filmmaker.

[@tdawg719]

awesome video! I think it might have been even more fascinating to include the current space in the compositions. would have told more of a story and given an even greater showcase to the time that's passed

[@ChrisW.Fuji_Canon]

super interesting, great video !

[@jamie.dop_]

I hear this term a lot… ‘make images’ rather than take images. I assumed making images would involve creating the set or adding / subtracting something originally in the composition. Then taking images would being taking them as they are. What is your opinion on this Kyle? Thanks, J

[@KyleMcDougall]

Honestly, it's not something I ever think about. For whatever reason I just say 'make'.

[@mattbray_studio]

21:30 - cover image right there :)

[@dbugatto]

Wonderful video , on the final mural , were those Lancaster Bombers? My grandfather was in the RAF and was a machinist / mechanic that worked on them during WW2.

[@fibonacho]

B24 Liberators

[@jokehendrix]

Hi Kyle! I absolutely love this project! I do have a practical question: since a lot of these locations seem to be on private property, do you have to have people sign a property release form in case you would like use these photos (or even to share them here)?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thank you. Glad you've enjoyed this. TBH, that's a good question. That's not something that I'd considered, but I will look into it now.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I will note that up until this point, I just have asked for permission, and explained what I'm doing. But after reading up about a property release form, it seems like a good idea, for the time when/if this turns into a book or something similar.

[@jokehendrix]

@@KyleMcDougall Thanks for the reply! I find it a difficult matter sometimes. The lines are blurry sometimes as to what is allowed 😅

[@burneshollyman2621]

Brilliant and so thorough! What camera did you use?

[@KyleMcDougall]

This is the GFX100s

[@BobOgden1]

Fantastic history. A shame so much is lost to time

[@flixbert]

As you are using your GFX in your latest videos, did it come out on top over the Hasselblad for your digital work? Sorry for the gear question, I know the topic gets old. But after much research, scouting and planning I’m currently in the market for a digital MF to use for my current project (and following) and initially I was thinking about getting the Hasselblad with the 39MP back. But I’ve also played around with a few files from the GFX 100s and I actually like them very much for their fidelity and sharpness. Would love to hear your thoughts!

[@peter2712]

From the little bit I saw those lists below the murals are probably bombing missions the group took part in.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yes, after looking at them closer, they're locations with dates.

[@VincentPerryJr]

very cool man!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Thanks, man.

[@expiringcity]

You shooting with the GFX 35-70? Just bought a GFX 50S II and then picked up the 35-70. I know its the kit lens for the camera but I have been blown away by the performance and the images it creates.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yep. The 35-70 is a very good lens. I think it get's overlooked because it's considered the 'kit' lens.

[@nevilleprosser2316]

Way cool.

[@tree267]

The names for the 392nd might well be names of the fallen.

[@landsurveysfilms]

They are names of German cities...

[@ЕвгенийМалышкин-з6к]

👍

[@sasajankovic9251]

What camera was used in this video?

[@iev35]

GFX 100S + GF 35-70

[@landsurveysfilms]

Koln, Erfurt, Bremen... Those are all locations in Germany, not names, it might be a list of missions...? I also see dates...

[@landsurveysfilms]

Hébécrevon is (was) in Normandy

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yes, I've realised that now after looking at it closer. I believe it was a mission list, with the dates beside it as you said.

[@soccerjockey]

Man, this is really special

[@fiver-hoo]

just tell people you are canadian and they let you go anywhere

[@musa7606]

The graffiti is part of the story.

[@GeoPal-tc8xy]

you would think the owners would take better care of the work and show some respect

[@westpoll1]

Morons and their spray cans, a blight on everywhere these days! Will you be putting these into a book, I would be really interested if you were.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Not sure what this will be at this point. Just taking my time with it and see where it goes. A book would be nice though.