I was first exposed to Claes Axstål's extraordinary work nearly a decade ago via the recommendation of a mutual friend, an aviation photographer of considerable merit in his own right. I remember well his description of Claes's air-to-air images taken at night. My friend was not one to exaggerate or misrepresent, but I also remember my reaction – which was, "...oh yeah, when I see that I'll believe it...!"
Not long afterwards, during a major gathering of the world's aviation photographers under the auspices of ISAP, I met Claes for the first time and was exposed to his amazing images. I became a believer instantly. From the moment I laid eyes on my first Claes Axstål photo I knew that he had created something special - and something most certainly unprecedented in the aviation photography community.
I like to think of Claes as a visionary. No other photographer - much less aviation photographer - on the planet has done what he has done. And that is to use his own ingenuity, money, and energy to create a photography-grade flash system capable of lighting up a viable percentage of the civilized world! This is a feat not only to be acknowledged and applauded, but also to be celebrated. Lighting, of course, is only a part of the game. It doesn't hurt that Claes has a superb eye for composition, exposure, and subject matter. His photos, no matter what time of day they are taken, are always exceptional, innovative, and masterful. His high-end client base most certainly underscores his talent - as folks who own and operate multi-million dollar yachts and aircraft and automobiles do not suffer fools with cameras lightly...
It is not every day one has the opportunity to review the work of a serious and truly talented and genuinely dedicated artist who is unique in his field. So take the time to chew on and a savor the images you are about to see. Your eyes will not be disappointed. / Jay Miller, chairman of the International Society for Aviation Photography