Canadian International Air Show 2024: A Photographer’s View
On August 31, 2024, I went down to Toronto’s waterfront with my camera for the opening day of the Canadian International Air Show. The photographs in this gallery come from that day along the Lakeshore, with Lake Ontario and the city as the setting.
The 2024 anniversary show
The event marked its 75th anniversary. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Royal Air Force Red Arrows and United States Air Force F-22 Raptor were among the featured performers, as listed in the CNE’s 2024 programme announcement.
The F-22 was one of the moments that stood out to me. Keeping a fast-moving aircraft in the frame was a different challenge from the more deliberate pace of a portrait session. The formation displays offered another subject: several aircraft holding their positions together in the sky.
Photographing from the waterfront
I spent the day along the Lakeshore, looking for ways to frame the aircraft with the skyline and the open water. The sky itself became part of the photographs, with clouds and the trails from the formations adding shapes around the aircraft.
From a single aircraft to a formation
With this kind of subject, the moment changes quickly. A formation fills the frame differently from a single aircraft passing over the lake. The gallery below brings together both, from that day on the waterfront.
Planning another visit
The 2024 performances are over. If you are considering a future visit, check the official CIAS visitor information for the edition you plan to attend, including its dates, viewing arrangements and any changes to the programme. The organisers note that flying schedules can change with weather and maintenance.
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