Daily Echo photographer Richard Crease got more than he bargained for while shooting the air festival aboard the ship RFA Argus.

The seasoned press photographer was forced to spend the night as a last-minute guest of the Royal Fleet Auxillary after his boat back to shore was cancelled.

Richard had been taking photographs on the HMS Westminster, anchored off Bournemouth Beach, as it welcomed members of the public for onboard tours.

The plan was then to transfer to the Argus, to shoot the afternoon's air festival attractions from the ship before catching a boat back to land afterwards.

But unfortunately this boat was rescheduled due to worsening sea conditions - leaving Richard stranded aboard for the night.

 

 

Here's what he learned:

1. It's a great spot for taking pictures of the Night Air displays

We've never had pictures of the dusk displays from this angle. But they're REALLY pretty.

Bournemouth Echo:

Bournemouth Echo:

 

 

2. The RFA are excellent hosts

 

 

 

3. The RFA Argus is a really interesting ship. Once a container ship, she holds a 100 bed hospital complete with CAT scanner.

 

 

 

 


 

4. You don't get much of a view from a cabin window

 

 

5. But the RFA really are EXCELLENT hosts