About Me

Young Howie

Hello! I'm Howie Pilcher.Growing up as the son of a Naval Aviator, I was inspired by the finest to always aim for excellence in everything I pursued. As we all know, there is always that underlying pressure to succeed and the fear of failure. My father knew that if he could get me to focus on the task at hand, I would get wrapped up in it and he would worry a lot less about me during my teenage years.

At the ripe young age of 14, he gave me my first camera. “Take some pictures and go to the base photo lab. You can learn to develop them there. You’ll have a great hobby you can always fall back on.” I later got a job there and taught people how to use their cameras and develop their own film-a skill I rely on to this day. Fast forward a few years and I also became a Naval Aviator, flying the P-3C in the Pacific theater. I focused on being the best Naval Aviator I could be and therefore had to take a break from my hobby and focus on my job. As the digital age came into play, I found myself behind the lens once again. After retiring from active Naval flying and nearly 30 years as a pilot at FedEx, flying the B-727, DC-10, MD-11 and B-777 around the world [literally] , I retired December 2024.

Howard Sr.

My goal now is to stay focused (pun intended) on my work behind the lens. I gave my son my original film cameras that I cut my teeth on. They’ve been refurbished and are as good as new. He has a fantastic eye for the art of candid photography and he makes me proud.

I gave my youngest daughter one of my cameras and she is doing very well with bird photography. Those critters are so fast, I am amazed she catches the shots she does.

In my work, you’ll see teams of many sorts. Lacrosse. Football. Blue Angels. Thunderbirds. We don’t go through this life alone and through these pictures I try to share my inspiration and respect for the power and spirit that being a part of a team provides.

The Blue Angels exemplify teamwork. Trust. Commitment. Humility. Gratitude. Respect. The very values I was raised on and try to instill in my children and grandchildren. I am inspired by these values and have created this website as my way to promote those values, and to pay it forward. I know that the Team (Blue Angels) has more than earned it. All of my family, friends, squadron mates, and fellow pilots at FedEx have been there to make me who I am today, and I’m proud to be on that team.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I had taking them.

Pay it forward.