My Space Shuttle Pictures on CNN

Yesterday I was contacted by CNN asking if they could use my images of the Space Shuttle Enterprise crashing into the train bridge. Of course I said yes and they used them on air a few times over the course of the morning.

Now I can say “As featured on CNN” to my business card 🙂

How I Ended Up on CNN with My Space Shuttle Crash Photos

A few weeks before it happened, I found out the Space Shuttle Enterprise was going to be flown into JFK Airport on top of a 747. Naturally, I went online to look for details. What time would it arrive? Which runway? Where could I get a good view?

That search led me into a New York City aviation forum filled with passionate plane spotters. I mentioned that where I lived at the time — Broad Channel, Queens — had a perfect vantage point. There’s a bird sanctuary on the island that faces the JFK runways across the water. I said it would be the best place to catch the arrival.

When the big day came, I grabbed my camera and headed to the spot. Standing right next to me was someone I had never met before — the owner of the aviation forum. He had taken my advice and showed up at the same location.

We both got our shots.

A few days later, the shuttle was placed on a barge to be transported to the Intrepid Museum. I followed it again with my camera. At one point, the shuttle hit a train bridge. I didn’t even realize what had happened at the time. I was about three-quarters of a mile away, but I had been shooting RAW with a crop sensor lens, so I was able to pull out some clean images.

I posted the photos on the aviation forum just like everyone else. People on the forum quickly began talking about the crash, and some started pointing out my shots. The forum was active, and because of that, it ranked high in Google for search terms related to the shuttle crash.

That’s how CNN found me.

I was sitting in the doctor’s office with Deb when my phone rang. I didn’t answer. A few minutes later, while I was outside grabbing something from the car, I checked my voicemail. It was a message from George at CNN. They had seen my photos and wanted to use them.

I called back and got transferred to the right contact. Before I could even blink, they were emailing me a seven-page release form. I signed it on the spot and gave them the rights to publish my images.

They also asked what I wanted on the photo credit. At first, I just said “Vinny O’Hare.” Then it hit me — millions of people would be watching. So I asked them to change it to VinnyOhare.com.

And they did.

Traffic to my site exploded. Millions of people visited to see the photos.

But here’s the thing. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have an email list. I didn’t have prints for sale. I had no way to turn that flood of traffic into anything meaningful. No products. No calls to action. Nothing.

I didn’t make a dime.

That experience changed how I approach every site I build. You can be in the right place at the right time, but if you’re not ready when lightning strikes, the moment passes.

Now, every site I run has a purpose. And a plan.