High Roller Winner Spotlight: Bryan Mangan (February 2026)

By Keiran Wilkinson with contributions from Bryan Mangan

One of the highlights of our COAP Online community calendar is the High Roller, our monthly competition where members share their best images based on a specific, challenging theme. These usually occur within our member community, but we believe that world-class photography deserves a broader audience. As a new addition for 2026, we are sharing the winning shots from the community to showcase our members’ skills and creativity.

Our February challenge was to “Own The Night,” showcasing the best of our members’ abilities in the famous night shoot. The challenge also fits with the launch of COAP Online’s latest downloadable guide that goes by the same name. There was a real mix of images, from museums with living history to airshows, even a sprinkling of air-to-air photography at night! We loved seeing what our members have created with their different approaches to shooting after dark. After the excitement of sharing everyone’s best work, there can only be one winner. 

The February Winner: Bryan Mangan

Bryan’s winning image is a fine example of long-exposure night photography. Combining a silhouette of the A-10 Warthog, a true legend in itself, with a background of a vibrant firework display. The image blends the light from the stationary aircraft and the moving fireworks into a single, cohesive moment, capturing both the power and the spectacle of the airshow’s evening display.

The Event and The Aircraft

Bryan's winning shot was captured in November 2024, at the 35th annual Stuart Airshow held at Witham Field in Stuart, Florida. The late-season event featured several impressive demonstrations, including the F-22, F-16, and the U.S. Navy Rhino Demo Teams, but Bryan made the trip specifically to see the A-10 Demo Team's final public display.

After a delayed flight caused him to arrive too late to catch much of the flying portion of the night show, Bryan shifted his focus to shooting static aircraft. Helped along by a set of floodlights positioned behind the A-10.

Capturing the Shot

Positioning himself alongside a group of photographers facing the fireworks, Bryan took 20 images throughout the display. Surprisingly, his winning image was his very first shot, which was also his longest exposure at 30 seconds!

With his camera mounted on a tripod, Bryan used bracketing for his images, starting at 30 seconds, then 15, and finally 10. He kept his aperture and ISO settings consistent throughout the process, varying only his composition by zooming in and out. This is a great way to capture a tricky scene when you have plenty of time. It also leaves open the option of some Photoshop work later to blend various exposures.

Here is the gear and exact settings Bryan used to capture the winning image.

• Camera: Nikon D810
• Lens: AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR
• Focal Length: 55.0 mm (in 35mm)
• Aperture: f/6.3
• Shutter Speed: 30s
• ISO: 64

Overcoming Challenges and Final Edits

Nighttime event photography rarely goes perfectly according to plan. Bryan noted that he was initially shooting into the moon, but his tighter composition cropped it out. He also had to dodge drones flying in front of the fireworks, which created streaks in several of his other long-exposure shots. Thankfully, the drones didn't start until later in the fireworks display, after the fireworks were already well underway.

In post-processing, Bryan cropped the image further to create a tighter frame around the aircraft. He mentions that investing time in editing to bring out the colours and enhance the floodlit aircraft enabled him to get a final shot he really likes.

Top Tips for Newer Photographers

As I do with all our winners, I asked Bryan for advice on how to capture an image like this. He explained that he scouts locations early; good spots go quickly at airshows, so it’s important to invest time before it gets dark to scout available aircraft and angles and compose the image you’re aiming for. Moving and recomposing during a fireworks display can be frustrating for both the photographer and other spectators, especially since you don't know where the fireworks will explode until they are already underway. Bryan also highlighted how important it is to practice your night focusing skills. You can also use a powerful flashlight during night shoots to light up the areas of the aircraft you are using to frame your shot, though make sure that’s allowed at the specific event that you are at. Combine this with your camera's Live View, zoomed in, to confirm your focus is completely sharp.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Bryan emphasised how important it is for photographers to keep growing, to avoid ever taking the same shot twice, and to never stop learning! It’s clear that his experience came together to make this winning image, but even then, Bryan explained that he still reflects on it and what he’d improve. For example, he found it challenging to shoot the A10 because of the twin vertical stabilisers, and he’s always working to improve the composition from shot to shot for that aircraft.

Congratulations again on your win, Bryan!

If you’re feeling inspired by Bryan’s image, then be sure to check out our “Own the Night” downloadable PDF.