+4 Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
Laura Bogan • Blue Angels Photographer
No one captures the splendor, inspiration, or exhilaration of the Gulf Coast quite like photographer Laura Bogan. From breathtaking aerial landscapes to uplifting action shots of the world-renowned Blue Angels, Bogan gives eye to the beauty and spirit that make the Emerald Coast so unique. Her work, showcased in photobooks and art prints, shares the Gulf Coast through a birds-eye – and a Blues-eye – view.
A Pensacola native, Bogan shares, “I’ve always loved the Blues, but didn’t realize that I loved photography until later in life.” A career in social media marketing eventually led her to discover a passion for photography. Laura’s work through her company, Bogan Media, caught the eye of then-Mayor of Pensacola Ashton Hayward in 2012. Working as the social media director for Mayor Hayward’s office gave Bogan many opportunities to learn and practice photography. One specific experience allowed her to see Pensacola Beach from the aerial view of a helicopter, and thus, her love for aerial photography was born.
In 2016 Bogan published her first photobook, titled Upside, in which she shares and elaborates on aerial photos of historic Pensacola and Pensacola Beach. Upside celebrates both the history and natural beauty of the Pensacola area. From Spanish and British architecture and cityscapes to aqua blue waters graced with crystal white beaches, Upside is a visual and informational treasure.
Bogan’s work with Mayor Hayward’s office also presented an avenue to her current position as the Executive Assistant for the Blue Angels Association, Social Media and Marketing Director of the Blue Angels Foundation, and her photography of the elite Blue Angels. Being invited to work with the Blue Angels alumni was a natural fit for Bogan because it involved photographing and “shooting my hometown and Angels that I love and admire so much.”
On October 17, 2017, Laura Bogan had the opportunity of a lifetime: to fly backseat in the #7 Blue Angel. Some of the shots from this flight inspired her second photobook, Homecomings, which focuses on the Blue Angels’ journey to return home after touring. Many locals refer to the Blue’s homecoming as “Smoke the Beach,” and it usually takes place on a Sunday. After the Blues fly over Pensacola Beach, they taxi onto the flight line and hangar at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, where their families and support crew greet them.
In Homecomings, Laura Bogan narrates through words and images the glorious aerial sights of Pensacola Beach and the awe-inspiring technical skills, commitment to excellence, and community that exemplifies the Blue Angels. Homecomings is a feast for the eyes as well as the heart. Readers get to see the mastery of the most elite aviation skills set against one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States, brought to you by a team that both supports and is supported by the greater Pensacola community. “My goal,” she shares, “was to show how special it is that we’re [Pensacola] their hometown – to showcase them as a team and us as a community.”
Bogan’s photography captures the iconic essence of the Gulf Coast. From our colonial past set along pristine beaches to the soaring heights of naval aviation, her imagery inspires us to see the beauty and the spirit of the Gulf Coast every day.
Visit lauraboganphoto.com to order your copy of Untitled and Homecomings; individual prints are available as well. Bogan’s books are also available at the following Pensacola locations: Artesana, McGuire’s Gift Shop, Flounders, Crabs, and the Flight Deck Museum Store at the Naval Aviation Museum.
