Major嚴力行, who is currently studying at the graduate institute of National Defense University's College of Science and Engineering, won first prize in the America's Innovation theme with his photographic work F-22 Fighter Jet in the American Institute in Taiwan's Through the Lens of America photography contest, according to the Military News Agency. The contest was held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, with the themes American Stories, Beauty of America, and America's Innovation, inviting the public to share memorable images from travel in the United States. Yen said he developed a strong interest in photography while studying at the Republic of China Military Academy and often went to photograph aircraft during holidays; during a trip to the United States this summer, he specially arranged to visit a local airshow, giving him the opportunity to capture the F-22 in flight.
According to the Military News Agency, Yen's work captured the high-speed flight moment of an F-22 fighter jet dashing out rapidly from dense smoke, accompanied by the exhaust flame from its F119 engine, presenting the jet's power and flight attitude and echoing the technological-breakthrough spirit of the America's Innovation theme. Yen explained that the F-22 is the world's first high-performance stealth fighter, one of the U.S. Air Force's important air-superiority forces, and a demonstration of contemporary aerospace and military technology development. He said he was honored to receive the judges' recognition and hoped to share through photography the beauty of military technology and the feeling of that moment with more people.