"Ed Kyle" wrote in
oups.com:

A series of very nice photos of the preparation and
launch of Soyuz FG/Fregat ST-14 with ESA's
Venus Express are at the following web site:

"http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31141&farc
hive_objecttypeid=18&farchive_objectid=30912"

These are probably the best R-7 launch photos I've
seen.

The resolution in the pad liftoff image has enough detail
to show optical heat distortion of the exhaust plume in
the background; I've never noticed that before in any
photograph.

Great detail of the pad support arms and umbilical
arm; they tuck just far enough out of the way that
the exhaust plume doesn't impinge on them. For all its
simplicity, the R-7 system has a certain elegance.

--DAmon