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South African Airports Photography Question?

CaptainDanieL From South Africa, joined Jan 2008, 33 posts, RR: 0
Posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1587 times:

Hello Smile !

I have some vouchers to go on a kulula.com flight within the next few months.

I can go to any of the following destinations from Port Elizabeth (FAPE/PLZ) :
Johannesburg (JNB/FAJS)
Durban (DUR/FADN)
Cape Town (CPT/FACT)
Lanseria (HLA/FALA)

What I want to know is which of these airports is the best to get some good close up (18-55mm lens) shots of aircraft. I have been to each airport except for Lanseria but haven't had time to walk around and see if there are any good spotting places. I'm thinking Johannesburg would be the best option (as it is the largest and has a few flights there and back everyday compared to the others which only have one). Also even though I would book kulula flights on this route I would actually fly British Airways (Comair) 737-200Adv/300/400.

So can anyone tell me if Johannesburg has some good spotting places where I can get some good shots with such a lens and is in walking distance to the terminal building (and is safe) ?

Thanks in advance,

CaptainDanieL airplane

10 replies: All unread, jump to last

Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11
Reply 1, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1570 times:

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Quoting CaptainDanieL (Thread starter):
So can anyone tell me if Johannesburg has some good spotting places where I can get some good shots with such a lens and is in walking distance to the terminal building (and is safe) ?

The short answer is no. There is an observation deck in domestic departures but that is only good for ramp viewing and it is probably glassed so no good for photography. If you want to spot aircraft departures or arrivals it depends which runway is in use, and neither are walking distance.

See the circles on the photo below.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/andzz/JNBspotting.jpg

After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...

CaptainDanieL From South Africa, joined Jan 2008, 33 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1560 times:

Quoting Andz (Reply 1):

The short answer is no. There is an observation deck in domestic departures but that is only good for ramp viewing and it is probably glassed so no good for photography. If you want to spot aircraft departures or arrivals it depends which runway is in use, and neither are walking distance.

Yes the I have been to the observation deck, it is good for spotting but there's to much glare for photography.

Do you have an estimate of how long it might take to walk to any of these places ? Also is it even possible to walk there, I don't want to be walking on the motorway, haha.

Thanks for the pic !

CaptainDanieL airplane

QANTAS077 From China, joined Jan 2004, 5745 posts, RR: 49
Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1558 times:

go to Lanseria and get a ramp pass for free...that will suit your lens just perfectly.

http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...mith-WorldWide%20Aviation%20Photos

a true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes, while everyone else believes the smile on your face.

Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11
Reply 4, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1549 times:

Quoting CaptainDanieL (Reply 2):
Do you have an estimate of how long it might take to walk to any of these places ?

I wouldn't try it, you are looking at at least half an hour to 45 minutes to the bottom of 03R, past (round) SAA's technical area and round the airport perimeter. Getting to the top right area in Bonaero Park will take even longer to walk as you have to avoid a highway and some open ground. That would take me a good 10 minutes from the terminal on my motorcycle so it is not a short walk.

After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...

CaptainDanieL From South Africa, joined Jan 2008, 33 posts, RR: 0
Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1532 times:

Quoting QANTAS077 (Reply 3):
go to Lanseria and get a ramp pass for free...that will suit your lens just perfectly.

Looks good, but would I be able to get some pics of say kulula aircraft taking off, taxing or landing from there ? Looks like a nice airport only problem is they only have a flight there and back once a day so I would have to stay over somewhere.

QANTAS077 From China, joined Jan 2004, 5745 posts, RR: 49
Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 1531 times:

well your going to have problems shooting anything with that lens at JNB, with FALA you can walk around and get close with the a/c...

a true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes, while everyone else believes the smile on your face.

CaptainDanieL From South Africa, joined Jan 2008, 33 posts, RR: 0
Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1523 times:

Quoting CaptainDanieL (Thread starter):
well your going to have problems shooting anything with that lens at JNB, with FALA you can walk around and get close with the a/c...

Might have a look into it, I suppose Lansera is one of the busiest Airports on the African continent (traffic movements per day).

Sunilgupta From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 770 posts, RR: 15
Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1492 times:

You may need a bigger lens for JNB, but there are nice shots to be had from both the observation decks and the runway spots. Since you are from ZA you should know all about the mini-bus protocol so even if your don't want to rent a car you can get to these places.

For arrivals from the south you can go to a nice shady spot off Springbok Rd and catch most of the incoming. If they arrive from the north then go to the are near the soccer field (green circle between the runways in the picture above).

I had fun out at JNB but didn't meet too many local spotters.

Here are some shots http://lockonaviation.net/html/sa07.html

Sunil

CaptainDanieL From South Africa, joined Jan 2008, 33 posts, RR: 0
Reply 9, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1470 times:

Quoting Sunilgupta (Reply 8):
Since you are from ZA you should know all about the mini-bus protocol so even if your don't want to rent a car you can get to these places.

Mini-bus (taxi) in Johannesburg, hmmm, no thanks !

Quoting Sunilgupta (Reply 8):
I had fun out at JNB but didn't meet too many local spotters.

There aren't many spotters at any South African airports compared to say Manchester (EGCC) in England which is an excellent place for spotting and which I have been to many times. I only know one person who also spots at PLZ and he is a former SAA A340 Pilot. I really wish they were more people as then I could find new places and they might actually make a place like at Manchester which is raised up to give you an excellent view of the aircraft.

Nice shots by the way !

CaptainDanieL airplane

Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11
Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1447 times:

Send a PM to a.net member SA006, he has lots of shots on here taken at JNB and knows all the spots.

After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...

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