Ander From Spain, joined Jan 2005, 367 posts, RR: 23 Posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2056 times:
I'll be in Wasington from Friday 13th until Monday 16th in the afternoon, so I have Saturday and Sunday to spare. I plan to visit the Udvar-Hazy museum and do some spoting in DCA.
I'd be thankful if someone could give me some advice regarding nice spots and security issues,
I wouldn't like to get in trouble with police.
I' d also be happy if anyone wants to join a Spaniard in a photo session.
Thanks in advance,
AdamWright From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2027 times:
Hey Ander,
Suprised no one said anything.. oh well, this is what I know about shooting up National and Dulles:
DCA: Gravely Point. Use google earth and you'll see a small park on the north side of the airport just off the approach end to runway 19. Lots of people hang out there to get "down the runway" shots and approach/overhead shots of planes coming in to land.
Then, take a walk along the walking trail that leads up to the terminal and bring your Telephoto Zoom/Prime. There's a nice platform/park at the north end of the unloading/loading area of the terminal for pax. You'll probably see some TSA/Airline folks out there taking lunch or smoking. you can get views like this:
IAD: Udvar Hazy Museum. Just go there. Pay 12 bucks to park and go inside and see the museum. Probably the best colletion in North America on public display for free. In the afternoon you can step outside and catch arrivals over the trees coming into 1R.
YOu can then take the 50cent Terminal shuttle to the Dulles Passenger Terminal. There are some Garages you can walk to (north of the terminal). In the clear winter air, heat haze is minimal and you can get nice shots. Summer time.. forget about it. I'm guessing these were from those garages:
Then, if you're balsy and wanna try for some departure shots off 1R, you can go to Signature FBO and GET PERMISSION to shoot from their parking garage. You'll get something along these lines:
PM me if you need any additional information. I highly recommend using GOOGLE EARTH before you venture out there. Dulles can quickly become a cluster f*ck if you don't know your way around it.
Ander From Spain, joined Jan 2005, 367 posts, RR: 23 Reply 2, posted (4 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1976 times:
Adam,
You've been very kind to provide all this info.
I think I'll sepnd a day at the Udvar Hazy museum
and another day at DCA, I'm looking forward to get to the Gravely Point.
I hope I can get some decent stuff to upload.
Again than you for your help.
Best regards,
EstorilM From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 124 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 3 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1775 times:
Quoting AdamWright (Reply 1): I highly recommend using GOOGLE EARTH before you venture out there. Dulles can quickly become a cluster f*ck if you don't know your way around it.
Best advice I've heard in a LONG time regarding IAD.. and I've lived/worked near this airport for a while!
I'm still looking for my first acceptance shot, so I'll be heading out there again when the weather's nice. I just need some more reach for IAD first.. I was saving up for a D300 but I'll probably just get my D200 serviced and spend the $$ on a 1.7x TC for the 70-200 (120-340mm f/4.2 is plenty.)
Indeed, in a city which is very sensitive to "security" issues, this is an excellent and tolerated spot. Easy to get to also.
IAD: Cant really help much except to warn that Udvar Hazy viewing tower is far too far away from anywhere to be useful. The Google earth suggestion is a very good one. Suggest you also check very carefully how to get there from IAD, and more importantly how to get back, as the time I was there there were no taxis whatever at Udvar Hazy, the vast majority of visitors arrive by private car or by school bus. ( School kids are a hazard here, they are not all aviation enthusiasts). I understand that the linking bus that used to run from the Air & Space Museum in downtown D.C. has been replaced by some link from IAD proper. Food options at Udvar are very limited also. The collection is, of course, amazing, but the building is relatively dark with high ISO or tripod needed.
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