renatoserra From Brazil, joined Sep 2011, 22 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1604 times:
Does anyone know the best spots for MCO? I am going there on early february. Any local spotters?
I could only find 7 years old topics, so would be good to get an update.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5325 posts, RR: 22 Reply 1, posted (4 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1563 times:
It is a difficult place to shoot, thats for sure. You are WAAAAAAY better off driving 90 miles southwest to TPA where sporting/photography is, with permission beforehand, allowed freely. That just isn't the case with MCO.There are spots, but you just cant sit there for long. And SFB???!!! Doooooooooooont get me started!!!!!
LGW340 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 295 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1529 times:
Hi there,
I was there in Febuary and was surprised at easy it was and nice the police were. You can take pictures from the enormous multi story car park which you get to through the terminal. You have to get permission first which you can do in the terminal. You have to go to the 'Public Affairs Office' and ask for a 'Use of Facilities' form.
Once you have this, you are free to stand on the 9/10th floor of the car park which gives you views all around the airport and of the runways. During 2 whole days, only one police officer spoke to me and he just checked my use of facilities of form and left me to it. You will need 300mm or more to take pics from there though, haze wasn't too much of an issue when I was there. Got some great planes, 2x DHL DC-8's, Capitol Cargo 727, TACA ERJ etc etc etc.
If your flying through MCO, you should get airside as quickly as possible as you can walk down all the piers and get really quite close to the action. These were from the departure lounge with a Canon 28-135mm IS.
NASCARAirforce From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2681 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1474 times:
Quoting LGW340 (Reply 2): was there in Febuary and was surprised at easy it was and nice the police were. You can take pictures from the enormous multi story car park which you get to through the terminal. You have to get permission first which you can do in the terminal. You have to go to the 'Public Affairs Office' and ask for a 'Use of Facilities' form.
Which most other airports in the USA don't require
Quoting LGW340 (Reply 2): Once you have this, you are free to stand on the 9/10th floor of the car park which gives you views all around the airport and of the runways.
Better pack a 500mm lens
Quoting LGW340 (Reply 2): During 2 whole days, only one police officer spoke to me and he just checked my use of facilities of form and left me to it.
Which you don't have to have in MIA, RSW, FLL or TPA
Quoting LGW340 (Reply 2): You will need 300mm or more to take pics from there though, haze wasn't too much of an issue when I was there.
Much bigger than a 300mm, I have a 300mm and its waaaaay too small to catch runway action.
Haze shouldn't be an issue in Feb at least.
As 727Lover said, drive 80 miles west to TPA - that is if you want a lot of SWA action, but runways are much closer and you have some awesome backdrops at least.
If you want GA action, there is Orlando Executive Airport that actually has a little spotter park on the southwest side called Kittinger Park.
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