btblue From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 546 posts, RR: 4 Posted (1 year 3 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2674 times:
Hi folks. Just hoping for some info.
I'm going to Manchester for the night tomorrow and Thursday I'll have the day to myself... having just bought a 550D I want to get some spotting in. Not been to MAN in 16 years so really excited to be back.
I'll be using the train from the city centre to the Airport and hoping somebody could give me some pointers in terms of locations (walking) I can get shots from... I know there is the pub on the perimiter area where you can get shots - is that within reaonable distance?
ZakHH From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 2646 times:
The pub is easy to reach from the terminals, just 10 minutes by foot down the perimeter road.
It is not the best location for spotting during daytime, though, as the sun will get around the runway only towards late afternoon. So over the day, your shots would be backlit.
Same for the visitor park, that is also north of the runways (though I can recommend the Concorde tour there).
Best options for photos is to get to the south side of the runways. There are some good locations there, but getting there by foot would take rather long from the terminals.
Try to find a bus that takes you to Wilmslow / Moat House. North of the roundabout are some pretty good spotting locations. There is no protection against weather there, though. That would probably be an argument for the pub.
Ychocky From Canada, joined Jul 2009, 164 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2622 times:
Depending what time you arrive I'd recommend heading to the top of the parking garage to grab shots of aircraft lined up at Terminal 2, can be rewarding to have some VS ships all in a row. If you are around for the evening some night shots can be had as well from this location as stuff is pushed back for departure. eg Biman 77W.
In January I attempted to find a bus to the southside spots to no avail. I walked to the mounds (Other side of the runway from the Airport pub) in about 45 mins from the Terminal. And then about another half hour to A538 and the Holiday Inn where I stayed the night. The next morning arrivals were on 05L so I was already at the right end! A cab from the Hotel back to the terminals was 7 quid and saved a walk.
As stated above the Pub offers shelter, nice meal, and a pint, but photography suffers as your pointed at the sun.
btblue From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2004, 546 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 months 4 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
OKay - thanks very much for your advice, really useful for this and my next visit... I think I'll be heading to the pub and car park... I'll use this trip to familiarise myself and will have to drive up there next time... Have checked the weather and it may be a bit wet, but warm. Don't want to risk getting caught in the rain.
Really looking forward to getting some shots - gosh, not been to MAN in such a long time... I can almost smell the kerosene now!
dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 2603 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 2595 times:
The weather forecast isn't looking too clever for Weds / Thursday, take an umbrella with you! Winds are forecast to be southwesterly veering WSW so 23R will be the main runway with single runway ops between 0930-1630. 23L will be used for take-offs before / after those times. You'll find some useful information on the best locations at MAN here. I would agree if you're on foot, Level 13 car park is a good place to go as everywhere else, you'll be shooting in to the light. Having said that, it's forecast to be dull so you'll probably get away with it to a certain extent at the viewing park and pub. Use +1/3 exposure compensation depending on how dull it is. What lenses will you be taking? A 75-300 or similar and something slightly wider will cover most eventualities.
Darren
Equipment: 2x Canon EOS 50D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-105 f/4 L, Speedlite 430EX
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