LGW340 From United Kingdom, joined May 2007, 314 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2551 times:
Hiya,
Heading out to AUH, DAC, HKG and BKK next week and to get back from BKK to LHR, I'm leeching off my Dads BA staff standby so I may be stuck in BKK for a day or 2 longer than planned if I dont get on the return flight. So, how easy is photography at BKK? Im really keen to have a day of photography there. I believe there is an official viewing area (through glass, backlit?) but I would rather get arrival or departure shots to be honest! I'm 19 (so can't rent a car I don't think) so will be on foot.
kanepjk From United States of America, joined Jun 2009, 149 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2524 times:
Chris,
Get a taxi and have him take you to King Kaeo rd., Soi 64. It is on the west side of the airport, from there walk towards the airport until you hit the canal. There is a walkway on the canal and you can go the full length of 19R/01L and get arrival and departure shots. (only good in the afternoon).
It's blazing hot this time of year so make sure you have some water and wear something cool. When your sufficiently sun baked you can take a taxi back to the airport.
If you search Bangkok spotting I believe there is a post with some pictures of the canal.
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4735 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2515 times:
The spot to which Pat refers can also be reached by bus, but I really wouldn't bother. I was there in November '09 and heat haze was a real problem; plus you are shooting at close to 400mm for all but heavies.
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4735 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 2401 times:
Chris,
I kept two but to be honest I've no idea where they are. They were heat-hazed and muddy. Seriously, if you take the time and effort to find this spot, you'll wish you hadn't!
There are better shots on the approach to one of the runways but the wind direction didn't favour me on my visit.
757MDE From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2374 times:
Quoting LGW340 (Reply 3): Karl, do you have any pics from that spot?
Thanks
Chris
Actually the spot is not that bad and one time I was there some guy was selling ice cream. Don't count on that though, bring plenty of water, food if you will and be well protected against the sun.
Here are some of my pictures from King Kaeo, taken back then with my old Canon S3-IS:
JakTrax From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 4735 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 2370 times:
757MDE, you got the good runway direction for your visit! When I was there I had to shoot departures and had to move a lot further down the canal. Luck of the draw I guess!
757MDE From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 2365 times:
Quoting JakTrax (Reply 6): 757MDE, you got the good runway direction for your visit! When I was there I had to shoot departures and had to move a lot further down the canal. Luck of the draw I guess!
Karl
Must have been!
I lived in Bangkok for a while and went to King Kaeo many times. Only did I have the "bad direction" (i.e Runway 01L in use instead of 19R) once, and it happened all in front of my eyes. Runway 19R was in use, then there was a sudden tropical rain of those that last about 10 minutes and a change of wind direction. Runway 01L began to be in use and lasted one hour until the wind changed again.
That's not to to say it is that infrequent, but I did have good luck with the wind direction most times I went to King Kaeo.
Now, Karl is right when he says there are other interesting places to take pictures from too, don't miss them if you have the time!
King Kaeo is good in the Afternoon, in the morning I used to go to a parking lot close to a Buddhist Temple (I was looking for pictures but I don't have any from there in Airliners right now, let me know if anyone is interested and I'll upload some somewhere else).
I gladly accept donations to pay for flight hours! This thing draws man...
757MDE From Colombia, joined Sep 2004, 1753 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (1 year 1 month 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 2284 times:
Quoting yerbol (Reply 8): To all who did spotting in BKK, is it legal to photo around the airport? What about police and airport security? Please advise.
I don't know about the legal status, but I once did spot in the access road and was approached by security. They only asked me to move, but did not mention the pictures.
There used to be a restaurant in the 6th or 7th floor where you could take pictures, I was never bothered there (but that was closed last time in was in BKK, don't know now). Airside when taking flights is very difficult to take pictures because of the Airport's design, but the few times I tried again I was not bothered.
In the aforementioned spot of king kaeo (or the buddhist temple I mention) I was never ever approached.
I gladly accept donations to pay for flight hours! This thing draws man...
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