Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1794 times:
Hi,
I'm going to be in San Diego for a day (February 22nd) for fun because of WN's $60 r/t fares from OAK and I would like to do some spotting/photography. What can I expect to see in Southwest's terminal (is it shared with other airlines)? Where are good places outside of the airport perimeter to take photos of planes on approach, etc? I only have an 80mm lense but might upgrade in time for this trip...
One more question not related to aviation or photography , is there an easy way to go to Tijuana from the airport (public transportation)? I'd be willing to walk if theres not,
Scooter From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 837 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1713 times:
Hmmm...if you're coming in on WN, you won't have a very good view of the ramp. They are located in Terminal one "east"...one of SAN's original terminals, so don't get your hopes up for an exciting arrival!
Er...scratch that. The arrival is the best part. Do yourself a favor and get a window seat on the right side of the aircraft for the flight down. The apporach is like no other in the US, as you'll fly right through the middle of downtown. Really.
Anyway, if you had more than 80mm, you might be able to grab some rotation shots off 27 through the windows. 250-300mm works best for that. My best suggestion is to go outside and hang out in the viewers lot on the corner of Laurel and Harbor Drive...after 2pm, the light gets really good here (especially in the winter time).
Anyway, have fun. I've been shooting at SAN for a couple years now, so let me know if you have any more specific questions.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1697 times:
Thanks Scott, I will be sure to try and get a seat on the right side of this 737-300 I am going to be on.
That viewers lot, which lense works best there, and what can you see from here, taxiing aircraft?
Wanderlust From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 39 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1704 times:
Here's a play-by-play of what you can get and where @ SAN:
1. The Harbor Drive and Laurel spot I mentioned above:
Scooter From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 837 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1700 times:
Grrr...dammit. "Wanderlust" is me. Can't get rid of that friggin' username!
One correction: Make sure it's the LEFT side of the aircraft (looking forward), not the right.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1695 times:
Hmmmmmmmmmm, the 'infamous parking garage' is tempting....hmmmmmm...
The Harbor and Laurel spot looks nice, which kind of lense to you need to take a photo of the entire aircraft?
Lindy field From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 3072 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1679 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Serge,
Here's an example of the leftside view as you land at SAN:
Scott has supplied plenty of info for your spotting; if you want to see some more SAN photos, have a look at my profile. Hope to see some uploads from your trip to San Diego next month.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1667 times:
Thanks Ricardo and Lindy Field for the replies, I can't wait to see that view from my flight. I'll be sure to take many many rolls of film with me on this trip, I am going from ISN to BIL (Big Sky, Fairchild Metro) on February 19th, BIL to DEN (UA, 737-500), DEN to SFO (UA, 767-300ER), of course OAK to SAN and back on the 22nd, then back the same route to ISN, I get to fly on a UA 747-400 to Denver .
As for TIJ, how far is it from San Diego Lindbergh Field? My brother and I are both under 21 so we can't rent a car and don't want to get ripped off by a cab.
Sounds like a lot of nice aircraft flying into TIJ!
Nice profile too, I wish BA still had their 747s at SAN though, is there any chance UPS or another cargo opperator will have some there on the 22nd?
Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3089 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1674 times:
Just to avoid and left/right confusion, you want an "A" seat when flying into SAN.
With 80mm, you won't be able to do much. Best I can suggest is to walk from the Laurel & Harbor spot along the Laurel sidewalk, and you can get up closer and hopefully get some arrival shots. I know with my 210mm lens, I can't get 737's that are landing from the Laurel & Harbor lot, but I can get them taxiing to the runway for departure. You'll likely also need a ladder or tall vehicle to stand on to get your camera lens over the fence.
I don't know how to get to Tijuana airport, but to get there by public transit, probably the best way would be to take the San Diego Trolley to San Yisidro, and from there you can walk across the border into Tijuana. Walking to Tijuana from downtown San Diego is not reasonable.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1664 times:
Ok, thanks David, I guess I'll just play my cards and hope for the best.... maybe I'll get a longer lense by then
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 11, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1657 times:
Harbor and Laurel is probably the best spot for approaches at SAN. If you want military stuff and can be patient head over to Coronado. The dog beach area is right under the approach for rwy 27. Mostly S-3 vikings, but one never knows what will come in. F-18's, F-14's, P-3's, C-130's.....You just ahve to be patient. But since lots of nice women walk their dogs here...well....
I would be careful about Tijuana right now. It has the potential to be a security nightmare. If you go, be discrete. As for getting there...Take the San Diego Trolley from downtown to the border. Grab a cab to the airport. Very simple and relatively cheap. But again, understand that you are in a different country and sometimes they don't take well to what may be percieved as a security issue.
Lindy field From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 3072 posts, RR: 15 Reply 12, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1649 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
No scheduled 747s at San Diego these days. The largest aircraft you're likely to see are the BA 772, Fedex DC-10 and UPS, Airborne, Hawaiian, and Delta 767s. I'm afraid you'll mostly see Southwest 737s... You can email me if you want a sense of what you'd see at a particular time of day.
Jderden777 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 1747 posts, RR: 33 Reply 13, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1649 times:
Scooter From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 837 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1647 times:
Oh yeah. That shot.
That was shot from Bankers Hill. Can't remember the cross streets, but it's really easy to find. Drive (or take a cab) in the hills above SAN, and you'll find incredible views. Next time I'm in SAN (next month, actually), I'm going to try to get sunset shots from here. Or, a 10-15 minute night time exposure would be killer.
The Harbor and Laurel spot looks nice, which kind of lense to you need to take a photo of the entire aircraft?
about 200mm for taxiing aircraft, and 200-300mm for landing. The longer the lens the better for this spot.
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 1633 times:
Scooters shot is from either 300 Kalmia or Juniper street. The bad thing about shooting in thsoe areas is all the damn wires overhead. It is an older part of the city with above ground utilities. Arrrghhh!!!
The Windssock resturaunt is on Pac Hwy on the north side of RWY 27. The veiws of the field are nice and unobstructed, food is very good (try the nachos with grilled chicken. Very very good.) But they do not allow cameras.
While in town be sure to check out the SD Aerospace museum along with its annex at Gillespie field. The Flying Leathernecks museum is also very nice up at the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar.
Chrisair From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1769 posts, RR: 4 Reply 16, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 1631 times:
There are two garages in San Diego. I've only been on the smaller of the two offset from the approach path. I didn't have any trouble up there (other than lack of aircraft to shoot). The other garage I was up for about 5 minutes and I was "politely" escorted away (it's a valet only garage).
As for TIJ it's roughly 20 miles from Downtown, probably 25-30 from the airport. To my knowledge there is no "direct" route to TIJ other than the I-5, and I don't suggest walking on that. Most rental companies won't let you drive their cars to Mexico without (more) insurance.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1613 times:
Thanks everyone. Now that I know my 80mm lense will be insufficient for SAN, can anyone recommend a good, not so expensive lense for a Pentax ZX-30? 200mm or higher would be great..
Hawaiian717 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3089 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1607 times:
You might want to try eBay (and other auction sites). I don't know what's available there at the moment, it's always changing. I bought my Tokina 28-210mm lens for my Canon EOS Rebel G there.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1589 times:
Wow, there are some nice prices on ebay for 200mm lenses for a Pentax, and I don't use AF anyway so I could buy an older one in good condition and save some $!
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 20, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1590 times:
Serge---If your age is really under 18 forget about Tijuana unless you have an adult going with you....You will have problems crossing the border.
Serge From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1989 posts, RR: 3 Reply 21, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1587 times:
My brother is legally an adult and he is joining me on this trip so I shouldn't have a problem. I have to go to my local DOT before my trip to get a photo id just in case of a descrepency at the border and so I can earn WN Rapid Rewards points.
Tpk From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 188 posts, RR: 14 Reply 22, posted (11 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1585 times:
Serge-
I just made my first trip to SAN in a while back the beginning of the month. The Laurel and Harbor spot is great for approach shots (thanks to Tony Zeljeznjak for the tip). If you want to shoot the planes taxing and lining up for takeoff, it would be helpful to stand on the roof of a car. That's how I took the BA 777 picture posted in one of the replies above. Even standing up there, the original photo still had part of the fence at the bottom which I removed using Photoshop.
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, is there an easy way to go to Tijuana from the airport (public transportation)? I'd be willing to walk if theres not, 
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