Does anyone know where a good spot at LAX to take photographs of aircrafts taking off and landing near runway 25L or 24R?

IN n Out Burger on Sepulveda Boulevard is the perfect place to take pics of planes landing on the north side of the airport. There is a small park across the street from the restaurant.

On the South side is the hill off of Imperial in El Segundo.

FX1816

Here are four spots to get you started!

1. Imperial Hill - Imperial Avenue & Sheldon Street. Has a nice view of LAX. Good place to catch departures.
2. In-N-Out Burger - Corner of Sepulveda Blvd and Sepulveda Westway. Great place to grab a bite to eat and watch approaches to the 24s.
3. Proud Bird Restuarant - 11022 Aviation Boulevard. Near the east end of 25L.
4. LAX Theme Building's observation deck. 209 World Way. I believe it is only open on the weekends.

[Edited 2011-05-09 00:41:42]

[Edited 2011-05-09 00:41:51]

Forgot to mention the Flight Path Learning Center that's located in the old Imperial terminal. 6661 West Imperial Highway. You can stand outside the building near the ex-TWA DC-3 that is parked there.

Along with the previously mentioned spots, if you're interested in departures from the 24s, you can actually get a great view from the beach area along Vista Del Mar, right near or in Vista Del Mar Park (seems to be a much less-visited area). These were taken from that area (with apologies for the self-plug):

View Large View Medium Photo © Vik S

View Large View Medium Photo © Vik S

Quoting IFlyTWA (Reply 4): Forgot to mention the Flight Path Learning Center that's located in the old Imperial terminal. 6661 West Imperial Highway. You can stand outside the building near the ex-TWA DC-3 that is parked there.

Sometimes; sometimes not. It depends who is 'on duty' inside the museum as to whether they will a) unlock the door and b) let you stand outside. Worth a try though.

How have the cops been with folks up on Westchester Bridge lately?

Thanks to all of you for the info on spotting at LAX. I'm in the process of buying a camera you guys have any suggestions on a camera and lens type?. I'm don't have much $$    for a camera so be nice .  

How much do you have to spend?

Doug

If your a starter you could look at the Canon 1000D or the NIkon D5000 (both entry models if I'm not mistaking)

Thank you Tomskii,,, Nssd70 Im looking around 500 to 800.

Quoting lke2fly (Reply 11): Thank you Tomskii,,, Nssd70 Im looking around 500 to 800.

From Amazon, that will buy you a Canon Rebel XS/1000D with 18-55 IS ($480), and leave you some money for a cheap telephoto, like a 55-250 ($200) or 75-300 ($150). If you buy a used lens, that'll give you more options.

A cheap telephoto will obviously not be the best, but it'll be just fine if you use it well. Still quite a step up from point-and-shoots.

very cool thank you Vikkyvik, I will look into that.

Have any of you LAX spotters parked in top parking structure behind IN&OUT ? If so did anyone give you guys hassle. Also have any of you taken night shots from IN&OUT area ?

The only good spots at LAX that are acceptable for normal spotters are:

1. Imperial Hill (Winter only for good lighting)
2. Proud Bird (Winter normal approaches)
3. Radisson (top of roof) if you stay there (winter)
4. The museum on Imperial Highway. When they are open, they have a small ramp (Winter only)

If you are a serious pro, In and Out is not good.......angles are way tooooo underneath. Only head on shots are the neat ones where you can see the pilots coming at you. (this is mostly a Summer afternoon location and you can have a nice burger at the same time)

The LAWA police hate photographers so standing anywhere on the north end or anywhere else will be a no no. They will hassle you to the fullest. You become a suspected terrorist for a while until they check you out. Some on airliners.net have shot rotations and landings on the north end but after you click, you will likely be sitting in a police car if you stay there longer than 5 minutes.

Alternatives - contact a pilot of a nearby airport to fly you over the LAX corridor back and forth to do air to grounds (poor man air to airs). It will cost you money to rent the plane and for the fuel but they do not mind because they need hours. The pilots will not pay for anything. Keep that in mind.

Try to get you ramp access like some do. You need a very very good excuse or to really befriend someone there or to write something for a magazine or newspaper (and you better do it too). You better have proof too and plenty of ID. It is the only good professional photography at LAX. Note - DO NOT contact anyone who has been inside taking rotation shots by the runway - THEY WILL DEFINITELY NOT TELL YOU THEIR CONTACTS. That is a no brainer in this industry. It is a gold mine to them so it is secret....just like magicians. You want it, you have to earn it dearly and it is not easy. Remember, to the airport, photographers are the last things in their agenda. They don't care. Good luck.

Quoting n314as (Reply 15): Note - DO NOT contact anyone who has been inside taking rotation shots by the runway

Kind of like how some of your colleagues in Miami send emails to people uploading photos from "the holes" telling them to "never upload another shot of an American 757?"  

Anyone know where these photos were taken at?

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-C...d=170e7d76439948408eb65981a2262fa0

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Turki...d=170e7d76439948408eb65981a2262fa0

Quoting WCFLYR (Reply 17): Anyone know where these photos were taken at?

#1: Probably Westchester Pkwy, from the bridge over Lincoln Blvd.

#2: Imperial Hill.

How do you get to place # 1?

http://www.spotterswiki.com/index.ph...=Los_Angeles_International_Airport

good information that should answer all your questions

Quoting lke2fly (Reply 11): Thank you Tomskii,,, Nssd70 Im looking around 500 to 800.

For around $600, you can get a Pentax k-x with both an 18-55 and a 50-200. Of course, I fully recommend it.  

Quoting n314as (Reply 15): The LAWA police hate photographers so standing anywhere on the north end

What do you mean by the north end ? North end of what ?

And to an earlier poster, the Parking Spot garage is a big no-no, thanks largely to a 'flash mob' who congregated there en masse a couple of years ago.

Quoting saintex (Reply 22): What do you mean by the north end ? North end of what ?

He probably meant the north side of the airport. I was on the bridge over Lincoln Boulevard (the only good spot for touchdowns at LAX) one time and was hassled by the police. For some reason they won't bother you at In 'N Out though, go figure.

Quoting C133 (Reply 23): For some reason they won't bother you at In 'N Out though, go figure.

I was just there this week (again). Amusingly, some other guy at the park was pointing out how, if the police find you anywhere else (e.g. Westchester Pkwy.) they will actually tell you to go TO the "airplane park" by In-n-Out. Of course, where does Westchester end and the park begin? Or what happens if I walk out by the approach lights on Sepulveda? The idea that I can do no harm from the park but can do so from elsewhere is ridiculous (as we all know).

BTW, vids to follow from there.  

Quoting lke2fly (Reply 14): Have any of you LAX spotters parked in top parking structure behind IN&OUT

Yes, they have a sign of "no pictures" but if you park your car, go out the sunroof maybe, and take pictures, I've heard that they have no problem with it.

Has anyone followed up with police management concerning that Westchester Bridge location? It is after all a public sidewalk. Although they will try, police really have no right to be telling photographers they can't take pictures from public property.