Matt Molnar
2008-06-21, 05:30 PM
I tried to explore some spots for river visual action this morning. I wasn't exactly successful, but I did learn a bit about northwest Queens geography.
First, I biked over to Randall's Island and found approaching aircraft were higher than I thought they'd be, and the only potentially great spot is closed for renovations and doesn't seem to be reopening anytime soon. I didn't even bother shooting there.
Next, I rode back and tried the north end of Astoria Park, which would have almost been usable if it were less hazy this morning. Under ideal lighting conditions and 400mm or more, this is probably shootable. Some shots below.
Then I rode along the northwest Queens waterfront through Astoria, which I had never checked out before. Basically the Con Ed facility there is about 3/4 the size of LGA and takes up the whole place, and east of that is a giant smelly sewage treatment plant. At a couple of points there are actually some great angles, but shooting planes passing behind the power plant you're standing next to is like reading a Hustler in a school playground: it's not illegal, but it's pretty much guaranteed to get you a stern talking to from the federales.
Final stop: a giant hill just to the west of the Rikers Island Bridge. Basically if one were able to get to the top of this hill, it would be the greatest spotting location in the area: you would be at eye level with 13 arrivals and 31 departures. Unfortunately this hill is actually Port/LGA property and fenced off and lined with NO TRESPASSING signs. Being that the hill is steep like a mountain and there aren't any other hills like it anywhere in the area, I'm guessing it's made of landfill from the construction of the airport. On the east side of the Rikers Bridge is also Port property which houses a little league facility, inside which the waterfront is blocked by fences and thick tree growth.
Here are the shots from Astoria Park...
Got haze?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2598833170_981c383ec5.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2598832884_2a909e9966.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2598833454_a54978a3ec.jpg?v=0
Yeah, that wasn't working out too well, so I moved on to shooting miscellaneous stuff...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2598001389_4303906153.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2598834452_68f66c5a4b.jpg?v=0
For the foamers:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2598001985_28d586697b.jpg?v=0
First, I biked over to Randall's Island and found approaching aircraft were higher than I thought they'd be, and the only potentially great spot is closed for renovations and doesn't seem to be reopening anytime soon. I didn't even bother shooting there.
Next, I rode back and tried the north end of Astoria Park, which would have almost been usable if it were less hazy this morning. Under ideal lighting conditions and 400mm or more, this is probably shootable. Some shots below.
Then I rode along the northwest Queens waterfront through Astoria, which I had never checked out before. Basically the Con Ed facility there is about 3/4 the size of LGA and takes up the whole place, and east of that is a giant smelly sewage treatment plant. At a couple of points there are actually some great angles, but shooting planes passing behind the power plant you're standing next to is like reading a Hustler in a school playground: it's not illegal, but it's pretty much guaranteed to get you a stern talking to from the federales.
Final stop: a giant hill just to the west of the Rikers Island Bridge. Basically if one were able to get to the top of this hill, it would be the greatest spotting location in the area: you would be at eye level with 13 arrivals and 31 departures. Unfortunately this hill is actually Port/LGA property and fenced off and lined with NO TRESPASSING signs. Being that the hill is steep like a mountain and there aren't any other hills like it anywhere in the area, I'm guessing it's made of landfill from the construction of the airport. On the east side of the Rikers Bridge is also Port property which houses a little league facility, inside which the waterfront is blocked by fences and thick tree growth.
Here are the shots from Astoria Park...
Got haze?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2598833170_981c383ec5.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2598832884_2a909e9966.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2598833454_a54978a3ec.jpg?v=0
Yeah, that wasn't working out too well, so I moved on to shooting miscellaneous stuff...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2598001389_4303906153.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/2598834452_68f66c5a4b.jpg?v=0
For the foamers:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3218/2598001985_28d586697b.jpg?v=0