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Thread: LAX: Christmas Spotting Extravaganza-Very Image HEAVY

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    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    LAX: Christmas Spotting Extravaganza-Very Image HEAVY

    Hello All,

    This year I decided to treat myself to several days at LAX for Christmas, and it turned out to be an incredible treat. Despite some ominous weather early on, it wound up being an incredible few days. This thread is definitely going to be a little on the image heavy side, simply because there were too many images that I loved, and lots of first time catches for me. Rather than create separate posts for each day, I will simply call out each different day and night with individual posts Hope you enjoy, feedback is always welcome, and have an awesome new year!

    Let the fun begin...

    Day 1-24 December: Rainy weather had me spooked, but reverse ops were interesting, and the sun did finally give way to nice weather at sunset



    Aeromexico sneaking past a UAL 788




    My first TACA A320




    My first Delta 777







    Air Tahiti Nui, and the Hobbit for the North Complex







    My favorite AA Jet




    And then another pattern reversal, and some departures










    One airline's 777 that I was very happy to catch










    Last edited by NickPeterman; 2012-12-29 at 03:42 PM.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Zee71's Avatar
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    Awesome and you definitely had a great trip from the looks of it!
    Mark
    Queens, NY

    My website: http://mbsphotography.smugmug.com
    My photos at: JetPhotos and ANet

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    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Night One: 24 December-night photography was a big part of why I wanted to give LAX a try, and I am sure glad I did. The highlights of night 1


    Better photo of the entire China Southern A380 to follow on night 3...



















    And when I saw this guy pull out...




    ...I knew this guy couldn't be far behind, inbound from JFK


  4. #4
    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Thanks Mark!

    Now for Day Two-25 December: Santa treated me to miserable clouds and rain, so not too many photos worth posting from the daylight hours....

    Somehow this is the only Qantas A380 photo I managed, don't ask me how that was pulled off





    The weirdest special I have seen in a while




    Back on this route after Atlas had been doing it for them for a while (Air Pacific had their 744s in D-Check)





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    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Night Two-25 December- Also quiet, so to prevent duplication going forward, only a few photos were had, but one nice treat from the Spotting Santa at the end...


    Love the Sun Country paint scheme




    The way they park at this gate makes for that lovely roof in the photo, every single time, sadly.




    One Virgin Australia Livery...




    And the star of the evening, the Philippines 747-400 that I wanted so badly. Merry Christmas to me!


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    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Day Three-26 December: The "big" day. The most successful day of the 3, despite forecasts for 90% overcast and heavy rain.

    I love these little Brasilias, and I shot every single one I saw-no exceptions!




    I am incapable of taking a sharp photo of this airline it would seem, first at JFK, now at LAX, always softer than I prefer. Oh Well...




    Always cute to see the Baby Boeing




    I have never seen so many ERJ-190s in my life, and all of them from Air Canada




    Omni Air, Chartering the Stanford Football team in for the big Bowl Game




    Obligatory Frontier shot for Cary




    Simply love their livery, plain as it may be




    I have also never seen so many A380s in my life. I saw 7 frames from 4 airlines this day...




    Lots of Alaska action on the North complex




    Canadian Bus




    All I wanted from KLM was a 747 with the Asia titles, they sent it on the rainy day of course...







    Tulips are getting rarer and rarer, shoot 'em while you can!







    Super on the downwind




    Which leads to a Super on Final




    Asiana 777




    My first Eva passenger bird




    Another Super













    Another "At Long Last" moment, a Eva Cargo 747-400 non-BCF




    Aeroflots A332's are just sharp looking!




    A nice special from Taiwan




    The Las Vegas Sands Corporation's Gulfstream




    The weirdest thing I have seen on a taxiway recently, a huge tumbleweed




    Finally caught this bird in good light!




    Closeup




    Air China Sunset

    Last edited by NickPeterman; 2012-12-29 at 01:27 AM.

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    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Night Three-26 December: This being my last night for shooting, they certainly didn't disappoint! Stuck with a smaller lens for the A380, and was glad I did.




    Virgin Australia livery #2







    Love the A340-600, even more so at night!




    Virgin pushing past LAN




    a LAN Closeup




    And the Chinese Super


  8. #8
    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Day Four-27 December: A few hours of spotting before my flight rounded out an awesome Holiday!





    My first 777 Freighter




    Another Brasilia
















    And the morning's real treat for me, the Thai 777-300ER




    Hope you all have enjoyed this photo-fest!


    Nick

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    Senior Member Cal07's Avatar
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    WOW!! really nice set..

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    Dang. And you've done LAX. You've gotten more lucky in one night than I feel like I did in six visits there this year!
    Fantastic shots.

    What body/lens combos did you use?

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    Senior Member NickPeterman's Avatar
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    Akie, Jeremy, thank you both!

    Jeremy All the day photos were taken with a Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm. All the night shots, minus those taken on night 3, were taken using the same set-up. Night 3 was taken with a 7D and EF 28-135.

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    Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm. All the night shots, minus those taken on night 3, were taken using the same set-up. Night 3 was taken with a 7D and EF 28-135.
    Nice. I never cared for the 7D & 100-400 when I had it...but you're making me wonder a bit now ;-)

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    Senior Member yankees368's Avatar
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    Wow wow wow!!!
    Follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.

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    Senior Member seahawks7757's Avatar
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    Great set. Love all of them!


    Not to be nit picky but that 787 isn't actually broken. It is being prepped for service. All UA 787's are now being delivered through LAX.
    http://brandonsaviationblog.blogspot.com/ My continuing updated Aviation Blog
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/seahawks7757/ My continuing updated photostream from BFI and sometimes SEA

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    Great shots! I really need to go back to LAX soon!

    Cheers!

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