Is this NY Times photo legit?

[Matt Molnar]

This is a great story about the resurgence of Jamaica Bay...but the main photo with a South African A340 departing in the background had me wondering...

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/07/31/nyregion/31JAMAICA1/31JAMAICA1-articleLarge.jpg
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/nyregion/jamaica-bay-a-wild-place-on-the-edge-of-change.html?_r=1

It could be an optical oddity of what seems to be a short lens, but

1. Angle of attack seems high
2. Landing gear is already up and closed despite relatively low altitude
3. No flaps? Hard to tell.

What do you think?

[yankees368]

The angle of attack does indeed seem very high. However, it looks like the nose gear might actually not be closed. The picture isn't the greatest resolution, but I can definitely make out what looks like the door open but with the gear retracted. I might be wrong.
Lastly, I'm no photographic forensic scientist, but there seems to be artifacting around the outline of the plane when nothing else in the image exhibits that.

[Liembo]

There's a strong blue indicator in the upper right edge..

http://errorlevelanalysis.com/permalink/fa38440/

[hiss srq]

Not to be a ball buster but angle of attack is being misrepresneted. Angle of attack is the refrence between the wing chord and the vector of motion. So, unless the airplane is pitched at that angle and only flying level, the angle of attack is probably not determinable from the photo. Pitch atitude however could be considered relatively steep . :)