View Full Version : LAX: Christmas Spotting Extravaganza-Very Image HEAVY
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 12:46 AM
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 :biggrin: 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
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8319821655_540a4f8d94_b.jpg
My first TACA A320
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8320883176_48577cb15e_b.jpg
My first Delta 777
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8319821181_d504f59f83_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8319821017_191bb8a3f5_b.jpg
Air Tahiti Nui, and the Hobbit for the North Complex
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8320882164_7289044fcf_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8319820199_e19b645750_b.jpg
My favorite AA Jet
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8319819889_c81dcebf42_b.jpg
And then another pattern reversal, and some departures
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8319819743_4451fb8cfb_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8355/8319818635_ebae18d82a_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8320880270_86ca4078e5_b.jpg
One airline's 777 that I was very happy to catch
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8320880836_2976238dcf_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8320879246_89c8a4f34e_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8084/8319817913_7ef9db08bd_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8320879600_2d2bb38342_b.jpg
Zee71
2012-12-29, 12:50 AM
Awesome and you definitely had a great trip from the looks of it!
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 12:50 AM
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...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8320879102_96b0cb469a_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8320878932_cd9c909f0d_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8319817041_bd87da1208_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8319816879_8fb994167e_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8211/8320878274_48f6998c17_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8319816521_e1abe72c94_b.jpg
And when I saw this guy pull out...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8319816329_87339800cf_b.jpg
...I knew this guy couldn't be far behind, inbound from JFK
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8320877610_73e5ecc31e_b.jpg
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 12:55 AM
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
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8319815609_eae1085d39_b.jpg
The weirdest special I have seen in a while
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8319815525_ed9015c1a1_b.jpg
Back on this route after Atlas had been doing it for them for a while (Air Pacific had their 744s in D-Check)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8319815443_d41093b3e4_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8319815361_0e8eefd02a_b.jpg
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 12:59 AM
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
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8319815239_cfccc228e9_b.jpg
The way they park at this gate makes for that lovely roof in the photo, every single time, sadly.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8320876000_233e2e6e4d_b.jpg
One Virgin Australia Livery...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8320875830_1118a0753b_b.jpg
And the star of the evening, the Philippines 747-400 that I wanted so badly. Merry Christmas to me!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8320876430_af409f3c99_b.jpg
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 01:16 AM
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!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8319813959_8cbcedf478_b.jpg
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...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8320874978_186be64510_b.jpg
Always cute to see the Baby Boeing
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8320874650_9d7187029c_b.jpg
I have never seen so many ERJ-190s in my life, and all of them from Air Canada
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8320874230_a4d6781e2d_b.jpg
Omni Air, Chartering the Stanford Football team in for the big Bowl Game
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8319812575_bf29dc9a90_b.jpg
Obligatory Frontier shot for Cary
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8319812233_04cb033703_b.jpg
Simply love their livery, plain as it may be
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8320873598_5551ee2371_b.jpg
I have also never seen so many A380s in my life. I saw 7 frames from 4 airlines this day...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8319811999_a1469bd886_b.jpg
Lots of Alaska action on the North complex
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8320873372_6f0d70d32e_b.jpg
Canadian Bus
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8319811733_6670fb1336_b.jpg
All I wanted from KLM was a 747 with the Asia titles, they sent it on the rainy day of course...
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8319811573_614097a8a6_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8319811177_6826238a6c_b.jpg
Tulips are getting rarer and rarer, shoot 'em while you can!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8319811421_7af7a5df46_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8319811021_75cce12a67_b.jpg
Super on the downwind
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8320872352_70567a32a6_b.jpg
Which leads to a Super on Final
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8320872220_cc171fe90d_b.jpg
Asiana 777
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8319810373_d462ce7fc6_b.jpg
My first Eva passenger bird
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8319810211_e54e51fe2d_b.jpg
Another Super
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8320871432_6dcd8055a7_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8083/8320871260_7f8921d6bf_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8319809501_8e993002a5_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8319809149_180df23709_b.jpg
Another "At Long Last" moment, a Eva Cargo 747-400 non-BCF
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8320870426_841f578d13_b.jpg
Aeroflots A332's are just sharp looking!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8320870272_13e8c709ab_b.jpg
A nice special from Taiwan
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8320870078_889c0a5db5_b.jpg
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation's Gulfstream
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8319808077_422054d1d2_b.jpg
The weirdest thing I have seen on a taxiway recently, a huge tumbleweed
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8319807947_53bf177ee2_b.jpg
Finally caught this bird in good light!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8319807559_7002fc7933_b.jpg
Closeup
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8219/8319807151_1da03b8dd4_b.jpg
Air China Sunset
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8320868224_35f495c347_b.jpg
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 01:32 AM
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.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8319806587_6f456b8eb3_b.jpg
Virgin Australia livery #2
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8320867386_f2ce50fc45_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8319805579_a73589cb4b_b.jpg
Love the A340-600, even more so at night!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8319806315_8dab016291_b.jpg
Virgin pushing past LAN
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8320866650_d0a032abd3_b.jpg
a LAN Closeup
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8320866464_c742cdc7c2_b.jpg
And the Chinese Super
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8320865910_96b3cdf662_b.jpg
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 01:37 AM
Day Four-27 December: A few hours of spotting before my flight rounded out an awesome Holiday!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8320865776_1331a1fcb2_b.jpg
My first 777 Freighter
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8320864940_ebc0a41707_b.jpg
Another Brasilia :wink:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8071/8320865130_6952faed62_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8320864550_0b67b64006_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8320863836_70ef1d2191_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8496/8319802201_44c770161c_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8319801933_119b745439_b.jpg
And the morning's real treat for me, the Thai 777-300ER
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8499/8320864398_c2648fa85e_b.jpg
Hope you all have enjoyed this photo-fest!
Nick
Cal07
2012-12-29, 01:43 AM
WOW!! really nice set..
jerslice
2012-12-29, 01:51 AM
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?
NickPeterman
2012-12-29, 01:54 AM
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.
jerslice
2012-12-29, 01:57 AM
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 ;-)
yankees368
2012-12-29, 02:32 AM
Wow wow wow!!!
seahawks7757
2012-12-29, 04:40 AM
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.
Anton Homma
2012-12-29, 10:00 AM
Great shots! I really need to go back to LAX soon!
Cheers!
Roush6NY
2012-12-29, 10:09 AM
One of the best sets I have seen in a while .. Great job, Nick !
nssd70
2012-12-29, 11:04 AM
Great photos,maybe I need to head back to LAX this year!
Doug
MSN007
2012-12-29, 02:09 PM
Awesome dude I must go for China Southern super.
Great pics, and thanks for the F9 shout out :tongue:
NickPeterman
2012-12-30, 01:10 AM
Thank you all! It was an awesome time.
Fasil, you may want to wait until later this year, when the China Southern A380 will arrive during daylight hours.
Seahawks, thank you for the information, I will modify my original post. My people in Houston were claiming that new deliveries were still coming through IAH as recently as the past few weeks. My bad on that one.
Zee71
2012-12-30, 09:28 AM
Again Nick ........... nice work! I'm definitely looking forward to my next work related trip to LAX sometime in Feb 2013. Spotting in LAX is awesome and a treat.
lear45
2012-12-31, 03:44 PM
What kind of exposure were you using on those night shots? They look great!
NickPeterman
2013-01-01, 02:12 AM
Again Mark... Thank you!
Lear, these shots were around 3-9 second exposures depending on the lens I was using, and just how late into the evening they were taken. I can provide more detailed info on a shot-by-shot basis if you would like to PM me.
deltaA330
2013-01-01, 12:08 PM
Man this just makes me that much more excited for when I get to go in April!
NickPeterman
2013-01-02, 11:23 PM
DeltaA330, you should be excited! It was one of the most impressive airports I have ever been too!
nexpos
2013-01-03, 11:23 AM
Wow, absolutely amazing set! Nice work!
skyteam18
2013-01-05, 03:50 PM
Damn, you went ALL out. Really like that first AA 762 going out in the golden light. Also a beautiful & vibrant capture of the AA 777 Breast Cancer bird! -Regards from CHO
NickPeterman
2013-01-05, 07:11 PM
Nexpos, Cho-Thank you both
Now for some more photos that made it through processing so far
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8320869700_19f20efe96_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8319807775_51525e3ae4_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8320869944_7cdbdc1992_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8319802903_6e743b3696_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8319803969_cef4d03c2d_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8075/8320865372_613c74d000_b.jpg
seahawks7757
2013-01-05, 07:28 PM
Epic!
MSN007
2013-01-05, 09:33 PM
That American Metal is really shining.
Vivek777Kaul
2013-01-05, 10:52 PM
WOW....Brilliant set from LAX....what light you had during your trip.First class shots..esp the night shots and the sunset shots..Too good.
MCO-LGA
2013-01-06, 06:01 PM
Stunning!!
gonzalu
2013-01-06, 07:38 PM
You really made out like a bandit with the WX. Last three times I have been there it has been really poor air conditions, never mind clear or sunny! :P
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