An Attempt to Shoot Some River Visual Action

[Matt Molnar]

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?






Yeah, that wasn't working out too well, so I moved on to shooting miscellaneous stuff...




For the foamers:

[wunaladreamin]

It wasn't much better at Bayswater for 13R departures at KJFK. I didn't even bother to edit anything. The haze just sucked too much.

[PhilDernerJr]

I applaud your adventurous attempts! Your shots are not bad at all! We could use some good 13 locations. Good stuff.

[emshighway]

Had to be at LGA Delta today so as I was leaving I took a shot from an unusual location, The west most end of the Delta Departure level.

[Matt Molnar]

Nice. Get your Shea shots now, everyone.

[SengaB]

WOW NICE shot of the 2 CSX New colors SD40-2s!!
Where exactly did you shoot those?
Same place?

Senga

[cancidas]

nice shots. i sat in the office watching the arrivals through a pair of binos from the time they made the base to final turn until they touched down, and honestly enjoyed it more than if i were shooting. next time i might bring take my cam in, i could have gotten a sweet shot of a AAL 75W rolling out with spoilers up, flaps down and reversers open... if only an image could capture that sound though!

[Matt Molnar]

WOW NICE shot of the 2 CSX New colors SD40-2s!!
Where exactly did you shoot those?
Same place?

Same place, they are heading south on the approach to Hell Gate Bridge. I really liked that shot, but unfortunately I accidentally had the cam on ISO 1600 otherwise I'd post a bigger version of that one.

[adam613]

Morningside Park in Manhattan might be a good spot to get River Visual arrivals...they're about 1500 feet above you at that point, and you can get some bank shots. But you'd need a 400mm lens and you'd probably still need to crop a bit...but the park is at the top of a big hill.

[PHL Approach]

Senga, I love how you mix aviation with railfanning - New Color SD40s ROFL :lol:

[SengaB]

Yes Rail Fanning is another one of my Favorite Hobbies along with storm chasing :)





Senga

[NYARTCCFAN]

http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/...y=#slideanchor.

Looking out toward your neck of the Woods Senga from my Place.

[SengaB]

Thats a nice cell there. I would have loved to have seen the base of it. When was it? I haven't dont much chasing as there are not too many tornadoes in NY. I wish I could find the CD with my pix on it or my photos.
Do you hav any other shots?
I shot this one in 1999 or so (North Platte, NE). It had 65,000ft TOPS!...it had a tornado warning with it but didn't produce one. You can see the wall cloud in the light yellow area (Rain Free Base)


Senga

[NYARTCCFAN]

June 1st at 1400. I have just gotten into shooting Thunderstorms here in Fl. It was with a itty bitty digital that I have. Now I have to incorporate my othe passion(spotting), Hoping I can get some good ones in/out of TPA. Just go to Weatherunderground and look in the advanced search area of wunderphotos and my handle is CONVECTIVEMIKE.

[SengaB]

Those were some other great shots you took there. Do you have a scanner that can pick up the NOAA frequencies?
Aenga