(Air) Detroit DTW; 12/12/09

[mlav]

Rode the motorcycle out to DTW (free parking) for a few hours of shooting; McNamara parking deck and Wick Rd.

I see this four engine plane coming. A peek through the lense and I get my first shot just to realize I have only one more shot left on the CF card. I should have taken it. Changing cards, slowly due to numb fingers, I missed decent additional shots. First time I shot the A340 at DTW.

Full gallery - 54 photos - http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/

Samples

1) NWA 757 landing with Downtown Detroit in the background 18 miles away. General Motors World Headquarters.
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/5.jpg

2) NWA DC-9 departure with the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters building in the background 10.5 miles away.
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/16.jpg

3)
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/11.jpg

4) Boeing 717
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/20.jpg

5) Spirit Airbus A319
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/22.jpg

6) Spirit A319
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/24.jpg

7) Lufthansa Airbus A340
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/52.jpg

8] Delta Boeing 777 to Shanghai Pudong; China
http://mlav.com/car/plane/121209/54.jpg

[A2EVOMR]

Great shots Michael. The Delta niner is awesome. I never saw the TRS Colts scheme come in. Their Raven's bird was in earlier in the day.

[BV1DMKIIn]

The shots with Ford and GM headquarters in the backgrounds are awesome!!! I never imagined they could be seen from the airport unless in the air!

[mlav]

The shots with Ford and GM headquarters in the backgrounds are awesome!!! I never imagined they could be seen from the airport unless in the air!

Thanks, I was in the air...level 9 of the parking deck. ;)

[PhotosGuy]

#6 is especially nice.

[FlyingPhotog]

Being a native Detroiter and having grown up in an automotive family, I have to smile at the first two.

Big Three Brother is always watching! ;)

Nice Series Michael.

[jimz66]

Very nice Michael thanks for sharing. Very well done. I really like the last one.

[rahal]

Great shots especially no 8

[mlav]

Great shots especially no 8


Thanks, I just took a closer look and there is no way that is a 757...it's the direct Boeing 777 flight to Shanghai.

[texaskev]

I really like that last shot (all are great), its just very unusual and interesting.

[jfphts]

Nice series, Thanks for sharing. Where do you park to take these pictures, I'm 5 minutes away from Metro, would enjoy going out there one afternoon to take some pictures.

[mlav]

Nice series, Thanks for sharing. Where do you park to take these pictures, I'm 5 minutes away from Metro, would enjoy going out there one afternoon to take some pictures.


If you can ride a motorcycle (in December?!? :D), park in long term parking at McNamara - the free motorcycle parking is just to the right of the parking deck entrance.

For cars, they closed the level 9 section, so park on level eight out on the north east corner. You can walk up to level 9.

The cool locations depends on traffic direction. I have only shot arrivals from the south on the parking deck once. Moving more to the south of the parking deck helps.

The Smith parking deck might be fun to shoot departures going north. Haven't had the opportunity.

[gkarris]

You captured the exhaust perfectly in #2!

Love the lighting in #6...

From the link:

#1 is great!

#18 I like better than #6 above - but again great lighting!

[Magic 24]

You're making me want to run down to the Airport - did you use a 100-400 f/5.6L? Nice shots!

[A2EVOMR]

The Smith parking deck might be fun to shoot departures going north. Haven't had the opportunity.
Keep in mind the Smith is no more ;)

And it is a good place to shoot for 3L evening departures, or 4R morning departures. It is significantly farther away from 3L then the Mac deck but still very shootable.

[mlav]

Keep in mind the Smith is no more ;)

And it is a good place to shoot for 3L evening departures, or 4R morning departures. It is significantly farther away from 3L then the Mac deck but still very shootable.


What is that parking deck called now? Just the north parking deck?

[A2EVOMR]

What is that parking deck called now? Just the north parking deck?

I'm not making this up, but officially its called The Big Blue Deck.