Show me your best Endeavor's picture!

As the mighty Endeavor is going to be seen in sky for the very last time and then permanently grounded at Science museum of LA, I see a few threads here and there. Main purpose of this thread is to show all beautiful image of this majestic bird from any era and area where you saw and captured her.


Side Note:
Few worlds for those who plan to capture the very last minutes of her fly in sky tomorrow Sep 21 in LA area, here is a copy of my suggestions for location where you might be able to catch her:

Endeavor will come from Northern California along the costal line and Malibu around 10 AM, to go towards Long Beach, then heading towards Orange county and Disney, back to LA area for Very final touch down and permanent grounding at LAX probably about 10:15 to 10:30AM. Time is not stick and could be fluctuate widely so be prepare.

Among the good places to see her is Griffith Observatory park area.
I used to go take the morning hike, in the beautiful hills north of observatory early in morning for a long time and actually you would be having a good view from there.

Main thing is when She passes over the Hollywood sign you should utilize that best capture opportunity and you can get it well from Norther-West corner of Observatory park or the path that leads to park. Remember this thing is huge and you may need something in 50 mm range or even wider to get the best image including the landmark over which she flies so don't take all your big long teles with you only.
Good think if you are in Griffith, you can move to the south west and see the final touch down later on (Probably some 10 minutes later), when She is back from orange county.
Franklin street should be a very nice location to see Her with the Hollywood sign.

No one talked of it here but I am sure one of the best location to picture Her is going to be Long Beach when she is scheduled to pass over Queen Mary... Just think of it Queen and Angle...

Of course if you have to get the most historical moment when she lands for the very last time in history of mankind...(I have tear in my eyes), you need to be in El Segundo. Oh gush I am giving all the clues and creating a longer than what I want heads in front of me tomorrow...

In past I have seen people stopping in the western end of freeway 105 (Just before coming down the ramp, after LAX exit) by the side of free way to catch the historical or very unique emergency touch downs at LAX but that is one dangerous tricky location, you play with your life and then with the bad economy, there is a good chance of getting a large size ticket from our nice CHP officers.

She will be pretty much visible form anywhere in LA only if you understand that you should be patient, be ready to catch Her when she could be not very punctual at dating time and there is more than one occasion that she will be seen from 15-20 miles radius of downtown area. Every things depends on visibility and marine layer and forecast is for a very good visibility with disappearance of marine layer early in morning.

Best of luck to all.

Great idea's, wish I could go tomorrow too. From Boron, CA by Edward's AFB, it was an awesome site, one I will never forget! My computer keeps freezing, I will add more tomorrow!

Going to Santa Ana and Los Angeles tomorrow so this works out great for me

Updates:
There will be a delay.
If weather is good in San Francisco and following take off from Edwards AFB, Endeavor makes the show on that sky, she will not be touching down in LAX earlier than 1 PM.
If weather is bad (Turbulence is not acceptable for 747 jumbo jet piggy backing Endeavor), trip to San Francisco will be cancelled and in that case she should land about 12PM.
Bottom line as expected, things will not happen on schedule and lets face it, who is in hurry?

Here are few pictures:

Image 1- Media has already reserved their spots.

Image 2- Hopeful location to record history. Endeavor passing in front of LAX's tower and iconic restaurant. I am sure we are going to see this picture but considering expected number of people showing up tomorrow to be about 1000 at this location, probably it would be a lot harder if not impossible to catch this image some several hours later than tonight.

Image 3 - Endeavor will rest in this bunker "United" till her permanent rest place at Museum of Science is ready to house her.
It would be easier to see her picture at this location but I am hearing the doors will be closed soon that I wish they would not hurry on that. I am sure to give you a picture of that tomorrow. Lets see who can beat me on this and Really hope to see some nice images from other sites specially Queen Mary and Hollywood sign.

Calindy wrote in post #15022036
Great idea's, wish I could go tomorrow too. From Boron, CA by Edward's AFB, it was an awesome site, one I will never forget! My computer keeps freezing, I will add more tomorrow!

Calindy; It will be very hard for any one in LA to reproduce image as nice as yours as you had a good clear unobstructed sky in desert. Well we should wait and see what will show up next. I envy you. Very well done.

LINK to KTLA's site for Endeavor. Good images only size and IQ is a problem.

any tips on shooting the shuttle?

I love THIS image.
It has it all.

There is History, Story and Mystery.

Its very smart of photographer to use wider angle lens.
Sky with clouds that were kind enough not to cover the main event when combined with rest of elements of image totally makes it one perfect one.
I even lover photographer's very Sweet Sugary signature...
Hope to see more images like THISfrom different parts of north and south land today.

Update:
Good news, every thing on time.
747 carrying Endeavor Just now flow into air for the very very last time form Edwards AFB (Her Birth place) at 08:15 as scheduled. There is no fog in San Francisco So first show is beautiful sky of SF. Because jet is so heavy and may actually need a refill if all goes at low altitude and low speed, while return south, she will pass over ocean rather than PCH or I-5 so sorry guys in Bakersfield or Fresno and likewise.
If all on time:
9:30 Capitol Sacramento
10:30 Oakland, San Francisco
11:30 Tour over LA landmarks begins
12:45 is when She is Landing for the very last time in LAX.
Source: KTLA channel 7

Airplane is coming from East to land on South Band of LAX to land forever.

Best location to see her last touch down: El Segundo Imperial street on top of the hill. Crowd is going to be the main challenge for the photographers. The near by school is used for Parking right now with a 100 feet of walk to top of hill for the early birds. Once full it will be hard and probably a mess to find a location to park so be prepare.

Aviation blvd is good too but low angle is the challenge.

Please do NOT drive and Watch / Photo... I have a feeling at least some people are going to have ticket under this category today

For those going to Griffith Observatory, since early morning people are gathering there, mostly waiting in Park lot of Observatory. Best sides would be Southern West. The local road towards Observatory is blocked and you need to park near Greek theater. There is a shutter (Not the one you hope though) to take up up the hill. They say bring drinking water if heading there.

Other location are filling up similarly.

Please follow the latest news from you favorite LA station. KTLA has a very good coverage and you can check them on www.KTLA.com too.

Be safe and show us your best pictures.

gratchie wrote in post #15023505
any tips on shooting the shuttle?

Its gonna be well bright day light so any lens with small F stop such as tele should be good but then don't forget this is going to be a hot days so there will be heat distortion waves in the air that combined with a very large optical magnification of telelens will not give a good recipe for a clear picture.

As seen on the picture link above, your picture can take a very different theme and meaning when it is combined with the right Landmark below it.
So if you are lucky enough to see her from near by, definitely use something like 28mm to 85mm. You really don't need more optical power that will isolate Her Majesty from her surrounding.

Faster shutter would be good but I doubt very much needed. P mode or AV mode when your lens is one of two stop above wide open should be good.

Use the lower possible ISOs. This is daytime and you don't need grain.

Location Location Location is going to be the Name of the Game.

Go light, you will be walking from your parked car to the location unless you are say in Malibu by the side of PCH as she passes.

You can not and I repeat CAN NOT be in two location. Traffic is crazy today so choose your final location wisely. This is only once in the lifetime event and you live to tell the story for many times in future.

This is her Parking for several days to come and still empty.
You can see the area well from El Segundo.

Here's a couple I took as she flew over Austin yesterday:

Double Wows.

Love the sunset one.

Endeavor is over Golden gate right now.
Common Northern Californian where are your pictures?

Hint:
Not to the scale for sure but there is another historical event for the fans, happening today, that is some lucky one of us are going to receive their IPhone 5 this morning at least in South land. The lucky one how can take a picture with IPhone 5 from Endeavor's landing, not only has a double run, but a great potential of sale to Apple to capture history.... Specially with Apples stock doing so well. OK if this made you to get the big bucks, don't leave me out of commission list

From Sacramento:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/27635537@N02/8​009794865/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/27635537@N02/8​009802600/