Location Makes All The Difference In Plane Spotting

Choose Your Location Wisely

Location choice is a critical but fun part of plane spotting. When determining where I am going to plane spot in a city, I start by using spotterguide.net to research the known areas. The site seems to be fairly up to date, but I always double check Google Maps to be sure sites are still accessible. This is how I found the various ORD locations for my first trip to the airport. Location makes all the difference, so choose wisely.

I enjoy trying each of the spots for a little while until I determine the most exciting for me. Avoiding sketchy or unpopulated areas makes me feel safer and alleviates worry about my equipment. I tend to not spot at night when in new locations. However, when I go to LAX, I feel completely comfortable photographing at night because I’ve explored those locations. Do whatever makes you feel safe. Your photos will be better if you are not stressed out.

Arrival or departure photography will help determine your location. Once I have tried locations, I check various apps to determine if my spot will see arrivals, departures, or both. If I am not happy with the selection of planes or number of movements, I will revisit that spot when the conditions favor what I am looking for. I am not wasting my time waiting for aircraft if none are coming. Location makes all the difference. We’ve all been there, I am sure.

Use The Sun

One thing I have learned from 18 years of photography is to use the sun to your advantage. Shooting into the sun is annoying and difficult. I have to do it at weddings because I have no choice sometimes. For plane spotting, I often have a choice of where to be. Photographing easterly departures in the late afternoon or even could mean shooting into the western sky. The sun could be blinding, and for sure, my eyes would be watering. To avoid to. I try to shoot to the west, north, and south during the morning and to the east, north and south during the evening.

Trespassing is a big “no” when I am doing any type of photography, especially plane spotting. As much as we’d all love “all access” to parking lots, business rooftops, and rights of way, we have to follow the rules. ORD Airport Watch members know this well. The vests, background checks, and ID badges tell the authorities we’re vetted and we follow the rules.. What these don’t give me is the right to enter restricted or private property without permission. I am all about enjoying my time shooting. Not having to worry about getting asked to leave a place relieves stress and enables me to take better aviation photos.

OAW Group

Our OAW group is unique because as a membership, we work together to find new locations and discuss them with the airport partners. At other airports, try networking and cold calls to find new locations. Playing the long game with personal connections could yield new locations for you. Let’s say there is a business close to an airport, and that business has a rooftop overlooking the runway. Contact someone at the company, say, a receptionist. Talk to them about what you want to do.

Offer something to your contact in exchange for more information about who to contact to gain access. Maybe a free head shot. Maybe commercial photos for the company. Do something for them, and maybe it’ll lead to something for you. Maybe you’ll meet the right person who can give you access to that stellar view of the runway that no one else has photographed from. Don’t expect this to happen quickly.

I love being a professional aviation photographer!