San Francisco...Here We Go!

Went spotting at SFO today (sort of on a whim) after I never managed to meet up with the group from the lab that was supposed to be touring San Francisco. Despite not being allowed through security, the terminal-side spotting there is actually quite decent. Like Boston, the airport seems to have gone through stages of construction, so each terminal is different. Unlike Boston, however, there are a surprising number of little nooks off the main terminal areas that have windows, allowing you to get very decent shots of the planes as they conduct ramp operations. There are also a couple spots at the stations for SFO's "AirTrain" where you can shoot departures (with a relatively short lens, if they're using the 28 runways for departures), and not have to worry about shooting through glass. And, of course, the tops of the A and G concourse parking garages are decent. Oddly, though, if you want to shoot ramp ops on the south/west side of concourse G, one of the best places is the 2nd level of the BART station (you don't even have to shoot through glass). There's also the connecting walkway between the main terminal and the concourse G parking garage, but you have to shoot through glass, and you also have to sit on the floor so as not to have your view obstructed by a low overhang right outside the windows. On a slightly stranger (and somewhat embarassing) note, I hadn't realized until today just how incredibly gigantic the 747 is up close. I mean, the damn thing is like a flying house (and a really big house at that). Anyway, pics from today up soon on my gallery (see link at the right).

posted by Fred Gay @ 22:08