A Picture A Day » Aerial

July 6, 2008 – Eric Goes Flying

carl — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:32:41 +0000

Eric and I flew with our friend Gary in his Bonanza to Santa Paula airport and back today. In this shot we’re about a half hour out of Palo Alto airport heading south. Eric got to take the yoke and fly for awhile. He was already planning to get his pilots license soon after college, and this just nailed it.

Same plane as this shot.

June 19, 2008 – 737 Shadow

carl — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 04:43:06 +0000

I was standing in the Hertz car return lot at LAX this morning enjoying being right under final approach. The sun was in the perfect position to cast the landing planes’ shadows right down on us. There was only about a three foot lateral variation in where each plane shadow was, it’s amazing how accurate these guys are lining up on the runway. Over the 20 minutes I stood there taking pictures the sun moved and the shadows slowly worked their way across the lot.

I asked our pilot later, and the landing speed of a 737 is about 150mph, so these shadows are going about that speed, or 220 feet per second. Good thing my Canon 40D can shoot at 6.5fps!

June 6, 2008 – Kite – Wind = Low Altitude Photography

carl — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:27:11 +0000

I guess every KAP flight isn’t successful. Eric and I tried, but the wind wasn’t quite strong or steady enough to keep the camera aloft. We got some great macros of the grass, though.

April 27, 2008 – Walking on Clouds

carl — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:56:26 +0000

Some days are really beautiful, and you just have to get out and enjoy them.

April 3, 2008 – Sunrise, Sunset

carl — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:59:59 +0000

I made a roundtrip to LA today. The top photo is heading south at 6:50am, the bottom photo is heading north at 7:50pm.

I’ve never really understood why the light is so different for sunrise vs. sunset. I imagine it has to do with cool air warming up vs. warm air cooling down, or something like that. Each has its own wonderful quality.

February 24, 2008 – Wheels Up at MDW

carl — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:37:01 +0000

Taking off at Chicago Midway airport. As we started charging down the runway I saw that I might get a view like this, so I scrambled to get my camera out in time. Just made it.

September 29, 2007 – Blue Angels Flyover

carl — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 06:59:59 +0000

36°37′19.53″N 121°38′44.56″W
The Blue Angels were performing at the Salinas Air Show. We weren’t there, but were close enough to get a few dramatic fly-overs.

September 25, 2007 – Downtown LA

carl — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:40:08 +0000

34° 1′53.16″N 118°13′36.24″W
Flying into LA for a meeting. A bit different from the air quality in LA when I was growing up.

July 18, 2007 – Bunny Goes Flying

carl — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 05:20:49 +0000

(Within about a mile) 37°21′27.03″N 121° 5′2.24″W Altitude: 10,000ft.
Flying to LA with a friend in his Bonanza.