DCA Terminal Today and Yesterday

Airport Terminal (Canon XSi).

The Old Terminal (Canon XSi).

What an experience it was yesterday at National Airport.  In addition to the WWII veterans, I covered lots of ground in the terminal.  The first photo for this post is just one of many I took.  It's light, bright, airy, colorful.  It's alive, and busier than the photo might suggest.  After spending lots of time around the main terminal, I headed south toward the older terminal.  What I saw is in the second photo.

Years ago this was frenetic with all manner of activity, smoky, loud.  Alive.  On the left were the ticketing counters.  At the far end was a news stand and upstairs a restaurant.  I flew out of here many times, and saw a few celebrities in here.  Today it's little more than a forgotten museum.  The final section of terminal south of here is still active, but this one is just empty and quiet.

As of today, Sunday May 31, I have reduced over 2,900 photos to a collection of just 72.  It will be further reduced over the next day or two to something closer to 40.  This SoFoBoMo event has been exhilarating, challenging, and for a moment frustrating.  It has also been supremely rewarding.  I can honestly say I didn't expect to experience anything like this.  It's hard to believe my project has been going for just less than three weeks.

World War II Veterans at DCA

Honor and Respect.

Welcoming.

When I was given permission to photograph at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by the airport operations manager, he told me of some special flights that would be arriving on Saturday May 30, carrying many World War II veterans.  I made sure I would be there on time.

When I arrived at the airport this morning, I took some photos of the inside of the terminal and then took some of the terrace and tower.  National is actually a very pretty airport.  I knew it was, but got to know it just a little better today.  When the time came to await the veterans, I went to the area and sat at a table drinking some water.  Then I spoke to a gentleman whom I figured was with the vets; he was.  I ended up talking with him, a pilot, a few folks from TSA, and gave out some personal business cards.  I was hoping to take lots of photos of these heroes and give the photos to them via email.  It would be my way of giving some small honor back to them.

These people visit DC through the Honor Flight Network.  It's a great thing this organization does.  In addition to the Honor Flight Network though, the USO helped, TSA supported them, USAirways supported them, the airport operations folks helped, and a whole bunch of individuals traveling with these heroes were there in support.

Thank you Sully.

A Good News Story About Photographer Access

Delta Regional Jet About to Land (Canon XSi).

I received very good news today.  I now have permission to take photos inside the terminal at National on Saturday.  I am looking forward to it.  The weather is supposed to be good that day too.

I was originally planning to go to the airport on Monday morning of this week, Memorial Day.  Last week someone on a photography forum suggested that I should be careful.  My thought was, 'You're right.'  I looked at the airport's website for information regarding photography, and found nothing.  I contacted the facility folks at the airport last week and they responded within a day.  I'd told them who I was and my intentions.  The person who responded asked a few other questions, and told me what they expected of amateurs and professionals; I'm clearly the amateur.  Their greater concern is for the passengers' privacy, a reasonable position, that.  I changed my plans so that were I to go, it would be on Saturday the 30th.  Today, Thursday May 28 I received official permission.

This shouldn't be a story per se.  I've read of cases where photographers encounter difficulties with law enforcement officials.  Doing a little homework up front has made this a non-issue.  We hear all of the bad stories.  This is one of those Good Ones.  You need to hear of these too.  Thank you, Sir.

My only hope is that I'll be up to the photographic challenges of the day on Saturday.  I think it will go just fine.

It's Not Just About the Aircraft

Approach Lights and Inner Marker Array with US Capitol (Canon XSi).

Tonight I organized the 220 photos that are immediate candidates for my SoFoBoMo book.  For once I actually used keywords in iPhoto, which made organizing the photos very easy.  Tag each photo and then sort them.  Easy!  At present I have two groups, one for the north end (Gravelly Point) and one for the south (Daingerfield Island), with 160 and 60 photos, respectively.

The photo I attached today was taken from Gravelly Point, looking back toward the Instrument Landing System (ILS) inner marker array and the approach light.  The US Capitol is in the background.

At the moment I patiently await further response from the facilities people at National Airport regarding taking photos in the terminal on Saturday.  If it doesn't happen on Saturday, I still have some time before the end of my month, June 12, 2009.  Should it not happen at all for whatever reason, I have enough photos to make a respectable book.

One Departing, One Arriving (Canon XSi).

Saturday evening I went through all 2,500 photos for the second time, flagging the good ones of which there were roughly 220.  It isn't the definitive set for the book, as I know there are some in the large group I may use, but it's a starting point.  This smaller group is simply the photos that I really like.

The photo for this post is an Air Canada Jazz flight departing to the north, with another flight arriving behind it.  A part of me wishes I had as good access to Dulles as I do to National.  Dulles handles large aircraft, including 747-400s.  My guess is it could handle the new Airbus A380.  That's okay.  The smaller aircraft at National, such as this one, are just as beautiful.

UPDATE May 26:  I edited the photo.  It needed to be straightened.

Organizing the Book

Takeoff (Canon XSi).

Between last night and today I have begun organizing my book for my SoFoBoMo project. The challenge is all of the photos to consider. I'm pleased that I have many good ones from which to choose. The photo for today's post is one I just think is pretty.

It seemed funny not to be shooting photos today. I had to be in the office all day, which because of my schedule turned out to be 11 hours. It's no matter, I like my work. Next week hopefully I'll take the final photos in the airport terminal and then I'll create my book. I expect I'll have the book done around the end of the month.

I think I'll have the book printed. It will be my ninth, I think. While there are options other than Apple, I'll likely have it done by Apple through iPhoto. They do a very nice job. I've always been pleased with their work.

Session 4, Outside Principle Photography Complete

Jewel in the Sky (Canon XSi).

I completed principle outside photography today for my SoFoBoMo project. The weather was fantastic. Winds were 10 knots from the south, so DCA ran north arrivals and south departures. The above photo was from the Washington Sailing Marina. It was one of over 1,000 photos taken this morning in about an hour and a half. On Monday, Memorial Day, I'll take a camera to the airport and take photos inside the terminal itself. That will complete all principle photography for the book. For awhile today I thought I might not take photos inside, but changed my mind. If not for the passengers, none of this would be happening.

UPDATE: I am currently working on getting formal permission to take photos inside the airport terminal. I am hoping to take photos inside the terminal on Saturday May 30.

Last night I started playing with creating the project book with iPhoto. I've made many books, so it isn't difficult. There will be some challenges however, the greatest one being that somehow I need to manage the creation of a book starting with over 2,500 photos. No matter, it's a challenge that should be lots of fun. I expect I'll have over the minimum 35 photos for the completed book. ^_^ My goal is to tell a story, and I'll use just enough to do that.

Later!