Etihad at Dulles (April 2013)

Following up from Etihad Airways' sneak peek I covered in January, Dulles' newest airline celebrated its first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to Washington, DC, and a few days later opened a new Diamond First and Business Class Lounge at Gate A14. Individuals present for the events included Etihad President and CEO James Hogan, as well as HE Michael Corbin, US Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. The entire set can be viewed here.

Monday, April 1st, 2013:

Finally it was time for the A340-500ER to arrive at Dulles, where the aircraft was greeted by a water arch, followed by welcoming remarks from Etihad PCEO James Hogan and MWAA CEO Jack Potter.

Thursday, April 4th, 2013:

Several days later, Etihad formally opened their newest Diamond First and Business Class Lounge adjacent to their Gate at A14. Members of the airline and delegation were also present for the Lounge opening ceremony. Amenities the lounge features include business connectivity and meeting areas, showers, prayer areas, entertainment pods, family and children's play areas, and a fully staffed kitchen with gourmet chefs, among other relaxing ways to spend time before or after your flight.

The executive delegation began arriving, and after a full tour of the lounge the opening remarks and ribbon cutting ceremony commenced, followed by a reception.

My coverage from last week's events at Dulles was used in the Official Etihad Press Releases, and also ended up in anna.aero and Jeff Clabaugh's article in Washington Business Journal, among other aviation news outlets around the world.

Eero Saarinen's Dulles Airport Main Terminal

This January I was commissioned by Washington Dulles International Airport's Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to photograph Eero Saarinen's historic Main Terminal building. When MWAA employees retire, they are presented with a commemorative photograph of the Airport's Main Terminal, normally signed by other employees who worked closely with them, giving support and leaving their good wishes. Even I received one when my 7 years with the Airports Authority came to a close.

This photo is, however, dark, out of date, and no longer known where the negative is for reproduction. The Airport wanted an updated version; a portrait of the historic Airport at its 50 year anniversary. One that is bright and shows how the Airport has flourished. It's a pretty picture; I like it a lot!... but it's reached its time, and I was tasked with creating a suitable replacement. Quite an honor!!!

The photograph was taken from an unusual angle not often seen; most photos of the Terminal are shot from the West, given the ease of access to Daily Garage 2. The retirement photograph is shot from the East, which requires access to the Signature Flight Support hangar's upper rooftop - the decision to shoot from this same angle was easy, as it is so unique. Weather was a constant factor, and it took 3 attempted shooting days to get the final image. Below are some of the shots I took while on the rooftop, waiting for the perfect lighting, chronologically from my first attempts to the final image.

It was very strange seeing an aircraft depart for Germany that I know I've been aboard, and was present for its very first landing at Dulles.

Finally I had the shot I was looking for; dramatic sky, and a brightly lit Terminal. The lighting on the Terminal wasn't quite warmed up yet, so the final image actually is a composite of two exposures to bring the dynamic range back to what was visible at shooting. I had been focusing on wider shots since that was what the previous photo had been, but I quickly noticed that a zoomed view offered greater perspective and overal character to the image. My gut was right, and the Airport unanimously chose my final shot of the Terminal; zoomed in to 140mm, with vibrant streaking across the sky.

The final photo is available for print purchase on my client site here.

The Airport LOVED it. Absolutely LOVED it. I was shocked how much; I actually got hugged when they saw it, and it quickly got around to other offices - the Finance Department will actually be using the image as the cover for Dulles' latest Annual Report, along with several other of my images inside. The photo was an exercise in Photoshop as well, as there were two large utility trucks parked in front of the Terminal that proved challenging to remove; the end result is quite stunning!

Finally, as I turned to leave, my gear already packed in my bag, I saw the new full Moon, orange on the horizon as it had just risen as the sun set; I quickly set my gear back up and got a moon shot before retiring from the Signature Flight Support rooftop, a new portrait of Dulles saved to my camera's CF card.

Etihad at Dulles (January 2013)

Once again, Dulles welcomes a new international carrier to the Washington, DC area. The United Arab Emirates has recently seen a boom of travel demand to DC and beyond. Several months ago I covered the beginning of Emirates Airlines' flight service to Dulles, and just a few months later Etihad Airways, the official state sponsored airline of the UAE, has also established a travel route to Dulles, serving the Washington, DC region. I was present for Etihad Airways to cover the welcoming ceremonies, as well as document examples of the luxurious amenities offered in Etihad's First and Business Classes. I was also fortunate enough to meet and take a quick photograph of the United Arab Emirates' US Ambassador, H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba. The day began with some light snow accumulation overnight and into the morning. Ground crews were actively clearing ramp areas, and de-icing aircraft prior to departure.

The picture below was one of several photographs of mine distributed as Etihad's press release images.

Aboard the Boeing 777, I met and photographed the United Arab Emirates' Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba.

Guests were given demonstrations of the aircraft amenities to expect on a flight. First Class passengers interacted with the aircraft's head chef. Seats in First Class can be customized to either offer an ottoman, a guest seat for meals, or even convert into a bed for long flights.

Business Class travelers also enjoy gourmet meals and many seating options to make flight more relaxing.

All classes enjoy world-class flight staff and modern airline amenities to stay connected, comfortable, and entertained. Even children have special gift bags to make airline travel more enjoyable.

Some of my photos have been made available on Etihad's website alongside Etihad's Press Release. The release and my photos have been distributed to travel and aviation media, where my photos have been published covering this event. Stay tuned here for updates from more media outlets. Click the image caption to go to the full articles.

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Etihad at Dulles (April 2013)

Eero Saarinen's Dulles Airport Main Terminal

Etihad at Dulles (January 2013)