This past Spring I photographed all of the newly renovated Duty Free Americas locations at Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport, and for the first time in my career, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. I hope in the future to do more work at BWI, and this was a good introduction to an airport I've only visited a handful of times. In the meantime, here are some highlights of some of my photography of the Duty Free Americas locations at DC's three major local airports.
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The official photo blog of J. David Buerk Photography.
DCA Planespotting - June 5th, 2018
Here's another set of planespotting from a few months ago; some days after photoshoots at DCA I'll briefly drop by Gravelly Point since it's on my way home. I typically don't spend but a few minutes, but this time I spent about an hour actually exploring the grounds a bit and trying different perspectives than before - it's a larger patch of land than I had realized. This day had lots of puffy clouds and lots of traffic; most pictures have multiple aircraft visible, with one even containing 6 airborne planes and 1 helicopter. I also managed to capture a view of the Washington Monument with the Jefferson Memorial and a VRE train, which I think is just fantastic.
DCA Planespotting - May 17th, 2018
Just like I did two weeks ago, I decided to drop into Gravelly Point after a photoshoot at DCA. This time I only spent 10 minutes there, because it was raining, but I wanted to stop and check out the view, because it was raining. Sometimes inclement weather can lead to more interesting action shots than a "perfect" clear day, because water vapor can condense and leave trails and vortices that add a little something extra. Sadly this was not the case that day, but I did get an interesting view through the approach lighting, and spoke with a couple who stopped on their bikes to enjoy the view and ask about my attention-grabbing lens.
I also managed to capture this arrival and departure through the approach lights; this is 400mm handheld, and I didn't bring my microphone, so just enjoy the footage for what it is :-)
DCA Planespotting - May 4th, 2018
Despite all the aviation photography I capture, I've only been to Gravelly Point a handful of times; twice on dates, and a few other times just to stop in the parking lot and check my phone before hitting the road after leaving a photoshoot at DCA proper. This may be shocking to you, but I've never photographed at Gravelly Point before. Never. I've just never taken the time to, since I normally am photographing on assignment on an active airfield for my aviation work.
Friday, Star Wars Day, was no different; I had left DCA after a full day of photographing and decided to stop and respond to a few texts before hitting the GW Parkway, except this time I actually had my telephoto with me and was in no rush, so I decided to hop out and see what I could capture for a few minutes. Plus, it was odd lighting; the sun was setting, but a storm was moving in at the same time.
Before I left DCA I did spot one of these HC-144 Ocean Sentries; I heard there was a whole group that had flown in while I was there, but I only saw this one taxiing. That was before I left DCA though.
Now enjoy these photos I captured in a span of only 20min at Gravelly Point. Gravelly Point geographically lies just over 1,000ft from end of R/W 19, squarely below the runway's glide slope on the Potomac River, giving an impressive perspective of aircraft turning to final only a few hundred feet overhead.
The park also offers some great views of the DC skyline, though I didn't venture very far off the runway centerline; I have still never been to the waterfront at Gravelly Point, so I don't know what other views it may offer.
I also decided to try catching video of one of the arrivals; with the storm moving in, all aircraft were performing crosswind landings, which, while routine flying for experienced pilots, is still impressive to see, especially to the uninitiated like some of the other onlookers enjoying the finally-warm weather in the park.
AirlineGeeks.com
A Planespotter’s Dream Gig: A Look into the Life of an Airport Photographer
This morning, AirlineGeeks.com features a profile of me, highlighting my aviation photography, and giving a glimpse into what it’s like when I cover large-scale corporate events. I invite you to read the full article on the AirlineGeeks website by clicking here or the article preview below.
It is an immeasurable honor that my photography has inspired a profile to be written about me and my work. I’m proud to work so closely with so many people at Dulles International and Reagan National airports, amongst the Airports Authority, the airlines, and their partners, all of whom work hard to keep the DC airports operating smoothly, and welcoming passengers the whole-world over.
I especially have to thank Ryan from AirlineGeeks for shadowing and interviewing me during the Air India inaugural a few weeks ago. I also must thank Airport Operations; without their skilled assistance, I would never be able to cover airfield actives with the depth I capture. Finally I must thank my many partners in the numerous PR, marketing, communications, and media departments and outlets I have worked with over the years - it is because of their efforts on many projects that my photos have been presented to a global audience.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me in growing my career to where it stands today - today marks a true milestone; I can’t begin to describe how honored I am to be receiving such recognition, and I am excited to learn the next heights my career will take. Thank you!
