Situational Awareness

As my aircraft taxied out onto the tarmac at La Guardia Airport, I knew that a potentially interesting image lurked on the horizon, as I had previously noted the view of the Manhattan skyline from the runways. Taken through an aircraft window using a short focal length lens, the following image is qualitatively challenged , also given that it is an extremely tight crop of subjects at a great distance, none of which promises a successful outcome. All that said, hopefully, it is rescued by the quality of a prime lens and the camera’s high-resolution imaging sensor. This blog discusses the how and the why of my concept.

New York! New York!New York! New York!

The constraints of a window seat

The ideal choice of camera for an uncomfortably restricted position in an aircraft passenger seat might be a high-quality compact with excellent optics and a zoom, so that subjects seen across a wide airfield or from the air can be “reached”, while hunched close to the window. Since I never entrust my cameras and lenses to the hold, I use my normal 35mm body and lens combinations, which offer other advantages. These are: setting a fast speed to compensate for aggressive vibration; using a fast and good quality ISO to compensate for that speed of capture and, finally, excellent optics and sensor to achieve acceptable image quality, despite it being veiled by layers of dirty, scratched Plexiglass.

New York! New York!

Apart from my usual experimenting with graphically oriented images based on the patterns of runway signage, chance played in my favour, when I saw Donald Trump’s private jet parked in the distance and in line of sight with the Chrysler and the Empire State buildings. I obviously regretted that I had not used my zoom option, but I still took a chance that post-processing would enable sufficient enlargement. The result is a very small file, probably only useable on web pages, but it tells a New York story.

New York trumpets its successes and its excesses with brio. It is a byword for “if you’ve got it – flaunt it”, chutzpah and bling, all of which is personified in Mr Trump and his enthousiastic flaunting of his wealth. Not for him a sleek, small, executive jet. Oh no! His is a fully refitted Boeing 757, with a discreet hint concerning the name of its owner painted on its livery. Dwarfing the smaller, modestly white-painted planes of lesser mortals, it dominates the taxiway. Completing the effect, right behind the name on the plane, is the immediately recogniseable silhouette of two Manhattan icons, highlighted by the gilding of the Chrysler building glinting in the distance.

I am pleased by the final effect, although it is more social commentary than a quality image, because it satisfied my desire to use the skyline in some effective way.

Technical

I have previously been pleased by the results of using a vibration reduction-equipped zoom, but was frustrated by the difficulty of positioning myself, given the length of the whole set up and my inability to squirm too much against my neighbour. So, I experimented with a physically short, but excellent quality 60mm fixed focal length "prime" lens, enhanced by the above-mentioned qualities of the D800 body and the choice of a mid-range ISO. Finally, I took care to hold the camera so as to avoid touching the window, or leaning my arms on any other vibration sources.

Camera: Nikon D800

Lens: 60mm f2.8 G Prime

Focus Mode: AF-C Single

Aperture: f/9

Shutter Speed: 1/1600s

Exposure Mode: Shutter Priority

Exposure Compensation: 0

Metering: Matrix

ISO Sensitivity: 640

Original image

See the extent of the crop in this copy of the original capture:

New York OriginalNew York Original