Help/advise with photo ops in Dallas?

[jim2963]

Hi guys, I'm going to be in Dallas (near DFW) for a few days on business. What are some good places or things to shoot in very early morning and night. I’m not that familiar with the area and may not have a car. So the closer the better I think. Thanks.

[CaptainTom]

I'll ask the obvious. No car ? Could you give us a hint as to A- where you will be staying

[jim2963]

Thanks CaptainTom.
So I just learned that DFW Airport isn't refered to everyone as just DFW. Hmm. So here is some more detailed info.
I'll be staying at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott, 8440 Freeport Parkway, Irving, TX, 75063.
I won't have any transportation (unless I get a volunteer to act as my tour guide/ride).

I'm not opposed to walking.

I'll shoot just about anything.

I'll have my monopod with tripod legs. (it's better than nothing)

And I'll have a D200 24-85/3.5 and a 70-200/2.8.

Oh yeah, an sb600 too.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Man there just ain't a whole lot out there other than the airport, as to walking, your first real stop would be many miles away.

Pull up google maps and it will show you what I am talking about. Now you could catch a cab and go into either Fort Worth or Dallas and then you can pretty much walk around either downtown area and have a lot of opportunities to shoot (btw downtown Irving ain't much so don't bother).

Sorry we don't have an IT destination like the Alamo but both cities offer decent Musuems to visit (I would choose Ft Worth first).

[jim2963]

Wow, ok, I guess I'm not too surprised since it's right next to the airport. How far is downtown? Sorry, I don't know the area at all.

[CaptainTom]

one persons 'near DFW' can be quite different than another.
DFW airport is 30 square miles or over 18000 acres.

The closest taxi ride would be to Grapevine. There's a steam train that goes to Ft. Worth and back. The Gaylord Hotel and basically amusement center as well as Great Wolf lodge (these are theme hotels).
Downtown Grapevine is OK and walkable (small).

It's about 21 miles to downtown Ft. Worth or about 13 miles to Dallas where I'd try Deeley Plaza and the 6th floor museum, American Airlines Center, and you can navigate around on the DART. There's the Aquarium, etc. in downtown.

[jim2963]

Awesome, thanks.

[Darkman]

How long before the Dart rail line links up to DFW? I know they started working on it. That'd be awesome.

On that note, if you're taking a cab, it'd be closer to take a cab to the Trinity Rail Express station off hwy 360 and Trinity Blvd. You can get to both downtown areas from there.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Darkman

How long before the Dart rail line links up to DFW? I know they started working on it. That'd be awesome.

On that note, if you're taking a cab, it'd be closer to take a cab to the Trinity Rail Express station off hwy 360 and Trinity Blvd. You can get to both downtown areas from there.

several years before you see Dart at the airport. funds just got cut again.

If you want to save a buck, take the hotel shuttle to the airport and then get the bus to the rail.

I'd guess that you'll be in seminars all day and there really isn't an option for a couple of hours in the morning and in the evening unless you have a car available.

[texxter]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

The closest taxi ride would be to Grapevine. There's a steam train that goes to Ft. Worth and back. The Gaylord Hotel and basically amusement center as well as Great Wolf lodge (these are theme hotels).
Downtown Grapevine is OK and walkable (small).

+1

Downtown Grapevine is a nice place to photograph and very close to the airport.

[toverman]

Riding the train (the Tarantula Train) from downtown Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards, if you have the time, would be a neat trip. Not a heckuva lot to photograph on the way (other than being in the train itself), but tons of stuff on either end.

[jim2963]

Ok thanks for the info. What does dealey plaza at night look like? It looks like I’ll only have time at night to shoot.

[Rson]

Here is what you do...

Take the free shuttle to the airport. Hitch a ride with the Gaylords free shuttle. That is stop 1 (the Gaylord)
Next there is a free trolley/shuttle to downtown Gvine that is stop 2 A little walk to the West will put you at Gvine Botanical gardens.
Walk on back to Dtown and ride the tarantula to the stockyards that is stop 3. Ride it back to Gvine and take the complimentary shuttle to Gaylord, then to the airport, then to your hotel.

You have one great op day without a car.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by jim2963

Ok thanks for the info. What does dealey plaza at night look like? It looks like I’ll only have time at night to shoot.

There's a lot to shoot at night down there. Tripod of course. Area around Spaghetti Warehouse is cool. TRE stop close by.
Not someplace It's hang around late at night alone with an expensive camera unless I was, shall we say, ........armed !

[biggin]

x2... the rats will carry you off. Then the less desirable people will run off with your stuff.

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

There's a lot to shoot at night down there. Tripod of course. Area around Spaghetti Warehouse is cool. TRE stop close by.
Not someplace It's hang around late at night alone with an expensive camera unless I was, shall we say, ........armed !