Need help in deciding where to go Saturday

[RRcoleJR]

Because of finals I have not been able to much photography. This Saturday i will have time to do some shoot. Problem is I can decide where to go.

1) The Art Car event is going on this Saturday

2) There is an Air / Car show this weekend

Have had an urge the last few months to shoot airplanes and I just got my Sigma 150-500 and have not had a chance to try it out. So the air show sounds good. Also just got my Tokina 11-16 which I have not had a chance to really use but I can use it at either event.

So, which one should I head to? Anyone been to either and can suggest one over the other?

Thanks,
Ronnie

[LEO III]

That's a tough call. I was going to do the Aeros and Autos deal. I had forgotten about the Art Car Parade, until I saw something about it in the paper this week. Won't be able to do either one, though.

Last year, I did the Art Car Sneak Peek at Discovery Green on Friday evening, and then I got up and got downtown early Saturday morning. Walked the whole line of cars as they were lining up, and then found myself a spot in the median, so that I could shoot each car as it came by me. It was a long day, hot and humid, but I had a good time. I packed plenty of water with me, though. Parked in that parking garage on the corner of Dallas and Bagby (catercorner from Heritage Plaza), which was practically empty, since I got there so early. If you haven't done the Art Car Parade, and I had never done it before in all my years here since they started having it, I'd do that, because...

On the third Saturday of every month, you can shoot all of the airplanes you want at Wings and Wheels at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum on the west side of Hobby Airport. There is a different theme each month (May is Beechcraft Day), and usually some pilots fly in each month. Some months are better than others, but it's generally a fun time. Admission is $10, which gets you into the event, the museum, the tarmac, and it also gets you lunch (hot dog, chips, soft drink and a cookie). During lunch, starting around 12:15, one of the volunteers gives about a half-hour slide presentation about the history of the airport and the terminal. There are lots of old photos, dating back to around 1927, and it's quite interesting. Don't miss it.

The museum itself is still a work in progress, but more is getting done every month.

If the planes happen to be taking off on Runway 4, most of them will come down Taxiway G, which brings them right past you on the tarmac. If the planes are landing and taking off on Runway 12R, which they usually are at Hobby, you'll be able to get some pretty good shots with your 150-500mm. However, you're going to need something much wider to take pictures of the planes parked on the tarmac. I tried my 50mm, and it was too much lens, but my 24mm works just fine.

They also have some kind of car theme each month, and there are cars matching the theme parked out front. The posted hours are 10AM to 5PM, but I've found that often the cars and planes both start leaving after lunch, so you want to do your static shots before lunch and your landings and takeoffs after lunch.

Here is the link: The 1940 Air Terminal Museum - 713-454-1940

Of course, having said all of that, you might just want to go to the Sneak Peek Friday evening, Aeros and Autos Saturday afternoon, and then Wings and Wheels next Saturday.

[RRcoleJR]

Thanks so much for all the information. I did not know about the museum at Hobby and will defiantly check it out. I have been away from Houston for 20 years (just retired from the navy) so I am still trying to find cool places to go and take photographs. I finally got my 11-16 so that should work pretty good for the tarmac shots.

I only have Saturday to really go do anything. Have a research paper to write this weekend. After all the trying to figure out where to go I am going to the Photo Day at the Zoo in the morning. Forgot I have a BBQ I have to go to for my Honors Society.

[LEO III]

No problem. Like I said, I can't go to anything this weekend, and I won't make next week's Wings and Wheels either. Going to Florida for a couple of weeks.

Check out this website: HoustonSpotters.net

It has lots of info about plane spotting at the area airports. There are a couple of spotting areas at either end of Runway 12 - 30 at Hobby, but it is tough shooting through the fence.

Anytime I'm in the 'hood (which means north of Beltway 8), I try to run over to IAH for awhile. The spotting area on Lee Road, south of Will Clayton Parkway, is almost right under the glidepath of Runway 27L. You can also park on the roof of the parking garages, but you have to call airport security first. It's no big whoop. You just tell them who you are, where you are, and things like that. The info is all on the spotters website.

Have fun.

[RRcoleJR]

Thanks for the info.