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Another photographer friend posted this on Facebook; thought it was interesting. I've never had any issue; then again, I've never attempted to photograph or videotape personnel or other passengers.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dont-take-picture-plane-until-you-read-story-christopher-elliott

Jeff - if you don't mind me asking, where do you line up to get those end of runway shots like that?

Excellent set Dan.  Air Force One is a beautiful airplane and you captured it perfectly.  Well done!

Thank you very much!

Looks like the website crashed. More interest than they initially imagined? When's it due in Phoenix?

Wow, so many great responses.  Thank you all.  To answer some questions:

Anna: No, I did not have the camera checked out; from the way it played out, I didn't really think it necessary as the impact was pretty well all on the lens.  I couldn't duplicate it again if I tried, but the camera was pretty horizontal when it dropped; the lens happened to make contact with a concrete bench, but the camera body ended up falling on to my camera bag.  All in all, it was probably no more than a 3 to 4 foot drop (if that), and if not for the bench, it probably would've lived to see more use.  But now you've got me thinking that it might not be a bad idea.

Joe - got it.  I'll try some shots restricting the aperture to f/8 and/or f/11 and see how they look.  I loved your acronym ("TLAR").   I do use the 'rule of thirds'; if only because I haven't been introduced to many other methodology(ies).  As most of my photos (the ones that *I* think turn out, anyway; who knows - I may have some diamonds in the rough that I've thrown out that you all might have done something creative with.) end up being side or 3/4 views, I like 16:9, as I personally think it fits the best.  I don't know, it's just something about cutting off a part of the plane.

Anna- Nikon D200 body.

This lens: http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Camera-Lenses/AF-S-VR-Zoom-Nikkor-70-300mm-f%252F4.5-5.6G-IF-ED.html

Anna- it has been replaced. I figured it was a goner when some of the flexible electronic connectors were completely torn through. I was just trying to make a funny.

Oh, and not really related, but I recently got a new lens, and am still getting used to it.  Does the 'Vibration Reduction' feature in Nikon lenses come at the expense of some sharpness, or is it just me?

Okay, so let me say first off that I love this forum.  I've been lucky enough to meet some of you in real life. 

I love photographing planes, but one of the things I really struggle with is cropping.  I've read a lot of these threads, and this one resonated.  One of the most difficult things for me is anything less than the whole.  So if I cut off a control surface, it'll send me into a short fit of involuntary hysteria.  Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating.  Just a little.  But not much.

I see some of the shots you all post, and I'm sure you all have your favorite spots, some secret, some not s secret.  All of my planespotting photos so far have come from Sky Harbor.  Terminal 4 rooftop, or, this last time, Terminal 3.  Since a lot of it is photographing from a downward angle, deciding what to key in to (in the absence of a clear horizon) to use to 'straighten' the photo can sometimes be a bit of a challenge as well.  From that vantage point, the part I struggle with the most is cropping.  I read the "The "Space to Fly Into" Thing" with interest, but I guess what I'm asking is: would any of you feel like talking about how you decide how to frame and crop a photo?

Feel free to take any of mine and re-crop them as you think they should be cropped.  Here are some recent shots of the 787 and from Air Force One's most recent visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mister326/sets/72157621957061535/

Thank you all in advance!   

Think it's salvageable?

The aftermath of a presidential visit. by Tower Guy, on Flickr

I took a similar picture back in 2009 when the Obamas were in town to visit the Grand Canyon...

Some pretty strong contenders in here already - wow!

Landing, thrust reversers opened:


...and leaving less than an hour later:



Is it just the angle, or do the wings really flex that much?

...And on the way back to D.C.

Landing, thrust reversers opened:



This|Close to being straight on:


Taxiing to terminal: