Below are 2 of my winning airport images (more to follow, hopefully). One photographer in my camera club calls me "The Airport Photographer". Many professional photographers even the Master photographers and the judge complimented on how I was able to capture those images with such colors, lines, reflections and most of all, NO PEOPLE!
"Psychedelic Walkway, Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD)"
1st place,Travel-Intermediate 03/07/2011
judge commentary: Wow! very colorful and l like the lines, reflections, and the way it is framed. The negative space in upper right is not a destruction at all, it worked actually on this image to balance the neon lights and the walkway. Well done!
my commentary: It was my 1st time to spend Xmas holiday in Chicago last December and my 1st time to take United Airlines. This is the United Airlines walkway from the baggage claim to exit door. The flight was delayed so arrived there at midnight. Coming down from the escalator to this walkway was magical for me: the xylophone music plays in the air while it is synchronized with the neon lights. Since we're on the last flight, I waited for the last person in the walkway and took this shot.
"Inside SFO"
1st place, Travel-Basic 01/04/1010
judge commentary: "This is an interesting image, a different perspective inside San Francisco airport. Very nice composition of the art work from the ceiling, the window, and the reflection on the floor. There is no people! I like it and never seen a composition like this of SFO."
my commentary: I was concentrating at first on the art work suspended from the ceiling but the sunset reflection on the floor caught my attention. So, I let my eyes opened with the bigger picture inside SFO. The airport was suprisingly not crowded that day (taken last October on a Monday sunset time) - so I was rushing to capture the sunset reflection on the floor and take advantage of no people in the background. Dead end from the wall behind me, I was lying down on the floor to capture the whole image using my 18-200mm lens.
I make frequent travels from SFO since I live in Northern California and ORD to visit my relatives. In all of my airport travels, I use my time wisely by simply walking and looking around for some photographic opportunity. Because, in any busy airport scene, I know that there's a beauty waiting for me at The Terminal.
"God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport.” ~ George Winters
[click the image to enlarge, click the play button to see the movie trailer The Terminal]
