LaGuardia International Airport, Flushing, NY - LGA

Last visited: Local airport visited frequently.

First let me apologize for the crudeness of the map. I would have loved to copy a nice map and insert it here, but I am observing copyright laws by not doing so. The map below is good enough to give you the information you need to know, and purchasing a detailed road map will fill in all the missing links.

Welcome to New York! What spotting or photography trip to New York would be complete without a stop at LaGuardia, the airport known for being the closest to heart of the city and for its famous "Expressway" approach to runway 31.

Let me start by telling you that I have not spotted at all of the locations possible at LGA, and the information contained on these pages reflects only those spots that I have personally spotted at. Additional locations, which I am aware of but haven't visited, will be added as I visit them in the future.

LaGuardia has some very nice spotting locations that are easy to get to and offer some interesting angles, among them Planeview Park and the World's Fair Marina area, the two primary areas that I have explored and photographed from. For Planeview Park any type lens is good as they come virtually right over you. For the World's Fair Marina area you can use a relatively short telephoto or one as big as you can get your hands on.

A word about the local authorities. I've spotted at these locations several times and never had a problem with the authorities, however, I am aware of one incident that occurred at Planeview Park when the NYPD approached a friend and really gave him a hard time for spotting and taking pictures there. Turns out that Air Force 2 was inbound with Cheney aboard so they were out in full force as you might expect. The funny thing is that instead of walking up to him and telling him there is

a heightened alert and pictures aren't allowed at that time, they started grilling him asking him what he was doing and just generally giving him a hard time. When are the police going to learn that the public at large is not a criminal or terrorist body? Wouldn't it be nice to be treated like the honest, hard working and law-abiding citizens most of us certainly are? Is that asking to much?

Now onto some pictures.

Point A - Planeview Park: From the Grand Central Parkway take the Marine Air Terminal. At the light on the exit turn away from the airport and proceed to the next light. Make a left. Planeview Park is on your left. Any lens is good from this spot but, of course, the lens you use will depend on the kind of shots you want to get. Oh, bring something to stand on about 1 1/2 to 2 feet high to help you get shots over the fence.

Now, some shots from the location to show you the kinds of pictures you can expect.

Point B & C - World's Fair Marina Park: Running along the water from LaGuardia (beginning at point B) to the Marina at other end (point C) there is a park with a paved walkway and benches along the way. You can get photos all along this walkway. Parking can be a problem. If you're headed toward the Triborough Bridge on the Grand Central Parkway there is a Mobil gas station just before LaGuardia. You can park here, but it might be difficult or full. As an alternate you can take the road that parallels the Grand Central Parkway through the residential streets across from the airport. Midway through the park there is a foot bridge that passes over the Grand Central Parkway and gives you access to the park. Depending on what you want a long lens would be helpful.

You definitely need a long lens from here.

The three shots above were taken closest to Point C almost at the very end of the walkway by the marina closest to Shea Stadium. As you can see by the mm they were shot at the full zoom of 400 mm (600 equivalent digital). But what you don't see the original images occupied only about 1/2 the full frame. The above shots are severely cropped. Getting good shots from this location is difficult to say the least.

That's all the information I have right now on spotting and photography at LaGuardia. I'll add more as I visit and explore new areas with BigPhilNYC, my LGA guru and guide!