When I first set out to capture planes landing at National airport I envisioned they'd be coming in from all directions. However, because of restricted airspace and noise restrictions no planes land coming in from the east - they have to circle around and approach from the west following the path of the Potomac River.
For this image I took two different landings and blended them in Photoshop. Of course the right landing was flipped from the left and the doubling was masked out. Each exposure was about 90 seconds. Further tweaking done in Lightroom.
Generally speaking, the wind direction plays a large factor in which direction a plane lands or takes off, the higher the wind speed, the more important it is that the plane lands or takes off into the wind, i.e., both in the same direction.
I only recently found that out. At first it seemed counterintuitive until i read the taking off or landing into the wind gives the plane more lift.
I spent 8 years in the Air Force.
love these traces. I'd almost think they'd be better if the mess on the ground was eliminated