MINNESOTA - Aviation is fascinating. I've always been in awe of this mode of transportation since I was a little girl. I can thank my father for this interest because he's always been an aviation fanatic as well. When I was growing up I'd stop by his office and look at the model airplanes he had on his desk.
No, my father wasn't a pilot. In fact, he didn't work in aviation at all. He worked at a bank. But still, when he and I would fly somewhere on vacation, he'd open the placard in our seat and tell me all about the Airbus or Boeing jet we were on. I was captivated.
Ellery's Photo Stop
I didn't fully recognize my interest for aviation until just a few years ago when I started doing photography. When I moved back to the Twin Cities, I stumbled upon MSP Airport's Public Viewing Area. It's a place dedicated for people like you and I to watch airplanes land and takeoff.
You can find this spot at the end of Cargo Road near the FedEx shipping area. It's open from dawn to dusk and has several parking spots and a couple of picnic benches.
This is a place that I visit frequently when I'm looking for something to photograph or if I know an usual aircraft is going to be at the airport, like a Boeing 747 or an airplane with a cool paint job on, let's say, the airplane of a professional sports team. I use MSP Airport's website, Jet Tip and Flightaware.com to track what is coming and going.
When an unusual aircraft or fun-looking one is scheduled for MSP Airport, you'll often see a bunch of other photographers at the public viewing area taking photos. You'll also see parents with their kids at this spot.
There's a whole community connected by a love for aviation. That's another reason why I love this place is because I get to meet people with a similar passion, geeking out over airplanes. I've learned so much simply by observing aircraft and it still amazes me how connected of a world we live in through this important mode fo transportation.
Have a great view in Minnesota and western Wisconsin that you'd like me to photograph and feature on KARE 11 Sunrise? I love getting new ideas. Here's how to contact me:
Email: emccardle@kare11.com
Twitter: @ElleryTV
Facebook: facebook.com/ElleryTV
Instagram: @ellerymctv