Maho Beach Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

This shot was taken from the Sunset Beach Bar overlooking Maho Beach in Dutch St. Maarten. The Continental Airlines jet was landing at Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten, DWI. It is a daily routine for visitors to St Martin/Maarten to stand on the beach and get sand blasted by jet blast.
The airport is famous for its short landing strip — only 2,180 metres/7,152 ft,[6] which is barely enough for heavy jets. Because of this, the planes approach the island flying extremely low, right over Maho Beach. Countless photos of large jets flying at 10--20 m/30-60 ft over relaxing tourists at the beach have been dismissed as photoshopped many times, but are nevertheless real. For this reason as well it has become a favorite for planespotters. See workshop for the warning sign!

linask, Nelu_Goia, mark_mk, zhelach, torre, gunbud, ktanska, Tue, Charo, AiresSantos, fulvio52, chinchini, tedesse, Muse, Budapestman, UlfE, azaf1, Cretense, romanaa, PixelTerror, Photo65Net, dareco, JCG, pierrefonds, Philippe, lucasgalodoido, salvator, danyy, alainh, tigra, danasam, zmey, Amaz has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Nelu_Goia (2742) 2008-06-17 10:55

Hi Asa,
So this is not a live plane crash?:)
Good to hear that...
Interesting photo but I don`t know if I`d like to live there:)
Thank you,
Nelu

linask (2813) 2008-06-17 10:59

Maybe aircraft here is not as big as in your other photo posted a year ago, but it's still an interesting view. Not many places in the world where you can see anything like that.

Linas

mark_mk (246) 2008-06-17 11:28

Hi Asa,
a shot very similiar to what I have in my favorites gallery ;-)
I had to smile when I saw it, I first thought you were uploading the exact same image you uploaded a year ago, let`s see if it`s also that successful. A very nice shot, great moment and I see this shot isn`t as crowded as your first picture of that place, very well done!

Take care
Mark

Kielia (8735) 2008-06-17 11:40

Hi Asa,
this is such an unbelievable situation, relaxing under the thunder of these monster aircrafts!
Your composition is very interesting due to the colours of the parasols, the dynamic sky and the emerald colour of the sea.
Thank you for sharing!
Best regards
Harriet

didemay (2435) 2008-06-17 12:16

Hello Asa,
Is it going to land or crash?
Nice capture.
Congratulations:)

Vanessa132 (1840) 2008-06-17 12:50

Hi Asa,
amazing!!! this is really a short landing strip!
Nic ePOV and colors!
TFS
Vanessa

emka (22357) 2008-06-17 12:51

Hi Asa,

Stunning photo of the jet flying so low. Nice beach with colourful umbrellas. Interesting photo but I would be afraid to be so near the jets.

Malgorzata

zhelach (3590) 2008-06-17 13:09

Hello Asa!
Good POV! Beautiful colors and details! Very nice clarity and sharp! Lovely place!
TFS, Best regards, Zorica

chrisnet (20376) 2008-06-17 13:59

Hi Asa,
Good capture of this plane which approach the island, thanks for your interesting note too;
Regards

torre (893) 2008-06-17 15:43

Hello Asa.It´s amazing the nearness between the plain and the people at the beach. The colours of parasols are interesting.
Regards
Arlindo

gunbud (28163) 2008-06-17 19:19

Hi Asa,
Wow I can image the sound of this beast so close to the beach. This not a beach for a nice nap and saftey glasses would be appropirate here.
Very clear colors with a nice low sky to to highlight your jet plane.
Regards, Tom

ktanska (16695) 2008-06-17 23:45

Hi Asa,
Always interesting to see these. Boeing 757 of Continental is not as big as A340 of Air France, but nevertheless interesting. A better PoV would be a few step closer to exclude the corner of terrace.
Kari

[2]

Tue (25608) 2008-06-18 1:48

Hi Asa,
A great capture of the plane flying so low over the beach. The photo has nice colours and a fine light. The composition is good too. Well captured, thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

jlbrthnn (38971) 2008-06-18 2:50

Hello Asa,
It is really a quiet place to spend the holidays? :) Fortunately the parasols are announced to the pilot by their red color. The image is very impressive. The capture suspends the plane giving the impression of a lose speed. It is a beautiful image you a great performance. Cheer.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

testmaniac (12262) 2008-06-18 2:55

Hi Asa, again your bestseller:) Great shot!

TFS and regards,
Philip

Charo (31811) 2008-06-18 3:41

Hello Asa,
Another impressive capture of like the plane happens almost at level of the beach and the swimmers. Marvellous colors, details and composition.
Cordialmente
Charo

AiresSantos (42924) 2008-06-18 5:04

Hi Asa
Another great capture with the plain flying close to the beach.
Amazing POV and colours
TFS and greetings
Aires

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-06-18 6:10

Asa
Another great shot from this beach, wouldn't see me on that beach though, you can forget it. Composition and colours are well handled. Superb capture
Regards
Jim

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-06-18 7:23

What a great shot, Asa!
Perfect timing and a wonderful angle annex display of colors.
Truly a pleasure to look at, my compliments!
And thanks for passing by my "Country Road Bend" shot recently. I greatly appreciate.
Have a nice day, I'll be seeing you around.
Ciao,
Fulvio.

chinchini (27811) 2008-06-18 8:52

Bonjour Asa,
Très beau shot sur cet appareil très bas, en cours d'atterrissage sur une piste que tu nous dis très courte ! Merci pour la note.
Les parasols apportent des couleurs vives dans une image déjà très colorées. Bien vu !
Pierre

tedesse (13226) 2008-06-18 15:54

Hello!
Interesting photo with nice beach with colourful umbrellas and stunning view of the airplane volant so low.
Greetings
Tadeusz

Muse (31059) 2008-06-19 5:34

Hello Asa,
Une belle capture de cet avion si près de la plage, c'est assez impressionnant!
Une note intéressante et un bon choix du pov.
Best regards
Denise

Budapestman (42844) 2008-06-19 5:48

Hi Asa,
Stunning shot with fantastic composition. The POV is very impressive, great impression for this place. Have a nice day
George

stamatis (2410) 2008-06-19 10:40

very beautiful moment
very interesting shot
best regards Stamatis

UlfE (9180) 2008-06-19 22:10

Hi Asa,

This picture is better composed that you previous picture of Air France landing, but the earlier is more dramatic and exciting. I think it is very good idea to post this 2nd picture since it shows that a good composition a good POV etc is not always important to take a good picture. As photographer you often experience this. Thank you very much for posting this additional picture. I really enjoy to compare them.

Cheers,

Ulf

gildasjan (24143) 2008-06-20 6:28

Bonjour Asa
Cela doit être impressionnant de voir à cet endroit un avion de ligne à si basse altitude.Une photo très réussie.
Bonne journée
Amicalement
Gildas

azaf1 (15547) 2008-06-20 9:47

Hi Asa
One of the problems of urban centres with airplanes flying over your head and making this defeaning noice. Good POV and sharp details
TFS
Argiris

jemaflor (39759) 2008-06-20 10:02

Hi Asa,
Always an impressive moment, the pov from this terracce is the most beautiful to capture this scene. Good timing and a good memory for me ...

Cretense (57010) 2008-06-20 10:06

Hi Asa!

I remember a similar one in your gallery, a tighter frame, if I am not mistaken! Amazing shot, breathtaking moment, great timing, excellent composition and framing and perfect light managment! Congratulations!

Hercules

cyborg83 (3798) 2008-06-20 15:15

Wooow,
It is incredible!! I could not imagine the noise there!! BUt it have to be very interesting experience..
About the photo: great compo, nice colors and light,
greetings from Poland

romanaa (2551) 2008-06-21 1:42

Hi Asa,
this is amazing and horrible at the same time. I would not like to be on the beach, it must be incredible noisy, and even really dangerous. But your shot is very interesting and eye catching.
Best regards
Romana

PixelTerror (86853) 2008-06-21 1:49

Hi Asa,
So you changed from Air France to Continental ?? both bad choices imho, next time try Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific ;-)
We've seen this view a number of times but it still remains as impressive as ever, I'd not go bathing on such a noisy beach ! Good exposure.
Have a nice day JY

Photo65Net (43096) 2008-06-21 3:49

Asa,
A place I'd love to shoot !
Nice one, with great ujse of the giant plane over the red umbrellas.
Regards,
JB.

sacimar (7694) 2008-06-21 6:50

Hi Asa,

Wow, amazing picture, It must be interesting being laid in the sand in this place, good details and perspective, good work,

Regards

Sergio

dareco (17104) 2008-06-21 14:52

It always amazes me when I see pictures of this beach with the airplanes overhead. Maybe not always peaceful and quiet? :) A really good capture here, good timing, and a very nice scene. TFS and have a great day!

JCG (25753) 2008-06-22 11:35

Hi Asa,

After Air France, here is Air Continental… I remember your photograph very well on this beach. The moment is always also impressive and unexpected. Thank you for the interesting note.

With all my friendships and with soon,

Jean-Charles

pierrefonds (26659) 2008-06-22 11:46

Hi Asa,

The curve of the beach and the color of the ocean are assets to the composition. The capture of the aircraft landing in a matter of seconds are a good part of the composition. The colors are enhanced by the light. A dream place for to visit for an aircraft photographer. have a nice day.

Pierre

Tobias__Ortmann (2591) 2008-06-24 8:03

Hi asa,
very similiar to your other shot
nice scene great composition and nice lights and contrast
I really like that picture
well done
Toba

Philippe (11787) 2008-06-26 13:59

Hi, Asa. I have already seen photos of this place before, but this one still looks impressive to me. The jet seems to be flying just a few metres above the parasols and the tourists standing under the jet give the scale of the plane. This last one stands well out against the sky. Good light management and colours.
Best wishes,
Philippe

Vasa (6357) 2008-06-28 13:28

Hello Asa, dear friend,

you are already famous photographer with this motif and you are right to stay on the same position all year. Don't miss a Serbian aircraft, if one beautiful day...

All my felicitations and best regards for you and yours. So glad to see again your work.

Branko

lucasgalodoido (16789) 2008-06-30 13:13

Olá Asa,
outra fantástica imagem desse 757 da Continental nesse interessante Aerporto (DXM), acho que ficaria o dia inteiro nele fotografando. No Youtube tem uns vídeos dos Jumbos da KLM passando bem baixo nessa praia!
Parabéns e Abraço

BWJ (1777) 2008-06-30 18:09

Hello Asa,
What a great capture with the plane passing over the beach. The composition is very nice with the curve of the beach, the blue sky with big puffy clouds and the turquoise water. The natural colors and lighting are nice. Nice job!
Warm wishes,
Betty

luisafonso (858) 2008-07-01 5:44

Great post Asa. I saw a video once about this airport and couldn't believe it. I don't understand why they don't close this section of the beach... But hey, it does make a great spot for plane lovers. Your photo is great.

salvator (18941) 2008-07-02 21:03

Hi Asa,
Very interesting catch with the airplane passing over the beach. The colors, the overcast sky and details look very nice.
Best regards. Salvator.

fkokol (1614) 2008-07-03 4:22

Great timing! nice composition with beautiful colours and detail.
greetings,

figen

Signal-Womb (11755) 2008-07-13 13:53

Another great one Asa, this is just something you would have to see for yourself. I wonder though is this the only runway near this region. I would not want to be on that plane. flying really scares me and I am always glued to the window watching every move of decent like engine noise and wing movement. Best regards Steve.

danyy (69465) 2008-07-22 16:44

Bonjour Asa;
il y a de quoi être décoiffé sur cette plage, maintenant, s'installer là-bas, c'est un choix.
Un magnifique ciel et des lumières bien capturées.
La note est interssante et le sujet 100% TE.
regards.
Daniel.

TGULUMSER (12514) 2008-07-23 5:15

Hello Asa,
It is very interesting to see an airplane over the beach. A real decisive moment,
Best regards,
Tulay

Sanderson-Brown (1697) 2008-07-24 6:01

Hi Asa.
thats amazing, and the sign is just very scary. wonder how many people get harmed. its strange that the area is allowed to be populated so near a landing strip.
tfs
regards
paul

banyanman (7739) 2008-07-25 8:11

Hi Asa. I thought I had critiqued this before, but then I realised it was an almost identical shot of an Air France jet landing there. I found the WS post of the signboard interesting. That prompted me to go back and look at the WS post on the other one - and I was horrified to see all the semi-bare bodies lining up to get sandblasted by the jets - despite the warning about being a danger to life and limb on the signboard - crazy people! Did you check your levels on this shot. They looked like they could have done with a little adjustment. I tried that (see WS) and with some extra contrast too, it added a bit of extra punch to your shot. Cheers . . . David

[workshop] [compare]

nels (2455) 2008-07-27 7:44

hello asa, great capture, dont think i would like to be on the beach at ths time, not only could you wave at the captain you could talkto him aswell tfs
adrian

alainh (35387) 2008-07-28 23:34

hello Asa
impressive picture and i imagine waht is the noise !!!
a good capture
friendly regards
alain

Gregtom (7119) 2008-08-07 4:14

Gello, Asa!
The plane seems to be able to blow out the umbrellas from the seashore. It looks like it flies really low. Interesting place to watch the planes, if anyone likes to do it. Nice work!
regards,
Greg

tigra (2968) 2008-08-15 3:17

That's the place where I want to go once... all the captures from there seem unbelievable!
Perfect shot!
Katia

danasam (1057) 2008-08-17 0:12

Hi Asa, wow its scary, i like it. very good timing. well done.
Sam.

boa (1406) 2008-08-17 10:34 [Comment]

Show Comment

zmey (7282) 2009-02-12 13:48

scary stuff Asa... have any of these behemoths ever fallen on any tourists?... impressive capture!

regards,
kristaps

Amaz (7512) 2009-08-12 1:13

Absolutely impressive capture, Asa!!!
Top shot, my friend!!!

Extraordinary work!!!

Well taken!!!

Best regards,