Flocks of Iron Birds: What Airport Traffic Looks Like Around the World (19 photos)

A plane soaring over an airport runway is a spectacular sight, but it's hardly surprising. Hundreds of planes taking off simultaneously—that's far more interesting. Los Angeles-based photographer Mike Kelley created the Airportraits series, which took him two years to complete. He photographed planes departing and arriving at 18 airports around the world. He then compiled the images to create stunning shots. They remind us just how busy the skies above cities truly are.





"The inspiration for these shots was something simple." After my first photo, "Wake Turbulence," taken at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), I knew I had to do more, given the huge success of the original. There are so many amazing airports, airlines, and airplanes in the world that I needed to photograph, so I devised a plan to capture as many of them as possible. "Since then, I've been obsessed with airplanes, travel, and new places. Plus, it was a great excuse to get out of my comfort zone," the photographer says.



Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This photo was taken from Dockweiler Beach directly below the departure flight path between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, just as the setting sun illuminated the underside of the fuselage.

Dubai International Airport. The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, is visible in the background. The photo was taken between 6:00 and 8:00 AM, peak departure time for all destinations.



Los Angeles International Airport, "Wake Turbulence." This initial image served as an experimental proof of concept for the photo project. The image proved highly successful and convinced the photographer to expand the project globally. The photo shows departures from the south runway of Los Angeles International Airport in one day, although some aircraft had to be removed: the viewer hardly needs to see all 84 Boeing 737s.



Heathrow Airport in London. This photo was taken during the peak morning landing season at London Heathrow Airport. Flights from Asia and North America land at one of the busiest airports in the world.



Zurich Airport. Due to its sophisticated noise control system, Zurich Airport uses runways that are oriented in different directions, depending on wind strength. This resulted in a very interesting photograph, which combines the air traffic with the idyllic Swiss nature surrounding the airport.



Amsterdam Schiphol. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is surrounded by typical Dutch canals and green meadows. The stormy weather provided an interesting backdrop for this shot.



Munich Airport. This photo was taken at the end of the runway. It shows planes landing at the end of the morning rush hour.



London Heathrow. It took three trips to London to take these photos. The weather there is harsh. It was very difficult to capture a full day of clear skies, and although there were clouds on the day this photo was taken, the photographer was lucky: the sky was clear and there was no rain. The photographer says this is one of his favorite photos in the series.



Frankfurt am Main. This photo was taken in July 2015, when thunderstorms raged across Europe. The photo shows one of the planes making a go-around.



Dubai. Planes take off from runway 30R at DXB Airport against the backdrop of dark clouds gathering over the neighboring city of Sharjah.



Tokyo Haneda. Taken from a fishing boat in Tokyo Bay. This shot presented a logistical challenge for the photographer: he had to find the perfect weather and wind conditions. Using a long telephoto lens, Mike was able to capture the iconic Mount Fuji behind the airport, despite it being over a hundred kilometers away.



Amsterdam's Schiphol. The farmer's field in the foreground added a touch of yellow and created a pleasant contrast to the blue sky and departing planes, mostly from KLM.



Auckland International Airport. Auckland Airport is surrounded by stunning scenery, including farmland.



Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Planes take off over Botany Bay and the Sydney CBD.



Munich Airport. Plane spotting is a popular activity in Europe, especially as a family activity. With an airport in such a picturesque location, why not watch these amazing aircraft in action?



São Paulo Guarulhos Airport.



London Heathrow. A father and son watch the planes.



Frankfurt am Main. Against the backdrop of excellent weather and a clear sky over Frankfurt, swirls from the wings of the planes taking off are visible. This photo was also taken in July 2015, when severe thunderstorms were sweeping across Europe.