Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Uhh, the plane's behind you...

Beachgoers at St. Maarten's Maho Beach get a rush as Air France flight 488 from Paris (operated by an Airbus A340-300) passes over their heads before touching down on runway 09 at Princess Juliana International Airport on Friday, March 21st, 2008.

Featured as Gadling's Photo of the Day on March 23rd, 2008.

Featued in How to Photograph Coastlines on Digital Photography School on February 6th, 2009.

Featured in Go Take a Photo of an Airliner Landing on Digital Photography School on July 26, 2009.

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Comments

foreverdigital says:

how has this not gotten any comments yet?! it's spectacular!!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Steve Pearce says:

What an incredible shot, with a unique point of view. A winner in my book for sure.

--
Seen in Gadling (?)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

brian.. says:

this is kinda surreal

great shot
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

matt.hintsa says:

Thanks for the compliments!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

visual guy says:

What a rare catch! Nice composition. Yes, surreal about covers it. I'm having a chuckle at the note on bikini girl looking the other way. :)) Maybe she's already spotted the next plane coming in! ;)

Congratulations on a superb photograph and thank-you for sharing it here.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

GraveBone says:

wow
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Jean-Baptiste Q says:

Brilliant !
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

[PUREGRAPHY]Jackson says:

i wish i can go there once....fantastic photo!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

bestbeachshots [deleted] says:

been there, seen that in past years. It is crazy.
This little beach bar at the end of the runway.
GREAT ANGLE!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

matt.hintsa says:

Thanks again for the kind words!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Kuby! says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Aviation Ace Images, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

LALA LOLA says:

Amazing shot!!
I love the note on the people facing the wrong way, I also love the man beside them that looks like he is covering his nose!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

DitB says:

Cool!

From the thumb it looked like the people were pushing the aircraft ...
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

SLM Mom would really like to get well. says:

My husband and I have been to St.Martin, but did not get a chance to see this. I wished we could have!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

Ozan™ says:

Fav³
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

teddy-rised says:

I couldn't believe it... this photo is just so gorgeouss and precious (well, what are the chances of having a plane above you, behind a wall of beachgoes cheering/waving at it?) :) awesome work, seriously!

If you don't mind, I'm plugging this photo in my next blog post :D great work *two thumbs up!*
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

matt.hintsa says:

Thanks for the kind remarks!

@teddY-riseD: Feel free to plug! I appreciate it!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

sansa793 says:

dang!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

masaaidhs says:

fantastic capture
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

skiindude22 says:

it looks like they're holding up the airplane!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

sdharris says:

Amazing shot! Did you plan for that shot or were you in the right place at the right time?
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

matt.hintsa says:

@ sdharris: thanks for the compliment! i had positioned myself on the beach to get a photo of the plane as it flew directly overhead, and after taking that overhead shot, i quickly rolled over (i was laying on my back) and saw this composition and loved it even more since it added a human element to the scene. i think it came out well considering i had a split second to frame and take the photo.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

=IceBurn= says:

Fantastic shot! It sure is a dangerous airport.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

MaritereCR says:

Great work! This picture is wonderful!!! It almost looks as if the people under were pushing the airplane to take off!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

motzkito says:

Fantastic shot! Great work!
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

Rum Soaked Shreddie [deleted] says:

This is one of the best photos I've seen on these planes in St. Maartens. It's brilliant...and your note on the gal looking the wrong place is priceless. You captured this very well....awesome perspective!
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

Fotologica says:

Awesome, I think we flew over that beach too
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

flemi says:

I saw several photos of this place and my opinion is that your photo is unusual.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

Markus Röblreiter says:

amazing. awesome. great picture!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

ro.ramirez says:

increible!!!

me gusto mucho tu fotografia
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

signorafranca says:

ahhahaah. super!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Galletita Feliz Muito Feliz says:

saint marteen airport... the best one for aviation photos..
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

chirachira says:

ah ah top
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

1-2-3-calum says:

The low angle is different with onlyt he beach and sky visable and I like how all the people are lined up and each doing something differenet.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Becker says:

Hi, I am the administrator of the Flickr group Airports: SXM, and would love to see you adding this photo to the pool. If you are not yet a member of this group, please think of joining today - this would be highly appreciated!

Have a great time!
Thomas
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Rick Goins says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Commercial Aircraft, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

birdlike says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Aviation Art - Invited images only, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

birdlike says:

Many thanks for adding you image to Aviation Art - Invited images only
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Axxolotl (back from OZ) says:

Cool shot! The people in the front make the picture much more interesting as it would have been with only the plane in it!

*** Happy New Year! ***
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

keribeth says:

Very cool! From the thumbnail, it looks as if the people are holding the plane up. It also reminded me of the Lost pilot.
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Raiiimi says:

I actually honestly thought this plane was pushed by those people. Brilliant!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Comica says:

i used to do that, but we would park our suberban right up close to the fence and ly on the top of it Wayne's World style! Fun! I like the girl with the bonoculars, probably trying to figure out when the next plane is coming. but she looks funny facing away from it.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

OlaHeland says:

wow. wonderful :)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

hk_traveller says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called All Favourite Photos, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

6060 / Clara60 says:

I love this, so interesting!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

satosphere says:

Wow - lovely timing in this shot.
You managed to get a lot of people to cooperate as well!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

toledogirl51 says:

LOL at first I thought they were pushing it! I can't believe the plane passed so low! The noise would have been incredible! Fantastic capture!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

go-mel says:

That´s really amazing!
Great shot!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Silvr says:

the light makes it look like a studio shot with a hi-res printed backdrop!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

aufmkolk (hafoto.de) says:

awesome shot, congrats for capturing the moment!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

hugolim.com says:

wuuu wow... simply amazing yes!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

micro.cosmic says:

Spectacular........Its my fave
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Creative Alias says:

wow! that's amazing!!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

George Augustine says:

Never seen an image of this kind..Great..
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Gabriele Parafioriti says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called AMAZING TOURIST - POST 1 AWARD 3, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Gabriele Parafioriti says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Dance around the World-only Geotagged picture! Post 1 & award 3, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Sparkey95 says:

WoW, you got so many tags, it must of taken you long.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

seylasimm says:

this photo is...quite something. awesome, i guess is the word.
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

carlospereira. says:

oh jesus.
the angle is amazing, it looks like everyone got ready to the picture.
honestly, this is a beautiful job.
congratulations. !
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

menno mennes says:

were all these people still standing here after 10 to 20 seconds? or were they all be blown away by the jetblast? any idea how much vortex sucking air a 747 produces when it's on final approach? when i'm standing at one of the runways, taking a picture of a 747, after 30 seconds, i can still hear the jetstreams coming right over my head!!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

combatcrayola says:

amazing photo! so excited to be going there next year!!!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

Duddle_It says:

LOST photo there.
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

Laundry Talks. says:

Amazing. :]
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

tscheirl says:

Very close indeed!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

FutureofFlight says:

Wow, great photo! I'm an admin for the Group Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour and we'd love you to add your photo to our Pool!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Andrew Hounslea says:

Superb!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

at38000feet says:

That's a really great and unique angle...I've seen a ton of SXM photos but none quite like this one.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

aceangel29 says:

i love the fact that the people look so natural
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

La voz dormida says:

I wanna go there because of the beach, but specially because of these spectacular landings!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

minotm says:

fantastic shot !!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Roger_T says:

great shot, it looks so funny :)

--
Found in a search. (?)
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Monication says:

extremely great!
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Citybreak Holiday Photos says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called City Break France, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

aD:Maiora says:

Great!!!
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

delaphotography says:

Crazy cool!!!!!
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

eri's says:

Great shot
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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Taken in Cupe Coy, St. Maarten (map)
Taken with a Canon EOS 20D.
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Taken on March 21, 2008
Viewed 33,714 times

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Comments

foreverdigital says:

Steve Pearce says:

brian.. says:

matt.hintsa says:

visual guy says:

GraveBone says:

Jean-Baptiste Q says:

[PUREGRAPHY]Jackson says:

bestbeachshots [deleted] says:

matt.hintsa says:

Kuby! says:

LALA LOLA says:

DitB says:

SLM Mom would really like to get well. says:

Ozan™ says:

teddy-rised says:

matt.hintsa says:

sansa793 says:

masaaidhs says:

skiindude22 says:

sdharris says:

matt.hintsa says:

=IceBurn= says:

MaritereCR says:

motzkito says:

Rum Soaked Shreddie [deleted] says:

Fotologica says:

flemi says:

Markus Röblreiter says:

ro.ramirez says:

signorafranca says:

Galletita Feliz Muito Feliz says:

chirachira says:

1-2-3-calum says:

Thomas Becker says:

Rick Goins says:

birdlike says:

birdlike says:

Axxolotl (back from OZ) says:

keribeth says:

Raiiimi says:

Comica says:

OlaHeland says:

hk_traveller says:

6060 / Clara60 says:

satosphere says:

toledogirl51 says:

go-mel says:

Silvr says:

aufmkolk (hafoto.de) says:

hugolim.com says:

micro.cosmic says:

Creative Alias says:

George Augustine says:

Gabriele Parafioriti says:

Gabriele Parafioriti says:

Sparkey95 says:

seylasimm says:

carlospereira. says:

menno mennes says:

combatcrayola says:

Duddle_It says:

Laundry Talks. says:

tscheirl says:

FutureofFlight says:

Andrew Hounslea says:

at38000feet says:

aceangel29 says:

La voz dormida says:

minotm says:

Roger_T says:

Monication says:

Citybreak Holiday Photos says:

aD:Maiora says:

delaphotography says:

eri's says:

Would you like to comment?

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