Mirrorless

2025 marks 10 years since I realized aviation was my calling. While out on a long walk in South Minneapolis, I unknowingly ended up quite close to MSP Airport. A plane took off right over my head and I was hooked.

I knew early on that flying wasn’t in the cards for me due to the anxiety medication I was taking, so I wasn’t quite sure how (or even if) I could pursue a career in aviation. 

I was a broadcast journalism major who had been working in news and communications for about five years. I loved storytelling — writing, making videos, taking photos — so a natural first step was to get a camera and start this blog.

I got a Nikon D3400 starter kit that came with 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses. After a few years, my 18-55mm went kaput, so I replaced it with a used 18-140mm and also got a second D3400 body (also used) to avoid switching lenses so often. About the same time, I got the holy grail of lenses: the Sigma 150-600mm. Boy, was that a game changer for plane spotting.

Suddenly, I could photograph departures and arrivals at airports where I simply couldn’t get close enough before. I could even capture airplanes at cruising (often times being able to read the registration on the underside of the wing!). That lens also inspired me to get into wildlife photography — something I’m still passionate about.

While the D3400 served me well for nearly 10 years, alas, it was time for an upgrade. I found new homes for my old gear and got a shiny new Sony Alpha 7 IV Mirrorless with an 18-70mm lens. And without missing a beat, I got the even holier grail of lenses: the Sigma 60-600. 

This last weekend marked the first time I used the new setup for aviation photography. And what better place to test it out than LAX? As expected, it exceeded my expectations. It was a dream to shoot with and I haven’t even messed around with any settings yet. 

My absolute favorite place to take photos in Los Angeles is at Clutter’s Park on Imperial Hill. Luckily, I had the opportunity to hang out there for a bit Friday afternoon and again Saturday morning. That spot is always packed. There are of course a lot of aviation photographers, but there’s also usually a solid, diverse group of people just hanging out, enjoying the sights and sounds.

Friday afternoon, I had the pleasure of meeting a retired Royal Air Force pilot named Paul. Our conversation started with him asking me if I was getting good shots, and from there we realized our shared passion for photography and aviation. He relayed stories about flying the Tornado, and told me about the time he was able to sit in the cockpit of a British Airways 747 landing at Heathrow — those were (or must’ve been!) the days.

On Saturday morning, I got to reunite with Boeing’s former Douglas historian / archivist Pat, who had been with the company (via McDonnell Douglas) for more than 30 years when she retired in 2023. We always have a great time together, talking about our love of cats, airplanes and vintage finds. 

Pat brought me to the airport around lunchtime Saturday, where I caught a flight to Las Vegas, before continuing on to Houston. When I got to my gate, I began looking through my photos and couldn’t help but smile, thinking about how incredibly lucky I am. 

One year ago today, my life was seemingly turned upside down when my husband of 10 years told me he was leaving. For the next few months, I felt certain that the rest of my life would be filled with sadness and shame. But with the love and support of my family and friends, I was able to dig myself out of that very dark place and began to focus on the future. I wanted to be strong and resilient. I did the best I could, and believe it or not, 2024 turned into the best year of my life.

When I got my new camera last month, I started reading up on the key differences between DSLR (like my old Nikon D3400) and mirrorless (like my new Sony A7 IV) cameras. I had always heard that mirrorless was “better,” but I didn’t fully understand why. Turns out Mirrorless cameras are smaller and lighter than DSLRs, and they focus more quickly. 

But how does it work? Simply put, with a DSLR, light bounces off a mirror into the viewfinder. When you push the shutter, the mirror moves out of the way to reveal the sensor. With mirrorless cameras, light passes through the lens, straight to the sensor. 

I started thinking more about the term “mirrorless” too, and realized it was a bit symbolic of my life today. I know it’s important to reflect from time to time, but these days I’m trying my best to focus on living in the moment and looking to the future through a lens of gratitude and optimism. 

I feel confident that there’s a lot of goodness in store for me this year. I hope the same is true for you.

To blue skies and tailwinds!