Shooting at Vandenberg?

[Josh]

Anyone have some spots for shooting the base and birds at Vandenberg?

[rammsteinmatt]

I shot an Atlas V launch from Harris Grade road.  I think it's about 9 miles from the pad, but once up there you have a great overview of that whole area.  As a side note, you can hang out on i think it's Ocean Ave. and be ~3 miles from the pad at engine ignition - you can't see the pad due to terrain, but within a few seconds the rocket clears the hill.  It is apparently quite loud and ground shaking from that close.

I was hoping to find a good place to shoot Delta launches, but with SLC6 being at the tip of the coast with mountains all around there really isnt any great place to watch from.  I had thought about Jalama Beach to the south, and have seen pictures from Surf Beach to the north (although surf beach appears to be on VAFB property, so im not sure how people watch from there during a launch...)

[Josh]

I shot an Atlas V launch from Harris Grade road.  I think it's about 9 miles from the pad, but once up there you have a great overview of that whole area.  As a side note, you can hang out on i think it's Ocean Ave. and be ~3 miles from the pad at engine ignition - you can't see the pad due to terrain, but within a few seconds the rocket clears the hill.  It is apparently quite loud and ground shaking from that close.

I was hoping to find a good place to shoot Delta launches, but with SLC6 being at the tip of the coast with mountains all around there really isnt any great place to watch from.  I had thought about Jalama Beach to the south, and have seen pictures from Surf Beach to the north (although surf beach appears to be on VAFB property, so im not sure how people watch from there during a launch...)

What about the actual airfield and facilities? Hangars etc.