I have seen my share of unique airplanes over the skies of greater Boston in my decades of work as a Boston Herald news photographer. I saw a Russian surveillance plane, a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-154, flying over Boston yesterday. That was a first. It all started Thursday when I saw a Washington Post story about a Russian surveillance plane flying low over Washington DC. That story piqued my interest. Yesterday, while doing assignment editor, photodesk duty at the Boston Herald, I saw a tweet from FlightRadar24. The tweet read: “stay with us for radar coverage of the Russian surveillance flight.” I tracked this plane from Dayton,OH to New York State to Warwick,RI where it then took a sharp right turn. I then noticed it flying a circle over Newport,RI and then headed directly north, toward Boston. I ran out of the Herald’s offices and onto Southie’s D St. and got in my car and drove to East 1st st. I looked to my left as I was driving and there it was, flying over the old Edison plant on L St. FlightRadar had it at a low 3600′. I had little time to grab a Canon 800mm lens, which had a 1.4 extender attached. I parked, jumped out of the car, and must’ve struck a curious pose to passers-by as I pointed my “bazooka” skyward. My only regret is that I did not have time to photograph the plane with the Boston skyline, to put it into context to where it was.
**Ed note** This is a sanctioned flight. The US is able to do it over Russia as well. The reciprocal agreement is called “Open Skies.” More from the Boston Herald. More here from the Dayton Daily News, where the plane is being housed.
More from CNN, with one of the first stories, over Washington,DC.
Springfield/Monson tornado 6th anniversary: Boston Lightning from that day, June 1, 2011
by markadmin Posted: Thursday, 6/1/2017I photographed several Boston storms that day, 6 years ago. I did not go out to the hard hit areas of western Massachusetts, but I did see some tremendous lightning in and around Boston. The top two photos were snapped between 9-10pm from Medford. The bottom photo was snapped in the mid-afternoon from East Boston. The Coast Guard station lightning bolt looks totally fake, or “photoshopped.” Lucky for me, I had another camera rolling video (at bottom) of the same strike.
Neil Fingleton, Britain’s tallest man at 7 ft 7 in, dies. My 1999 experiences with him
by markadmin Posted: Sunday, 2/26/2017Neil Fingleton, “Game of Thrones” actor and one of the tallest people in the world at 7 feet 7 inches, died yesterday at the age of 36, reportedly of a heart attack. See Worcester Telegram story here. In 1999, I spent several weeks with Neil as he completed his senior season on Worcester’s Holy Name High School basketball team. I had heard about Neil and wanted to do a picture story/photo essay about him for the Boston Herald. I took my idea and petitioned his coach, Worcester sport’s legend J.P. Ricciardi, who later became a Major League Baseball executive. I met with Coach Ricciardi at a coffee shop in Worcester. He made it clear that he did not want Neil’s height to be exploited. I was given a thumbs up to meet Neil and to get his blessing on the project. He was all in. Neil was a bit shy at first, but we quickly took a liking to each other. The last time I spoke to him, he had called me at the Herald in 2007 or 2008 and alerted me to his new career in the entertainment business. He said he was traveling to Boston to promote a show he was in, and asked if I wanted to cover the event for the Herald. We never connected. Below are my photographs from my time with Neil. May he rest in peace.
Two years ago 18 year old Neil Fingleton traveled to Worcester,MA. from his home in Durham, England to learn a game he had never played. In several days he will have come full circle when he announces his decision to accept a full Basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina.
World’s largest airliner, Emirates Airbus A-380, lands in Boston.
by markadmin Posted: Sunday, 1/29/2017The Emirates Airbus 380 landed at Boston’s Logan International airport, Thursday January 26. It was billed as a “one-off” according to a tweet by the airline. The airport has renovated a section of Terminal E, their international terminal, so that the tall, double-decker aircraft can fit properly. Here are my photos of the arrival and departure. Lenses used were a Canon 800mm and a 100-400mm.
My year in Boston photos: Memorable, sometimes sad moments from 2016
by markadmin Posted: Wednesday, 12/21/2016I was a witness to many memorable events in 2016, from several nasty building fires, to extreme weather, to a tragic trench collapse. Here are some of these moments. Photos taken on and off my Boston Herald news photographer shift. Thank you to the Herald, and to my subjects, many of whom are first responders.
My fire & ice photos: Boston firefighters work yesterday’s six-alarm fire in Charlestown.
by markadmin Posted: Saturday, 12/17/2016Frigid temperatures and a dangerous windchill hampered Boston firefighters yesterday at the scene of a 6-alarm fire. The building housed 11 residents and a laundromat, which was featured in the Ben Affleck movie, “The Town. My photos were part of my coverage as a staff news photographer at the Boston Herald.
Also, two Go-Fund-Me webpages have been established —-> here & here.
Thanks to my friends and supporters of my photography. Today I announce my 3rd annual Holiday/Christmas sale. Click here, purchasing site, where photos for personal use (wall art), or for commercial use, can be purchased. This is my non-news photo collection of lighthouse photos, Aviation photography, Boston scenics, including sunsets, moons, sunrise, coastal, etc.
Thank you, Mark
I was on assignment for the Boston Herald in East Boston photographing an airliner that had struck a flock of birds on departure from Boston’s Logan airport when the police scanner started cranking out reports of a fire in Cambridge. The Cambridge fire alarm dispatcher mentioned that they were “receiving’ calls” of fire on Berkshire St. I turned around to take a peek at the Boston skyline and there, in vivid tones, was the large smoke plume. I drove toward Cambridge, making it to a point approximately 1/4 mile away from the fire buildings. I decided to park there as to not get blocked in or congest the neighborhood any further. I ran up Cardinal Medeiros Way to York and then to York at Berkshire, to a point directly in front of the former church/converted apartment building that was now being consumed by the large fire volume. I stayed there for almost 90 minutes. Cambridge fire brass was great in allowing me to stay there as was the very friendly Cambridge Police dept. Here are some of my photos from ONLY the firefighting effort, as there was another Herald staffer, as well as reporters, who were roaming the outskirts searching for the other component of this story, the residents of the neighborhood. The fire damaged 18 buildings, destroying several of them. I will end with this. The Cambridge fire and police departments allowed me to stay in my safe perch very close to the fire. Thank you for allowing this. I was impressed (an understatement) by the professionalism and sensitivity of the Cambridge police, fire, and mutual aid fire departments in first fighting the fire, and second taking care of the victims. We are lucky to have these first responders!
How to help.
CLICK HERE —–> GoFundMe Link
Mayor’s Fire Relief Fund
Cambridge City Hall
Cambridge, MA 02139
Pictureboston recognized by prestigious Aviation Week Magazine photo contest
by markadmin Posted: Tuesday, 12/6/2016I’m really proud to share this news. I placed 1st and 2nd in the prestigious AVIATION WEEK Magazine photo contest, with two Boston photos from Boston’s Logan International Airport.
Boston police, fire, & EMS personnel care for, then talk man off ledge.
by markadmin Posted: Wednesday, 11/23/2016A distraught man climbed onto a 4th floor ledge of a local college frat house today. He laid down in a precarious position for almost two hours as Boston police negotiators, EMS, and members of Boston fire’s Technical Rescue crew talked to him, listened to him, and gave him blankets and water until finally climbing onto the ledge and rescuing him. The incident happened at the corner of Hereford and Marlborough streets.
*I chose to publish these on my blog to show the teamwork and overall caring/human approach that the rescuers exhibited.
Holiday time can feel desperate, for many. If you are feeling desperate please call Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
**I have blurred the young man’s face to keep his anonymity**