Airports on Delta 100

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

Thanks Eric. It would be fair to call me compulsive about sharpness. It’s hard to let that go. But I’m working on it. Ha!

John Bennett replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

Thanks so much David. I can see exactly what you mean. Thanks for your comment on our move. It happens Monday and we dread it and are excited. Can't wait to settle in our new home and get all my gear out of boxes. The new place has a nice office for me to display my cameras. And maybe some space to at least process film if not build a darkroom.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

Thanks Walter. I think the iPhone is probably the best tool for airports. One doesn't stand out and you look like everyone else. Most people are too caught up in their trip to notice anyway. My old phone photos are a lot of fun, a lot more unique views. I did think the M3 might draw in someone for conversation but nobody noticed.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

Didn't even think of doing that. Thanks for that suggestion. Definitely something to keep in mind. It's been too long since I pushed film routinely.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

I have about 4 million air miles. Like you I've watched those people stand immediately. Never understood it. Unless of course you had a leg cramp or needed a bathroom. However strained boarding is there is a natural order to deplane. No reason to get up too soon, hit people with your luggage etc. I almost always get a window seat just so I don't have those in the aisle next to me. And if your connection is short it's likely your plane isn't going to wait on you. In fact these days they more often than not know your connection is short and have already given your seat away. My main flying years ended 13 years ago and I'm so glad to only make the rare flight for family. So yeah, not my cup of tea as well. As for TSA they're pretty great overall. Being polite, low key and making their job easy is always appreciated. The film was in a clear ziplock bag. They took a roll out, did a 'sniff test' for explosives I imagine and I was on my way.

Bill Brown replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

Wow, 4 million air miles! My trips were not anything near that and it only lasted for a few years in the 1980's. The apartments I photographed were being sold as limited partnerships which was a tax shelter in the 80's. The company I shot for eventually created an in-house photography department and my travel came to an end. It was an enjoyable gig while it lasted. The craziest thing that ever happened to me was on one of those trips to Houston. As I drove to the property I passed through the town of Humble. I saw a large group of squad cars at an apartment complex and decided to pull in. Walked up to a crowd of onlookers just as a handcuffed man was being escorted to a waiting car. I snapped one shot and then they put him face down across the hood of the car, snapped a second shot. A plain clothes officer in front of me turned around and told me to stop shooting photos. I stopped but remained standing to watch. Bad decision. I should have left then. The plain clothes officer approached me with another man who introduced himself as the Humble police chief. He told me no one takes pictures in HIS town without his permission. They had me stand out in front of everyone and took my drivers license. They walked away for a few minutes then returned. The police chief told me to give him my film! If I wanted to dispute it I could accompany them to the station. I emptied my roll of Kodachrome from my F1-n and handed it to him. That was around 1985 and even now I wish I had those two shots. I can still see my second shot in my head. I would have a framed print on my studio wall. Humble. Not very.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

I can easily envision that scene and the tension. Had similar experiences in my newspaper days. One thing I always understood was that my job was to take photos and I could not do that if I was handcuffed. So right or wrong, the law enforcement always got their way, at least initially. And the less assured they were in their power the more they pushed you around, the more of a bully they are. You definitely met a bully. But now years down the road it’s a good story.

Bill Brown replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

So right about being handcuffed. I was in Houston to photograph an apartment complex. The end. I spoke with an attorney who said what happened was definitely illegal but I did the right thing under the circumstances. Also spoke with a Dallas Morning News photographer and he said you always keep an extra roll in your pocket and when they leave you standing you quickly take the roll from the camera and load the new roll. When thy tell you to hand over the film you open the camera back and pull the film from the canister exposing it and hand it to them. I never put myself in a situation like that again though. I was not or ever will be a photojournalist.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

I didn’t mention the roll switch but yeah, good plan. Larry Price who won a Pulitzer while shooting for the Fort Worth Star Telegram did just that on his winning shoot. He was, if I remember right, in some African country and rebels were executing people tied to stakes. He got his roll out by hiding it in his shoe and putting new film in the camera.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

Thanks Ibraar. I've been very very lucky. Not that I didn't work hard because I surely did. But a lot of people work hard and aren't as lucky as I've been. Maybe being forever grateful for the opportunities made the difference. But boy have I had fun! And still around to tell the tales.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 06/06/2026

There is a lot about those days I miss. But a lot I don’t miss at all as well. That first one really does bring back a lot of early morning flight memories.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 07/06/2026

Photography can really be a great way to, as you said, keep your balance. Thanks Danilo. There really is something about those spaces and travelers. To me it’s a lot like street photography without the street. And you have a captured, often fixed subject. Thanks for your very kind words. I think you expressed what I always enjoyed shooting in airports.

Art Meripol replied:

Comment posted: 08/06/2026

Thank you, Scott. I’ll continue to post. Hoping to do a lot more film when we get settled in the new place.