By the runway's edge

I've always hated the silly plastic windows in airplanes. For starters, they're way too small and perpetually smudged by the noses of way too many strangers (I know, ew.) Over time, they get all pitted and scratched, which as I understand, is not terribly conducive to taking sharp pictures through them.

Still, I was pretty pleased with the warmth of the pictures I got while flying out of Toronto last week. Somehow, the lovely yellowish-orange early morning light managed to make it through the optical equivalent of a dollar store see-through toy.

Here's the lineup of planes waiting for clearance to proceed onto the runway for takeoff. When granted, each one would make a left turn, hit the gas and go. That's one of my favorite times during a flight, because since you're sitting in their wake, you can hear and feel the sheer power of the other planes as they initiate their takeoff roll. It's often just enough of a thrum in the base of your spine to viscerally convince you that things are about to get much more involved for you as well.

I really like the warmth of this picture, too. Sometimes, a split-second either way makes the difference between ho hum and an image that jumps out at you a little.

Your turn: What's your favorite part of a flight? My daughter wants to know.