People Skydiving to See Space Shuttle Launch

Excellent find! That looks like STS119 due to the plume colors.

You don't need to be close at all to see this. I am 35 miles away by air and using a 280 mm lens I shot this that same evening.

When I shoot day launches I can resolve the orbiter, its main tank, and boosters upon ascent.

Incidentally, the article states that the wide-angle lens the sky divers use makes the launch look closer. In fact, the opposite effect is true.

Sweet pictures. Pretty awesome spectacle to witness. I like your idea of staying on the ground while viewing a bit more though.