Behind the Scenes at One of the World's Busiest Airports

  • The competition, Jan. 26, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
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  • Morning view, Feb. 10, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
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  • Ducks in a row, Feb. 10, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
    3 of 8
  • Meeting of the minds, Feb. 5, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
    4 of 8
  • Flight on time, Jan. 20, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
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  • My cockpit for the day, Jan. 20, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
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  • Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
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  • Melting snow, Jan. 21, 2014.
    Joe Lammerman—@lammdogg_photography
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By TIME Photo
February 20, 2014 4:38 PM EST

With flight delays on the rise and a long winter leaving many stranded at the airport, TIME called on its readers to submit their photos from the terminals and tarmacs using the hashtag #TIMEairport. Many of you answered, but one Instagramer with an insider’s perspective caught the attention of our photo editors.

Joe Lammerman, or @lammdogg_photography on Instagram, has been a baggage handler with United Airlines for nearly 18 years, currently based at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. He first picked up a digital camera in 2006, quickly developed a passion for photography and has carried one with him ever since. Through a mix of cell phone and digital camera images, his Instagram feed gives us a behind the scenes look at one of the busiest airports in the world.

“I find beauty in a lot of different things, whether it be mechanical or natural,” he tells TIME. “I absolutely hate winter, it sucks the life out of me, but for as much as I hate it, it has produced some really cool, beautiful, bleak-looking pictures.”

For more, follow him on Instagram @lammdogg_photography.

Contact us at letters@time.com.

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