The image was taken with a Canon D60 (digital SLR) with a 100-400 L IS lens. The lens is image stabilised, that is, one of the lens groups is gyro-stabilised to minimise the effect of camera shake. Aperture was 7.1 shutter speed 1/640sec and focal length was at 400mm. Continuous drive was used (click-click-click) so it's likely it will have been the best of several frames.
Yes it was a shoreside flyby.
Discussion thread is here:
http://www.airliners.net/discussions...d.main/144989/
With regard to the aircraft pointing straight at the camera, don't forget that zoom lenses will distort distance. The 747 is probably much higher than it looks.
Cheers
James