Photo Live Expo 2016 - The Flight Of The Drones

Love 'em, hate 'em, or sell 'em, the subject of the drones and aerial photography in general cannot be ignored in today's imaging world. Anyone who has seen television or the cinema recently has seen the work of the photo drone and some photographers have become inspired by them.

The Speaker Session between 11:30 and 12:00 at the Photo Live Expo 2016 will be on the subject of drones and aerial photography by Christopher Fulham - who is eminently qualified to speak about it - He is a licensed CASA  UAV pilot. UAV is the fancy name for drones - he can legally fly  in the 7-20 Kg class.

A great deal of confusion surrounds these useful tools - we hear no end of rumours and mate's talk at the pub about the legalities and complexities of the UAV. It's not helped by the fact that there are political and military questions too...and people in pubs always know politics...so this is a good chance to hear Christopher debunk some of the myths and show some of the real capabilities of the aircraft.

It's a rapidly changing field of photography - and you can be sure that there are a number of new products and ideas each month that will be added as it evolves. For those inspired by Christopher's talk and the sight of some of the images that he makes, it is a good idea to get into the habit of consulting Camera Electronic regularly.We have various models of the popular DJI line of vehicles together with the light but sturdy accessories that help them fly...and the equally light and sturdy action cameras to capture the footage.

Of course, if your ambitions range further, with heavier payloads , we can also supply DSLR and mirror-less cameras and lenses too. We stop short of Hellfire missiles or 30mm chain guns, however, which is a keen source of disappointment to at least one member of staff...

Book your tickets to the Drone and Aerial Photography session at Photo Live Expo 2106 

The Aerial Show And Tell - A Success From Shoot

Yesterday evening our teaching facility - Shoot Photography - played host to Christopher Fulham and a bunch of drones.

I hasten to add that I am not describing the staff or clients who attended the lecture - Christopher makes use of the modern mechanical marvel - the UAV. The drone. He uses cameras rather than Hellfire missiles and so is much friendlier and more accessible in his speciality than some others in the world.

These are some of the devices - electrically-powered frameworks with widely-spread electric motors and horizontal props pushing the air down and the drone up. Differential signals passed through a radio link to the computer brain of the drone means that the power to each motor and propeller assembly can be varied.

 The combination of these thrusts means that the tilt of the platform is varied and it can be steered thither and yon as well as up and down - it is the principle of the jelly on the plate. While the platform is hooping over the sky the small cameras carried are picking up images and recording them. Those are biggish drones and one in particular can pack a regular mirror-less camera.

Job for the clumsy? No. Mr. Fulham knows what he is doing and has the skill and dexterity to do it. You would not be able to beat him in any video game involving a joystick...

Now for the next picture, here is a view taken of the audience - note the degree of concentration on the faces. There is not a teacher here in Perth who would not be envious of this degree of attention. Tribute to both the value of Mr. Fulham's presentation and the serious enquiring nature of Perth's photographers.

Will this form of photography continue to attract this level of interest? Well, it forms a commercial entity in its own right at this time with advertising and real estate workers and more and more segments of video coverage are being added to motion pictures via drone coverage. The legalities and liabilities will be examined and debated with time - cynicism says that the press will always print something sensational regarding them - and this will take on the "truth" of urban legend...but fortunately professional photographers like Mr. Fulham will do a great deal to settle things.

Last picture. Nikon the dog, and a handsome dog he is too. No idea who the guy is...

The Cold War Heats Up - With Kodak

Relax - no need to go into the fallout shelter just yet. The Russians are only annexing their neighbours and we don't live that near them. Just don't go investing your superannuation in Lomo camera shares....

Actually, I am not sure if it is the increase in international tensions or just a clever ploy by Rochester to get money from the government, but I note hat there is a new aerial film format being introduced later this month. Apparently digital imaging from near-space just does not have the resolution that film can provide, so they are going back to flying over  potential targets and photographing them with regular cameras. The RB36 has been mooted as the best platform.

Of course these are not just "regular" cameras - they need to have a big format to pack all the information in. Thus the new film format. Rumour has it they use colour negative film, but I don't know what emulsion.

I've asked a friend who works at Corrigan AFB if he can get me a roll of it to test out. I am not quite sure if my Linhof monorail camera will take it, but this sort of opportunity is too good to miss. I'll report whatever success when the film arrives.

Uncle Dick

On A Wing And A Half And A Prayer And A Half

I do not suppose that there will be very many occasions when you will be tasked with taking photographs from the cabin of a 1929 Buhl Sesquiplane, but if you are...or if you want to take aerial photographs from any other platform here are a few tips:

1. Use a 4 x 5 Graflex Aerial camera on 4 x 5 roll film and have an RAF film processing unit standing by in a van at the end of the runway to develop the results. Look carefully on the photos for things that look like ski ramps. If you find any ring us up and we'll deal with it.

2. Use a DSLR with a viewfinder. Mount a prime focal length lens - you choose wide, normal, or tele according to what you expect to see on the ground. Set the focus distance manually to infinity and use a bit of gaffer tape on the outside of the barrel to keep it there. All the things you will take pictures of will be over 30 feet away, whether they are on the ground or in the air. When they get closer than 30 feet pictures will not be needed, except by the FAA and the coroner.

3. Chose an airplane that interposes the least amount of perspex between you and the outside. If it is a light plane with a side window that folds ( and LOCKS ) up, so much the better. If you are to be in a commercial airliner that goes very high, expect double glazing - you can't do much about that, so choose the one that has the best menu and drinks tray.

4. If you can plan the flight with the pilots, ask for them to orbit your target several times. If this means stooging around a Cuban AA missile site, be content with one pass. If you get the choice, ask for the target to be front-lit. If it is the Cubans, use phosphorus.

5. If you get a pilot who is a smart ass and throws the aircraft around a lot to make you nauseous, try to hold in the vomit until you land. Then heave on his shoes.

6. EVERYTHING is blue from the air. The Mohave desert is blue. McDonald's is blue. Put on a UV filter or a light amber.

7. The client wants to see the obliques. The government wants to see the verticals. Your family doesn't want to see anything.