This is what 24ºC looks like to me in Febraury. Come on, how could I not?!
In My Town
Differences
Put aside your political views/opinions for about 45 minutes each day. Enjoy the fact that there’s always this to look forward to.
It’s been a while since I shot anything and I know this is a similar composition, but it’s never really the same. | Order a print of this image.
Part 107
So I just posted a response (quoted below) to a video that showed up in my Facebook feed, but then I removed it. Something about the time and placement of the response didn’t feel right to me, but I still feel that it needs to be said.
As more and more people earn their sUAS remote pilot certificate, the skies are becoming more and more saturated with “legal” drone pilots. And when I say “legal” I mean drone pilots who are allowed to be paid for their craft. Those flying for recreational purposes do still have rules to follow as well. And for the most part, those rules are essentially the same rules as the ones for licensed remote pilots (of course, licensed piltots have the added CFR 14 part 107).
I’ve gotten on my soapbox before and I’ll keep getting on it because I feel strongly about these rules and the safety of everybody involved. I’d also like to continue with my craft and grow it into a more successful piece of my studio, but it becomes increasingly hard to do with such blatant disregard for the rules and regulations happening all around me.
As I mention in the post, I’m not perfect and don’t claim to be perfect. Granted, you can get some amazing imagery with drones these days, but that doesn’t mean “get the shot at all cost.” I don’t have the additional cash on hand for potential fines from the FAA. For me, I’ll continue to follow the rules as best I can. And I’ll keep plugging away on my little soapbox when I see fit.
On the one hand I enjoy watching well-done video and this is certainly well-done. On the other hand he, being an FAA sUAS remote pilot, should know better than to fly in some of the conditions depicted in this video. Completely against part 107 regulations. Granted, I’m not perfect, but it burns me up that FAA remote pilots are not really following the rules they agreed to when applying for the license. Of course, my rant is negated if waivers were granted.
This is the photo that got the attention of the FAA back in the Spring of 2015. They never saw the photo, but did receive a report from the local police about my flight . This incident is why I’m so very careful these days and advocate for safe, law-abiding flying.
Snow Haiku
I don’t like the cold
The sun looks great in Winter
I want some bacon
I really like the juxtaposition of the cool tones and the warm tones. | Order a print of this image.
At Least He Cleaned Up His Mess
It’s not every day that an opportunity lands in your front yard and says “photograph me while I rid Old Town Winchester of a black squirrel.” This is what makes me envious of those people who have fields and forests in their back yards. But it was cool and weird when it happened on a main street in town. At least he cleaned up his mess.
Unfortunately I had to shoot these images through double-paned glass so they’re not as sharp as they could be.
Maiden Voyage
Well, So far so good. I took the new Mavic Pro out for its first flight this morning and was impressed with everything about it. It’s easy to set up, unassuming and is incredibly easy to fly (as I expected having used DJI products for almost 3 years now). Its image quality is incredible for as unassuming as it is. It’s ultra portable and the battery lasts forever. It doesn’t take the place of my Inspire 1, but is simply another tool in the toolbox for this massive gear head.
Sunrise over Winchester (processed from a single RAW photo). | Order a print of this image.
Stubborn
Through some pretty intense back pain I still managed to get out on Saturday to shoot the Battlefield Half Marathon. Although I wasn’t as mobile as I was the previoius two years, I still got some great Fall colors and an awesome sunrise. I suppose I should have taken it easy, but I’m just stubborn that way I guess. After all, I got the shot!
KOKV 291515Z AUTO 21007KT 10SM CLR 17/07 A3013 RMK A02
Great day to fly – yeah, I’m a geek, so.
The weather finally cooperated with me – just wish the foliage would, too. | Order a print of this image.
Painterly
It’s certainly not for everybody and I’ve seen it done with great success, but the “painterly” style is definitely different.
Shenaodah University’s Halpin-Harrison Hall as the Fall foliage sets in. | Order a print of this image.
Fairy Tale
Makes you completely disregard the fact that this is actually a cemetery, right?
The gatehouse entryway to Mt Hebron cemetery in Winchester, VA. | Order a print of this image.
Organic Creativity
Photography is one of those things that can truly have an organic component to it. I often venture out with a specific shooting goal in mind and almost always become inspired on site to be creative based on whatever situation presents itself to me. It’s simply part of the creative process. I gotta figure out how to teach that in the classroom.
I was there to shoot Fall foliage.
Due Diligence
Ok, now that I’ve done the “heavy lifting” to be allowed to fly a sUAS legally it should be as important for you (the consumer of photography and video) to complete your due diligence. Make sure the person/company you’ve just hired to shoot your video is also legally allowed to perform the sUAS work for hire. It concerns me that anybody can walk into Best Buy or Target or Wal-Mart or hop on Amazon or any number of other online retailers and purchase these flying machines. And young kids these days are seeing the proliferation of drone videos and YouTubers flying with reckless abandon that it seems glamorous and risk-free. It’s certainly not risk-free, but kids tend to simply plow forward without a second thought. It worries me to no end that a very young middle-schooler recently proudly announced to me that he just got a DJI Phantom 4 – a fairly expensive flying camera. Yeah, kids are amazing at video games and technology in general these days, but the decision-making skills are simply not there. It’s comparable to a drivers license. There are reasons that teens go through a process to earn a driver’s license which includes an age requirement. Decision-making skills folks. And I’m certainly not saying that you have to hire me – just make sure the person/company that you DO use is qualified and legally allowed.
Ok I’m done. Enjoy this image of Fall colors knocking on our door.
Fall colors are popping up quickly. My goal is to get this shot with much more Fall color in the next couple weeks.
Exercise
I absolutely do NOT envy any photojournalist who has ever or will ever be in the actual situation of photographing an active shooting event. I know it was just an exercise today, but at moments it seemed all too real. They did an incredible job making it look and feel like it was really happening.
One of the “victims” in today’s active shooter drill is carried away from Daniel Morgan Middle School in Winchester (more images on Cedarmeade Studios’ Facebook page).
X5 FTW
I was cleared for takeoff this evening. Yep, I filed my first (and second) flight plan. It’s kinda surreal for me that I’ve made it this far. When I got my first aerial camera, it was so new that there weren’t really any regulations for it (which explains all the images in my collection that I can’t really shoot these days). It’s crazy how fast the governemnt moved on this set of regulations. But I’m always about what’s next and that usually spells trouble for me being a gear-head and all. I have to separate myself from the ever-growing community of “dronies” who are basically shooting with the same super-wide-angle-infinity-focus camera that everybody else has. That’s not good enough for me anymore. Not after tonight’s flight.
Can you appreciate what’s slightly different about this aerial image? | Order a print of this image.
Old-Fashioned
I’ve been lucky enough to live in towns where a drive-in theater is minutes away. If you haven’t been to the Family Drive-In in Stephens City, I’d encourage you to give it a try. Now that’s some good old-fashioned fun. I had the opportunity to visit one in South Dakota in an RV and I’ll tell you, there’s no better way to enjoy it than in an RV.
The Family Drive-In in Stephens City from a different perspective. | Order a print of this image.
Choo-Choo
Well, just because…
I’ve been shooting this location for the past couple months. Today was the first time I saw the engines parked so..why not, right?
Strawberry
I wasn’t about to let a photo opportunity slip by that was basically handed to me “on a silver platter.” It was a scramble to get it, but I think it was worth it. And, of course, I just had to shoot it at Handley High School. I probably could have gotten some decent ones at the Handley Library, but this will do just fine.
The Strawberry moon ushering in Summer 2016. | Order a print of this image.
Luck
I completely stand behind my statement that I tell a lot of people about my photography. There’s certainly a lot of luck involved. Right time, right place. As I gain experience, though, it’s becoming easier to be in that right place at that right time.
As the double rainbow was strengthening, I was able to spin it around and catch the lightning! | Order a print of this image.
The magnificent double rainbow over Winchester tonight. | Order a print of this image.
Absence
Has your heart grown fonder? It seems like it’s getting longer between posts for me. I suppose that means I’m busy these days with my studio work, which is good for me, but I need those days wheere I can just go out and shoot what moves me and just be creative.
One of the few landmarks around Winchester that I haven’t really shot – The Museum of The Shenandoah Valley. | Order a print of this image.
SU Graduation
This may make it onto NBC news somewhere – hopefully in some sort of commencement round up from the area/region/nation. Fingers crossed. What a great day to fly.
The graduates of Shenandoah University 2016! Congratulations to all.
Cedarmeade Studios 