Well, just because.
Eye Candy
sunset
Scene
Simply felt like a scene out of the movies. I’m in a big, overgrown field (alone), photographing the landscape and out of nowehere the massive lightning storm erupts before me. And just like in the movies, I’m telling myself “I gotta shoot this. Just 5 more minutes.” Have I not watched enought TV and movies to know better!!!
I got the shot. | Order a print.
Notes to Self
So along with about 5 million other people (give or take), I traveled to the path of totality. How could I miss something like that? Many thanks to my friend Brian Clark for motivating me to travel with him and his kids to experience it. I may not have come away with the best images, but I experienced it. It was all worth it. The distance traveled, the traffic, the waiting. Icing on the cake? There’s another one in 2024. I’ll see you there!
In the meantime, here are some notes to my future self so I don’t forget (the beauty of an online journal, right?):
- Use the same camera to shoot both partial and total (the other camera is a backup)
- Avoid extenders if at all possible.
- Get a solar filter for the longest focal length.
- Practice. Actually practice. It may seem silly, but now you know.
- Take time away from the viewfinder and experience it.
- A sturdy/hefty tripod ballhead is your best friend.
- All camera bodies you use need a fully articulating LCD viewfinder.
- Go ahead and rent that camera body you really wanted to rent this time around – it’ll be worth it.
The sunset horizon due North during totality. One of several very specific images from my gallery – those who were there may appreciate them more than others. | More images here.
Tuscarora
I always wondered what BFE looked like – now I know. What an awesome place. A bit of a hike to get there, but so worth it in the end. Look for more images like this hitting the marketing material of visitwinchesterva.com.
Sunset from Eagle Rock along the Tuscarora Trail right here in Frederick County, VA just west of Winchester. | See more like this here.
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.
There He Is
It’s taken several trips to the beach to get him used to it, but now he absolutely loves running up and down the beach, through the water chasing after any wildlife that moves. Today he discovered the little sand crabs.
Waldo found his happy place.
Public Speaking
Another fun aerial/drone/UAV/UAS/sUAS workshop tonight at the Blandy Photo Club meeting. It’s always fun inspiring new people to get into the aerial platform. It also helps me keep up to date on all the new regulations, which are changing in my favor in a couple of months. Can’t wait! 😀
Showing off the Inspire 1 to the Blandy Photo Club.
I always love the way the light of the sunset plays with the cloud cover in the opposite direction.
Lots of great texture in the sky last night during the flight demo at the Blandy Photo Club meeting.
