Aerial Photoshoot - Twilight

[agriffiths]

Just finished sorting through images of my most recent photoshoot over Melbourne. Thought I'd share a little preview .



Edit: More images....







... coming home

[radar]

Love it Andrew,

was that with a D3s?

I would probably just trim a bit off the right hand side to get rid of some of the empty black spare there, but that's just being picky as it is a great shot as is.

André

[Alex]

Love this! Beautiful colours and you've nailed the exposure.

Alex

[agriffiths]

Thanks André.

I ended up using my D3x and D700. I couldn't get a hold of a D3S in time and whilst it would have been nice it was a good chance to refine my hand held technique .

[biggerry]

Nice stuff Andrew, really love that exposure and the lights, can you advise on the exif data? (my firefox plugin is broken)

In terms of teh composition I like it, however do you have any other shots from this run? what I am thinking is an image with all the same components but with one of the major arterial roads dividing the image diagonally...this would put your position about the 3 oclock position with reference to teh stadium..thoughts? easy from my seat

When you do this kinda work do you typically do a couple of circuits of the target? or just a single flyby?

the empty black spare there

maybe try and use this as part of the other third of the composition?

Nonetheless I would be interested in seeing some more of this particular style and time of day!

[agriffiths]

Yep there's plenty more. I'll post some more later. We took some handheld video too, which I'll also post.

I usually spend a day planning routes and altitudes and then complete a recon orbit before shooting to make sure everything's as it should be. In this case we arrived over the site with 10 minutes to spare before the 'good light'. I find the good light only lasts 10 to 15 minutes max, depending on cloud and artificial lighting conditions.

[chrisk]

beautoiful image. cant wait to see the rest.

[surenj]

Handheld??

As Gerry mentioned, the firefox exif manager crashes with each update!
I am guessing 3200ISO?

These look HDResque! Brilliant colours.

[agriffiths]

Posted a few extra images for you all.

Yes all handheld shooting down to 1/20. Hanging from the open door of a helicopter at these speeds requires quite a bit of concentration .

[surenj]

Hanging from the open door of a helicopter

Any snaps of this particular setup?

[agriffiths]

When I say hang, it's more of a lean with my rear end still planted firmly inside the helicopter. I wear a full harness, which is basically the same as a climbing harness with additional lanyards for each camera. The harness is then attached to the interior firewall by a single climbing clip. It also has a quick release tab hidden on the front shoulder strap so that I can get out fast in case of an emergency landing... just have to be sure not to catch it prematurely .

[radar]

Awesome extra images Andrew. As you say, plenty of planning and it's all done in a few minutes. Second one is great and really like the perspective in the last one showing the helicopter.

[aim54x]

Those shots look awesome. It must be very frustrating to have to do so much in such a small amount of time.

[agriffiths]

Those shots look awesome. It must be very frustrating to have to do so much in such a small amount of time.

Thanks . To tell you the truth that short 10 minute period is my favourite part because that's where it all comes together.

[biggerry]

sheeez... that @#% right 'dere is damn fine !

what kinda iso we talking? that last one needs some horizon tilting..

[agriffiths]

 LOL, thanks Gerry .

I left the horizon as it was in the last shot because I like the perspective and angle. It reminds me of the feeling I get when leaning out.

[agriffiths]

I just posted a short sequence we took from the shoot.

http://agriffiths.smugmug.com/Video-documentation/Twilight-video-documentation/11647340_jQ3d7#822404292_aGfEr-A-LB

The quality isn't so good as it was captured using a D90 and we were just playing around on final approach to land. Next time we'll do it properly.

[paulmac]

Beautiful stuff Andrew.

Can I help you do a Reverie take-off next time?!

I did a few daytime city orbits a few years ago in a Warrior and loved it.

I noticed that the front left seat was empty. Can I fill it for you next time? Just to get the Canon perspective...

[heartyfisher]

Lovely shots.. Like the #2 and #3 best. colours are great.

[agriffiths]

I noticed that the front left seat was empty. Can I fill it for you next time? Just to get the Canon perspective...

Actually, there were three empty seats .

[bigsarg7]

sheesh! what an incredible job, you've made melbourne look specalcular!!

3 empty seats, next time i don't think they will be so empty. But in all seriousness, you've captured melbourne beautifully, its a perspective i can only dream of seeing and or photographing! Can't say i'd feel too secure at those heights leaning out of the very thing that got me that high!!

Fantastic shots, loved every one of them!