Aerial Photography From Along the Mystic River

This slightly edited image is from a recent shoot along the Mystic River, which is between Charlestown, Somerville, and Everett. While I won’t specify the client, if you’re familiar with this area, you’ll immediately see this is the proposed Wynn Casino site, in Everett, MA.

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Harrowing Weather Conditions and the DJI Phantom

We all know the ideal conditions for flying a Phantom, or any UAV for that matter. I want to share a story with you, from flying the DJI Phantom, that underscore exactly why I feel the Phantom is such an incredibly solid platform. There are times when for a varying reasons, there is time pressure around getting filming accomplished, or needing to fly a UAV for any utility purpose. The picture of the flag is from not far from the shoot location, and literally about to rip from it’s seams.

Weather Conditions at Shot Location:

• Winds: 300 @ 22 knots, gusting 32 knots (25 mph, gusting 37 mph).
• Temp: 22, with the windchill, “feels like” 6. Yep, 6.

From the minute of takeoff, I was fighting the winds. I was using GPS mode, in an attempt to fight the wind, and keep the Phantom in roughly the same location. That said, there were several times, where it took FULL CONTROL DEFLECTION to hold the Phantom in roughly the same position. Even with full control deflection, there was still drift. Just about the time I was feeling this was going to be unproductive, the winds relented for a couple minutes. During those few minutes, using the Go Pro Hero 3 Black, I managed to get 72 photos. I landed the Phantom smoothly, and with completely numb fingers, pulled the battery out, while being quite impressed; impressed enough to share this experience.

While I understand the Phantom has limitations, and in full disclosure, just ordered a DJI S800, there are some real strengths to it’s design. In high wind conditions, it seems to me, that the Phantom’s plastic body, reduces the parasitic and form drag. On a windy day like this, I would take have more confidence in flying a Phantom versus any other UAV. So, bravo zulu to the DJI team for a well engineered UAV.

Onwards and upwards.

Sugarloaf Ski Mountain – Carrabassett Valley, Maine

Incredible shoot yesterday at Sugarloaf. We were lucky enough to be there the day before opening day, on a 40 degree / low wind day. Good luck to Sugarloaf on their opening day today!

*Editorial Note – chose not to edit the Phantom Props out.

Stoked for Great DJI Phantom Flying

Really excited that ViewPoint has the opportunity to go fly the #DJI Phantom at the largest ski mountain east of the Mississippi tomorrow. Weather looks on track, and most importantly, winds are manageable.

Keep an eye out for lot of images and video!

Wellesley Farms – Above the rail line.

Just wanted to fly on this gray Sunday. From above the Wellesley Farms Commuter Rail Station, looking Northeast.

Chestnut Hill Reservoir – Cleveland Circle – Newton/Brookline

From today’s high-wind, stills shoot beside the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. Approximately 800 ft here. Looking towards Cleveland Circle and downtown Boston.

Added additional images of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. If you select the images, you can see the higher resolution versions.

Coastal North Shore – Crane Beach – Ipswitch, MA

Images from a shoot several weeks ago on the North Shore, just outside the Crane Beach entrance. Interesting marshland, especially with the trenches cut, which aren’t visible from the ground.

From a Residential Photo Shoot in MetroWest, MA.

This day actually ended poorly. A brush with a branch while climbing the Phantom resulted in a pretty solid ground-impact. Spent the better part of the evening doing a rebuild. All is well again, thankfully.

Highlights from a cloudy morning at the Quabbin Reservoir.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqZs2vp6w38

Fascinating history of the Quabbin Reservoir. The Town’s of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott were “dis-incorporated” and flooded to make room for the reservoir.
Edited with iMovie. Song by David Gray.