Early was Better

[AlanLichty]

Last night I saw some promising clouds so I wandered out to see what the sunset might have to offer. The view I got when I got my drone up to my usual viewpoint looked like I had an epic show ahead so I started shooting. Sadly by the time the sun was completely down all of the overhead wispy clouds had disappeared and what remained never took the glorious colors I was hoping for. Happily the early shots turned out to be worthwhile and this is a 4 panel stitch from the 24mm lens. Click through for a more detailed view.

C&C always welcome.

 

[JimFox]

That's very nice still Alan.

It pays to start shooting at the first sign of gold in the clouds as sometimes that's all we get.

 

[AlanLichty]

That's very nice still Alan.

It pays to start shooting at the first sign of gold in the clouds as sometimes that's all we get.

Thanks Jim - this is where I am grateful we aren't still using film where I might be scrimping on how many shots I take given the time lag and cost of developing the shots. With a 512GB SD card in the drone I am only limited by my batteries and I have 4 that can do one half hour each.

 

[Trent Watts]

I love the effect of the archway the clouds give.

 

[AlanLichty]

I love the effect of the archway the clouds give.

Thanks Trent - its a nice effect but quite a bit of that is lens distortion. This view is close to 170º and pointing slightly up for the framing with a 24mm lens across 4 images wide. The uncropped stitch made it clear my gimbal was not shooting at level but slightly up.

Seemed like a fun result so I went with it anyway

 

[DES]

I'm completely ignorant about drone photography. Do you have an active link to always know what the drone camera is seeing? Is that provided by a smartphone app or by a dedicated monitor? Can you make real time adjustments to aperture/shutter speed/exposure compensation? Or do you use auto exposure and rely on post-processing? I presume you can aim the camera accurately -- a joystick? Is there latency in aiming or taking a shot?

Your "skyscapes" are beautiful. I think you've mastered the technique.

 

[Beth]

the lens distortion works well on the clouds. beautiful as always.

 

[AlanLichty]

I'm completely ignorant about drone photography. Do you have an active link to always know what the drone camera is seeing? Is that provided by a smartphone app or by a dedicated monitor? Can you make real time adjustments to aperture/shutter speed/exposure compensation? Or do you use auto exposure and rely on post-processing? I presume you can aim the camera accurately -- a joystick? Is there latency in aiming or taking a shot?

Your "skyscapes" are beautiful. I think you've mastered the technique.

Thanks - yes I have a remote control that gives me the equivalent of the LED screens on the back of most digital cameras. In my case it is a dedicated controller with its own monitor and it's a full time active display of what the drone camera is aimed at. There is very little lag in the display in flight. I have the ability to position the drone/camera gimbal and treat mine as an aerial tripod. For the 24mm camera that took the images in this panorama (Hasselblad L2D-20c) I can control ISO, Shutter speed, and F/stop along with white balance and exposure compensation.

 

[AlanLichty]

the lens distortion works well on the clouds. beautiful as always.

Thanks! I really liked the wispy stuff but was bummed they fled the scene before the colors could light them up.

 

[Jon Buffington]

You did well to salvage a workable shot. All too many times, I go out and wait....and then nothing. The clouds disappear or completely block out the light. Good for you for working the early images. Sunstars are always nice ")

 

[AlanLichty]

You did well to salvage a workable shot. All too many times, I go out and wait....and then nothing. The clouds disappear or completely block out the light. Good for you for working the early images. Sunstars are always nice ")

Thanks Jon - I have been skunked on sunrises and sunsets more times than not and know that one well. Its a bit less painful when you haven't ventured far like my front steps in this case Part of the fun in getting a really amazing sunset is that you never are quite sure which one is going to sing until it does.