When There Were Clouds

[AlanLichty]

The dry season in the Pacific NW typically starts right around the Fourth of July and and looks to be right on schedule this summer with cloudless skies. On the nights before the fourth we had a couple of nice sunset color shows and I showed the first one a few days back. There was another neat sunset the following night but high winds aloft forced me to bring my drone down before the vivid colors hit their peak. This is a pano I grabbed right as my controller started flashing warnings to land as soon as possible. Three panels at 24mm.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Trent Watts]

It is beautiful Alan. Glad the drone was able to stay up for those last few shots.

 

[AlanLichty]

It is beautiful Alan. Glad the drone was able to stay up for those last few shots.

Thanks Trent - I have a gauge that shows me the drone's attitude while flying and gives me a clue how crazy things are up where the drone is hovering. It offers a good perspective on how much work the gimbal is doing to keep the camera steady and level in spite of what the drone motors have to do to maintain position. In this case the drone was leaning forward quite a bit and tilted to the right fighting the wind while the gimbal held the camera level for all three shots.

 

[Trent Watts]

Wow. that is amazing technology.

 

[AlanLichty]

Wow. that is amazing technology.

Indeed - drones wouldn't be nearly as useful for photography if it weren't for the gimbal control systems. Very different from planting a tripod on solid ground to hold the camera steady.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice looking clouds and color for this sunset. The drone technology has come a long way in terms of flight time, ability to navigate the winds and the gimbal. And oh, the cameras have improved a lot as well.

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice looking clouds and color for this sunset. The drone technology has come a long way in terms of flight time, ability to navigate the winds and the gimbal. And oh, the cameras have improved a lot as well.

Thanks Jameel - I am always amazed when looking at the attitude gauge vs. the camera view. The drone is all over the place holding its position in the wind while the camera view is steady with a clean horizon.

 

[BlackRockArt]

The dry season in the Pacific NW typically starts right around the Fourth of July and and looks to be right on schedule this summer with cloudless skies. On the nights before the fourth we had a couple of nice sunset color shows and I showed the first one a few days back. There was another neat sunset the following night but high winds aloft forced me to bring my drone down before the vivid colors hit their peak. This is a pano I grabbed right as my controller started flashing warnings to land as soon as possible. Three panels at 24mm.

View attachment 82980

C&C always welcome.

Alan, this is a dream shot ! Worthy of large wall to wall sized print.

Oliver

 

[AlanLichty]

Alan, this is a dream shot ! Worthy of large wall to wall sized print.

Oliver

Thanks Oliver!

 

[Beth]

guess the sky didn't want to be outdone by fireworks. love it.

 

[AlanLichty]

guess the sky didn't want to be outdone by fireworks. love it.

Thanks - now if the clouds would just come back for an encore. Not a one in sight at sunset for the last week.

 

[Beth]

Thanks - now if the clouds would just come back for an encore. Not a one in sight at sunset for the last week.

we've had plenty of clouds lately. but they've all been rain clouds. or just flat gray clouds at sunset that block any chance of color coming through.

 

[JimFox]

Super cool Alan!

 

[AlanLichty]

Super cool Alan!

Thanks Jim - I just wish it hadn't been a sort of farewell to the cloudy days of early summer. Stark raving naked skies ever since.