Up-Up and Away....
As I get ready to return to the Arctic, it's time to begin to pack my gear and make sure I don't forget anything... This of course is easier said than done, as forgetting stuff is standard for me and I'm sure this trip will not be an exception to that rule.
While I've been home, I've been asked many times how I created some of my aerial images that have been posted in earlier dispatches. Most assume that these images where created with an airplane or helicopter. Actually they were created using a kite that allows me to send one of my cameras into the air.
With this type of gear, you have the ability to control the height of the shot just by letting out or bringing in the kite as the scene dictates. Next, I have ability to set the upward or downward angle of the camera and also have the ability to rotate the unit in a (360 degree) rotation. This of course allows me to not just capture a given scene on the ground. It also allows me to capture a full panorama of the world around me all in one flight.
To be honest, flying this rig can be a little nerve racking... Flying several thousand dollars of Nikon gear on a string can be seen like a high-risk venture and I guess it is.
So after spending several weeks flying the kite with nothing on it. I graduated to a plastic jug with water that weighed the same as the camera. After crashing a few times I learned to fly the unit quite well and became confident that I could actually do this without picking camera parts up off the ground....
So with that in mind here is a little slideshow I created to documentate the first flight I took with a camera and not my crash-proof water bottle....
Just press (Play) to view....
Cheers for now
Doug
Reader Question....
As I begin to pack my gear to head back north… I thought I would take a couple minutes to answer some of the questions I’ve been getting from readers.
One of the most asked questions I get from people who are planning to visit the CFL project is the type of camera they should bring and how to keep their camera working in the cold.
These people could be taking part in the CFL for many different reasons, but my advice is not dependent on why you are becoming involved in the CFL. So if you are a scientist, media guest or student as part of our Schools on Board program. The answer to the type of camera is actually quit simple…
“A digital camera would have a lot of benefits over a film camera… But at the end of the day, bring the (best) camera you have access to”. Your trip will be an adventure of a lifetime and one that you will want to record.
Now for keeping you’re camera working in the cold…
The cold brings (2) issues up that are just a reality of working and living in an extreme environment.
First the camera you will be using requires batteries. These batteries work quit well when they are used in warm climates. But don’t work nearly as well when they are in the cold.
The first problem you will run into while shooting outside is your batteries will now only last for minutes. So if possible, a spare battery or batteries is a good thing to carry in an inside pocket against your body to keep them warm. When you find your batteries dying in your camera just change them out and put the old ones back into your inside pocket. This will allow your cold batteries to re-warm and actually you will find that they will regain their charge a little and can be used again if you need to.
The next issue you will have with a cold camera is the moisture you can get inside it when you bring your (cold) camera into a warm environment. This can cause some large problems with your camera and should be something that one needs to guard against if possible.
The best way I’ve found to deal with this issue is to carry a Glad type zip-lock bag with you when outdoors. Make sure it is large enough to put the camera in it and seal properly.
By putting your camera into this type of bag before you go outdoors… You are trapping (cold air) around your camera before you expose it to the much warmer indoor air.
Keep the bag sealed until your camera has warmed up to room temperature. This effort will go a long way to keeping your camera safe again moisture and keep it working when you need it most.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Doug