Select the Best Photos to Ensure the Success of Your Assignment

Creative photography is an art of capturing precious memories! And I believe the future of photography is on the internet. Nowadays a student search for images online to complete a homework assignment while on the other hands an Art Director for a major ad agency will find an image for a full-page advertisement in New York Times. The student pays a few cents while an art director has to cough a whopping $ 15,000. The popularity of any image in conjunction with the use, usually determines the price to be paid.

Aerial photography commonly refers to that section of photography in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. To capture an aerial image the cameras are elevated high above the object. Usually photographers use airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, or gliders for the purpose of aerial photography and are performed professionally in field studies like cartography, archeology, landing use plans, military economical espionage, advertising and cinematography. Aerial photography has immensely benefited real estate marketing where commercial and residential properties are the photographic subject.

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With the advent of stock photography the competition among photographers has increased by leaps and bounds. The photographers who are creative, diligent and motivated will lead the race while those who remain stuck in the past will slowly and gradually fade away from the business.

Are you looking for skyline images, aerial and oil industry photos. If yes then please read on… as this article is written purposely to navigate you through the process of buying stock and assignment photographs.

While searching for skyline photos and energy images online you need to consider a few things. Initially you need to discuss your exact needs and the details of your assignment. Ask yourself how you plan to use those images? You may need photographs for a purpose now and plan to use them in future as well. Do you want to own the images? Does the site offer sample work? Discuss your plans with the customer service professionals. Tell him the specific needs of your assignment or project. Describe your assignment as exclusively as you can and it would be even better if you provide the professionals with a sample of a style you like.

The most important thing is the cost of the photographs. Do not remain in the illusion that the best value is from the cheapest price. You need to think beyond the cost. Your aim is to select the best photos that can ensure the success of your assignment and reflects your creative thinking.

Contemplating the above considerations ahead of time will definitely best serve your need and purpose and will even enable you to discuss your requirements with customer service representatives.

Finally do a quick search online for creative photography websites that offers really exceptional quality images in both digital and print media. View the sample work available online. Browse through the photographs and choose the one that best serve your needs. See if they can customize the skyline, aerial and oil industry photos for you. Finally compare the rates, choose the photographs and place the order. By following what we have discussed above will surely help you to choose the best photos or images that suit both your artistic needs and personal budget.

How to Become an Excellent Photographer

Photography can be learned by anyone. In this modern age, photography is as common as anything else and there are a lot of people who need useful, solid tips, techniques, advices and ideas about taking pictures. Aperture to shutter speed, framing and film. From the basic principles to the advanced techniques. Amateurs photographers can learn the basics and the adepts can level up their skills by gaining more knowledge of the advance techniques. That is just how things are turning in the photographer’s world. You can’t just slack away and feel confident on your present skills, but you have to keep on learning and studying to be competitive.

The process will take time but displaying passion and showing true interest in photography will make things a lot easier for you. Once you feel you have fully grasped the basics, you can now enter photo contests. The fun part begins and all your effort will be put into the test. The world og photography is vast, you will someday be a part of it and hopefully your name will be listed among the top.

Build a Name, Utilize the Internet

This is the most exciting part and also the hardest. Building a name in a multitude of photo shooter is difficult, just imagine the numbers of amateur and professional photographers. But that doesn’t matter at all, stick to your style, be the best of it and eventually you will shine from the many. You can start by joining online photo contests. The internet offers many picture contest both for amateurs and professional photography ethusiasts. Since you are just starting, I suggest you first focus on picture contests without entrance fee or registration. Win or lose, you will have the chance to experience what it is like to compete with the world. In addition, your entry will still be posted on their sites. Viewers can help you develop your skills by posting comments and feedbacks onm your work. You will be assessed by the world, so be prepared with photo critics who might sound harsh. Their comments will somehow make you feel bad but don’t lose confidence, that’s how picture contests really works, basically these people are the ones who make picture contests more challenging and intimidating at the same time. Use google and find suitable photography contest to gain experience. Remember, stick to your natural style.

Classification of Photography Contests

Black and White Photography
The photographs are taken without colors..

Portrait photography
Photography of individual persons.

Fine Art photography
Photos taken with the intention and purpose for creativity.

Fashion photography
Also known as glamour photography.Photography specialised in displaying clothing, other fashion items and models. It is also a form of advertising photography.

Architectural Photography
Capture of building and architectural elements.

Cityscape Photography
Urban environment captured on photos. Examples of Cityscape photos.

Nature photography
Photography taken with the emphasis on nature, wildlife, flora and fauna.

Advertising Photography
Photos generally done by advertising and design agencies or in-house design team that illustrate a service or product.

Aerial Photography

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Photos taken from a plane, helicopter or skydiver.

Landscape Photography
Photographic interpretations of the land and its beauty.

Underwater photography
Photographs taken while underwater. It is usually done while scuba diving, snorkeling or swimming. Needs special equipment. Example of Underwater photography.

Macro photography
Photography where the image is taken close up.

Food Photography
Taking of food in an attractive and appetizing manner.

Night photography
Photographs taken outdoors between twilight and dusk.

Fine Art Nude Photography
Taking photos of unclothed persons for the purpose of artistic expression.

Wedding photography
Taking images of a wedding event.

Photography Tips by Geoff Lawrence

Here are some must read tips before joining any photography contests. These guidelines were proven useful by professional photographers during their amateur years. When joining photography contests, stick to these 10 basic rules of rules in photo shooting.

1. Selection – Select only the best of your pictures to show to others and leave the rest in the drawer. Showing someone every picture you have taken dilutes the effect of the best pictures and gets very boring. You may want to show twenty pictures of little Johnny at the park because they are all quite good and you can’t decide which are the best but, trust me, you will be better off making that decision and showing only the few good ones.

2. Turn the Camera on it’s Side – At first it feels awkward holding the camera on it’s side, but it is worth getting used to. If the shape of your subject, a person or a building, fits into an upright rectangle, you waste so much picture space if you shoot in landscape. You paid for all those millions of pixels, don’t waste them.

3. Framing – One of the easiest ways to improve your photography is with careful attention to framing. Look into the corners of the viewfinder to see what is there. Do you need all that background? Can you get closer to your subject or zoom in?

4. Direction of Lighting – Photography is all about light, the direction of the light falling on your subject is most important, you must look at your subject carefully and see how the shadows fall.

If you are able to choose the time of day to shoot your pictures, try to pick a time when the sun is low in the sky, either shoot in the early morning or late afternoon. Shooting pictures of people with the sun too high in the sky, tends to mean the subject’s eyes will be in shadow and/or your subject will be squinting in the strong light, both of which tend to look horrible. A nice side effect of shooting in the early morning or late afternoon is that the colour of the light is ‘warmer’, reds and yellows are stronger which generally gives a more pleasing effect.

If you are photographing in sunlight, try to position yourself so that the sun hits your subject from the side, this will give you nice ‘modelling’ and help create a 3D effect in the picture.

Sunlight behind the subject can give a very pleasing ‘backlight’ effect but be careful that you are not getting ‘flare’ in the lens, which degrades the contrast of the image.

5. Direction of Lighting (2) – The very worst kind of lighting is provided by the little flash fitted into all modern cameras. Not only does it give your subjects the dreaded red eyes, but also flattens all faces into shadowless featureless blobs. Use the in camera flashlight only in an emergency, when there is no other choice.

6. In Camera Flash – When you have to use the in camera flash, keep your subject(s) away from walls, especially light coloured ones, if at all possible, and avoid that ugly black shadow which looks like an outline. This will not show up against a dark background.

7. Exposure – Using auto exposure to your advantage.

If you have a modern camera, the chances are that the default metering system is ‘centre weighted average’, which means that, although it takes an average reading of the whole scene, it takes more notice of what is in the middle of the frame. Which is good news for us. The other good news is that it takes this reading at the time when you take ‘first pressure’ on the button to take your picture. When you push it halfway down and it beeps at you, not only is the focus now set (on an auto focus camera) but the exposure reading is taken and the aperture and shutter speed are set. So, if your main point of interest is not in the centre of the frame, it’s a good idea to put it there temporarily while you focus and take your light reading, then move the camera whilst still holding the button halfway down and compose the picture the way you want it to be. A common use for this technique is when you are taking a close up shot of two people and there is space between their heads, if you’re not careful the camera will focus on the wall or trees behind them. If the background is very dark or very light this can alter the exposure significantly and result in faces that are too dark or too light.

8. Shutter Speeds – When the shutter speed is important as with moving objects, it’s a good idea to set the camera to ‘Shutter Speed Priority’ mode. This is where you select the shutter speed and the camera selects the appropriate aperture according to the light reading.

9. Apertures – If depth of field is important to either make sure everything is in focus or to throw some things out of focus, select the ‘Aperture Priority’ mode on your camera. In this mode you select the aperture and the camera selects the shutter speed according to the available light.

10. Neutral Density Filters – If you are shooting in bright light and want to restrict the depth of field, use a neutral density filter in front of the lens to reduce the light entering the lens. These are available in different densities, 2x, 4x, 8x etc. each one cutting the light in half, quarter, eighth etc. In extreme circumstances you can screw a couple of them together. Although they are ‘neutral density’ filters and should not effect the colour balance, if you use two or more together you might need a little colour correction at the printing stage.

If you’re really planning big with your photography career, joining photo competitions is the fastest and easiest way to be recognized. Try putting your heart in every shot and try your very best in every photo competition you join. Some people join photo competition for the price, some for experience and some just do it because the of the fun that it brings. No matter what your reason is, have fun in every click of the camera.

Tourists Flights And Viewing Of Mammals,Birds,Reptiles,Amphibians,Insect,Flowers & Trees In East Africa National Parks & Game Reserves

Tourists visiting East Africa which comprises of Kenya,Uganda,Tanzania,Rwanda & Burundi which are the five countries that form the East Africa Community.

The tourists touring will have a variety of services to choose from when it comes to air travel which comprises of fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters. There a scheduled flight which normally operates strictly on a timetable and you can purchase a ticket or tickets on per seat basis .There some areas that twice daily flights are operated whereas other areas once daily flights are operated.

There are flying packages offered inconjuction with the hoteliers and air charter companies and you have a package for all inclusive except drinks, tips, films etc and this is discounted and affordable opposed to buying each product or services separately. It is always advisable to buy these packages or making reservations in advance as when you book last minute you might not enjoy the discounts as it is last minute and you are desperate.

We have private flights which can be chartered and it is charged on per capacity basis into East Africa National Parks & National Reserves. The helicopter is ideal to national parks or game reserves that are in bush areas, forest on an island as all it needs is an open place clear and it will drop and pick you at the doorstep but at a premium price and they are only in capacity of 3 and 5 seats excluding pilot. We have the 3 up to 18 seats fixed wing aircrafts which are used for scheduled and private flights. The services are segmented in different categories, VIP Executive flights, helicopter private flights, scenic charter flights, sight seeing charter flights, filming charter flights, aerial survey& photography charter flights, birding safaris, photography charter flights, private charter flights but this will depend with your pocket.

All these services are provided in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi within East Africa region. There also exclusive properties for luxurious spenders and also budget properties provided by different hotel chains within East Africa all you need to do give your budget and you will be served.

We will briefly describe some of the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insect, flowers you will see when you visit East Africa National Parks & Game Reserves including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the entire African Continent. Tourists have different taste just like any other consumer and that is why we are giving description of all that can be found we on tour in East Africa National Parks and Game Reserves. You can take any means of transport on per seat basis air ticket or on per aircraft capacity private charter flight to these destinations all over East Africa through flying packages, private charter packages or by purchasing each product separately.

BIRDS

Africa Fish Eagle.

Widely distributed in the vicinity of both alkaline and freshwater lakes, swamps, marshes and rivers. Adult birds (A) are unmistakable having pure white head, neck mantle and breast contrasting with rofous brown undeparts and dark brown back and wings. The primary wing feathers are blackish .The tail is pure white. A patch of unfeathered skin in front of the eye along with the cere is bright yellow. The bill is grey-blue tipped with black. The eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are yellow. The female is larger than the male. Immature birds have the crown and upperparts brown, cheeks and neck white, breast and underparts buff to brown heavily streaked with black. The tail is off-white with a brown terminal band. The immature (B) plumage stages are subject to extreme variation. The cere,legs and feet lack the intense colour of the adults, being dull grey-yellow. Feeds mainly on fish but will also take some water birds including flamingos.

Black Kite

A very widely spread species throughout East Africa, found in a wide variety of habitats from woodlands to open plains as well as towns and cities where they are scavenge on human refuse. The head, neck, mantle, back, wing coverts, and under parts are mid-brown streaked and flecked with dark brown. The tail is dark brown at the base and paler towards the deeply forked tip. The underside of the wings is rofous brown streaked and flecked with dark browns. The eyes are dark brown; the cere and gape, like the legs and feet are bright yellow. The bill is yellow darkening towards the tip. The sexes are similar, the female being slightly larger than the male. Immature birds are generally paler above, browner below with white streaking and flecking.

Black- Shouldered Kite

A small grey kite common over the whole region, ranging over a variety of habitats including open plains, woodlands, forests and farmland. The head, face, neck, breast, belly and under parts are white, the head, nape and breast having a blue-grey wash. The back and upper wing coverts are slate blue-grey. The median wing converts are black and very prominent in flight. The primary and secondary wing feathers and blackish. The underwing coverts are white. The tail is white with some grey on the central feathers. The eyes are a piercing bright red contrasting strongly with the white face and dark eyebrow. The cere, legs and feet are bright yellow. The sexes are similar. They hunt from perches and by hovering, dropping onto prey which consists almost entirely of rodents.

Osprey

A winter visitor to much of the region, frequenting large lakes, rivers and estuaries. The crown and nape are white streaked with brown. A dark brown eye stripe extends from the eye down the sides of the neck to the mantle. The mantle, back and upper wing surfaces are dark brown. The throat and breast are white, the latter flecked with a variable amount of brown. The belly, thighs and under parts are white. The under wings are white with brown flecking. The upper tail is dark brown the underside is whitish with dark barring. The eyes are pale golden yellow. The cere, legs and feet are pale slate grey. The sexes are similar. Feeds entirely on fish which are plucked from close to the surface of the water but on occasions will splash dive feet first, snatching fish from up to a metre below the surface.

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Pygmy Falcon

A very small falcon of dry thorn bush regions. Can be easily overlooked, resembling a shrike from a distance. The crown, back and wing coverts are grey-blue. The rump, face and under parts are white. The primary wing feathers and the tail are black; the latter with grey banding. The eyes are dark brown. The cere is red and the bill pale blue-grey at the base darkening towards the tip. The legs and feet are orange-red. The sexes differ in plumage, the mantle and back of the male being grey-blue while in the female they are rich chestnut brown. They feed mainly on large insects, small birds, rodents and lizards.

Lanner Falcon

Found in a wide range of habitats from dry semi-deserts to woodland and forest edges and open country. The crown is rufous brown, the cheeks and throat white. A black moustachial stripe is present, as is a black stripe from the eye to the lower nape. The upperparts are grey-brown with darker barring and streaking. The primary and secondary wing feathers are dark brown. The breast and under parts are white washed with pink, some brown blotching is visible on the flanks and thighs. The tail is brown with grey banding. The dark brown eyes have a yellow orbital ring. The cere, legs and feet are yellow. The female is larger than the male and has more pronounced blotching and barring on the underside.

Peregrine Falcon

A strong powerfully built falcon. The crown, nape, cheeks and moustachial stripes are blackish; the back is blue-grey. The chin, throat, breast and under parts are white washed with buff and boldly spotted and barred with black. The eyes are dark brown, the cere, legs and feet are yellow. The female is larger than the male, browner above and with heavier spotting and barring on the underside. Occurs in a variety of habitats from bush country to lakes and farmland. Resident and pale arctic winter visitor.

MAMMALS

Warthog

Often regarded as ugly, the Warthog is the most common of the African pigs. They have little in the way of fur, just a few bristles and whiskers on the body of grey skin. The do, however, have a long black mane of hair on the neck and shoulders. Coloration can vary greatly due to their habit of wallowing in muddy pools. The tail is long and thin, measuring up to 50cm in length and is carried vertically when running. They have a large flat face on which are found two sets of ‘warts’, one set immediately below the eyes and the other on the sides of the face between the eyes and the mouth. They have tusks,which emerge from the mouth in a semi-circle outwards and upwards. The tusks and warts are less prominent in the sow than in the boar.

An animal of open savannahs and woodlands living in family groups consisting of a boar, a sow and the offspring from several litters. They can be found during daylight hours grazing, which they often do while kneeling on their front legs. During the hottest part of the day they will seek shade or cover. They feed mainly on short grasses, but will take leaves, roots, fruits and tubers. Sows give birth in burrows and hollows which are lined with grass. The young will remain in the nest for 6-7 weeks. Whole families will sleep together in burrows often excavated originally by Aardvark and later enlarged by the hogs. To defend themselves against predators they enter the burrow backwards, this enables them to make good use of their formidable tusks if threatened.

Hippopotamus

Second in weight only to the Elephant, this unmistakable amphibious mammal has a bulbous body, short legs and a large head which broadens at the muzzle. The eyes, ears and nostrils are placed high on the head in order to remain clear of the water when the animal has its body submerged. The coloration is pink, grey/purple and brown. The body is devoid of fur, having just a few bristles on the tail, head and face. The tail is short and thick. They have well developed incisor teeth which are used when fighting and serve no purpose at all with regard to feeding, which is accomplished by use of the large lips in a ripping motion. In isolated cases they have been recorded feeding on rotting flesh of other animals.

An animal of rivers and swamps across much of East Africa. During the daytime they usually remain partially submerged to avoid the effects of overheating, sunburn and dehydration. At night time they leave the water to graze, preferring short grassy pastures. They use well-defined pathways from the water to their feeding areas, and during the course of the nights foraging; they may cover a distance of 8-10km. They have been recorded, in isolated cases, feeding on the rotting flesh of other animals. They will usually gather together in herds of 10-50 animals, but during periods of drought densities can increase dramatically to 200 or more. Adults are capable of remaining completely submerged for periods of up to 5 minutes. When giving birth cows will isolate themselves from the herd, remaining alone with their calves for about 6 weeks. Calves are capable of suckling underwater as well as on land.

REPTILES

African Rock Python.

This is the largest of East Africa’s snakes, with many records of individuals measuring in excess of 7m. At birth they only measure 60-70cm, reaching sexual maturity at between 2 and 4 years of age. A non-venomous species that kills by constriction, they are usually found in the vicinity of water. They spend most of the daylight hours hidden in dens or lairs. Occasionally they will take prey items as large as gazelle, but normally smaller animals are preferred. All prey is swallowed whole. In captivity they have been known to live for up to 25 years. They are often killed by local people fearing such a large creature, as well as being taken for meat and for their skin.

Agama Lizard

A dominant ale Agama Lizard is one of the most colorful common reptiles in East Africa. The head is bright orange-red and the body colour is vivid blue. Males are very territorial and can usually be found on a prominent rock or tree from where they will engage in bobbing displays to rival males. By contrast to males, females are rather drab, being brownish grey with a variable amount of brighter spots. Agamas are very common over much of East Africa, particularly in rocky areas. They can often be seen scurrying up and down the sheerest rock faces hunting insect prey, which forms the bulk of their diet. They do, however, on occasions take larger prey, including small lizards and small lizards and small toads.

AMPHIBIANS

Sharp Nosed Grass Frog

A frog open savannah and grassland areas as well as being found around human settlements. The body shape is streamlined with a pointed snout and very powerful hind legs, which places this species amongst the most accomplished leapers of all frogs. The sleek body shape facilitates efficient movement through water and through dense vegetation when on land. They feed on a variety of grassland insects. The body colour is olive with irregular dark blotches on the back and flanks. The top of the snout is unmarked, taking the form of a pale triangular patch. A dark line is present along the sides of the snout from the nostril to the eye. The hind legs are marked with faint bands. The body has a series of raised skin ridges, often pale yellow/buff in colour.

Square Marked Toad

The common toad of the region they can often be heard issuing their monotonous croaks throughout the night. A species found in moist savannah areas and in the vicinity of human settlements. A rather plain looking toad with a grayish brown body colour and irregular square blotches of darker brown. A medium sized toad of around 6-9cm in length.

INSECTS

Dung Beetle

A widely distributed group of beetles, found in areas frequently by large by large game animals and , as its name suggests, they spend much of their time searching for animal dung on which they feed. They are round in shape, dark in colour and have short wing covers-their maneuverability in flight is rather poor. Dung Beetles are able to eat more than their own body weight in dung every 24hours, thereby aiding the process of converting manure into substances usable by micro-organisms. At the onset of the breeding season females seek out fresh droppings which they form into a small ball, often rolling it a considerable distance to soft earth where they bury it, having first laid an egg inside. When the egg hatches in its underground tomb the larva will eat the dung ball before pupating. At the onset of the next heavy rains the pupa hatches and makes its way to the surface in search of dung and the whole cycle is repeated.

Africa Giant Millipede

Most millipedes, of which there are many species in Africa, are rather docile, moisture-loving creatures which have the ability to curl into a ball if disturbed. The African Giant Millipede is one of he largest millipedes in the world; growing to lengths of 28cm. they can boast as many as 200 pairs of legs, two pairs to each body ring or segment. Millipedes are to be found throughout much tropical and sub-tropical Africa, usually among moist debris, leaf litter and rotting wood. They are armoured with dorsal plates as a form of defence and many species have the ability to secrete a pungent toxic liquid if attacked. All millipedes are vegetarian, feeding mainly on rotting plant material, but they will occasionally eat living plant matter

TREES AND FLOWERS

Sausage Tree

A widely distributed tree in wet savannah areas and a long water courses at altitudes below 1,850m. A substantial tree growing to a height of about 9m, the flowers are trumpet shaped dull red in colour, about 12cm in length and possess a rather unpleasant smell. The flowers hang on cord-like strings and bloom during the night, falling to the ground during the early morning. The fruits are large and hang on the tree like long sausages, hence its popular name. The fruits are not edible but are used for medicinal purposes in some areas. They reach lengths of 60cm and can wig up to 7kiligrams.

Candelabra Tree

A succulent tree common in some areas of the Rift Valley. A large forest of Candelabra Trees can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park. They grow to a height of 15m. The trunk is short and thick and forms a solid base from which spread a multitude of branches that resemble the shape of Candelabras.

Flame Tree

Originally discovered in Madagascar in the early part of the 19th century, this beautiful tree has since been cultivated in tropical regions throughout the world. Growing to a height of around 15m and flourishing at altitudes below 1,500m, this tree creates a stunning sight when in full flower. The flowers, which appear before the leaves develop, are rich scarlet red and grow in dense clusters. A deciduous tree that sheds its fern-like leaves at the onset of the dry season, having flowered and developed long brown seedpods.

Desert Rose

An indigenous succulent scrub or small tree of dry areas and rocky hillsides throughout much of the region at low altitudes. The trunk and branches have a swollen and stunted appearance and bear very attractive pink flowers about 5cm across. The sap is very toxic and in the past was used by local people to impregnate arrowheads.

Sodom’s Apple

There are around 50 species of solanum to be found in East Africa: incanum is very common along roadside verges and on areas of waste ground. It is quick to colonize recently excavated ground. It is a very tough shrub with fearsome spines on the stems and stalks. It bears flowers that are blue to mauve with yellow centres that measure around 15mm across. The fruits tae the form of hard yellow balls with although edible are rather bitter.

East Africa Safari ,The Beauty Sorrounded By Trees & Flowers,tourists flight

Do you know that East African wildlife has the variety of features like,mammals,reptiles,insects ,trees & flowers that make it beauty and greener?If not then you have the pleasure to learn about trees & flowers found in East Africa both on the Coastal Region, The National Parks,in plantations ,Nyika Plateaus,on mountains,in semi-arid areas,on islands,lakes,rivers,marshy grounds,swamps,damps,rocky and hillsides .These flowers and trees are differentiated with their appearance,size,and the areas ,that the enviroment favours them.

There are different types of Trees & Flowers found all over East Africa as below,

BOobab

Almost unmistakable ,with its swollen trunk and thick root-like branches.Some specimens have trunks measuring 9m or more in diameter reaching a height of up to 18m.During the dry season they bear no leaves but at the onset of the rains they develop a dense canopy.They bear white flowers about 15cm wide and develop oblong, woody fruits up to 30cm in length. The structures of the trunk is  fibrous andd holds a certain amount of water when no surface water is available. At these times Elephants often inflict considerable damage in search of moisture as relief from the drought conditions.

Yelllow Barked Acacia/Fever Tree

A reasonably common species easily recognised by its yellow/green bark colour. It is usually to be found along the banks of rivers and streams and in areas of damp,marshy ground. Early explorers of the region associated the tree with their developing ‘fever’ hence the name . Infact the ‘fever’ was due to malaria transmitted by mosquitoes that principally inhabit the damp areas favoured by this tree.

Flat Topped Acacia

There are some 1,200 species of acacia distributed across the tropical and warm temperature regions of the world. The Flat Topped Acacia is afamiliar sight in grassland areas of East Africa ,its spreading canopy providing shade for many savannah animals. A native tree found over much of Africa and the Middle East, it produces profilic amounts of fruiting pods that provide much needed fodder for animals in dry areas. A medium sized tree growing to a height of around 15m in suitable areas.It is extremely drought resistant and can survive in dry semi desert areas with low annual rainfall. Under these conditions it may only grow to a height of a metre or so.The flowers are white andd grow in small clusters,they have a very aromatic smell. In some regions of Africa the Flat Topped Acacia is the main species collected by local people for firewood and for charcoal production. In some areas of Tanzania this species has been severely reduced by Elephants that strip and eat the bark.

Whistling Acacia

An abundant small bush armed with long white spines and adorned with blackish galls the size of small golf balls.The galls,each of which has several small holes leading to its hollow centre,are inhabited by colonies of aggressive CREMATOGASTER ants, which form mutually beneficial partnership with the acacia. The bush offers housing for the ants by way of the galls and the ants provide protection for the acacia by swarming over any browsing animal and inflicting upleasant  bites to the lips and tongue. Despite the presence of the ants and the sharp spines, Giraffes often browse unconcerned at least for a few  minutes until the ants begin to bite home,thereby encouraging the individual to move on elsewhere.

Sausage Tree

A widely distributed tree in wet savannah areas and along water courses at altitudes below 1,850 m. A substantial tree growing to a height of about 9m, the flowers are trumpet shaped , dull red in colour, about 12cm in length and posses a rather unpleasant smell. The flowers hang on cord-like strings and bloom during the night,falling to the ground during early morning. The fruits are large and hang on the tree like long sausages , hence its popular name. The fruits are not edible but are used for medicinal purposes in some areas. They reach lengths of 60cm and can weigh up to 7kgs.

Candelabra  Tree

A succulent tree common in some areas of the Rift valley . A large forest of Candelabra Trees can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park. They grow to a height of 15m .The trunk is short and thick nd forms a solid base from which spread a multitude of branches that resemble the shape of candelabras.

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Flame  Tree

Originally discovered in Madagascar in the early part of the 19th century , this beautiful tree has since been cultivated in tropical regions throughout the world. Growing to  a height of around 15m and flourishing at altitudes below 1,500 m , this tree creates a stunning sight when in full flower. The flowers, which appear before the leaves develop, are rich scarlet red and grow in dense clusters . A  decidous tree that sheds its fern-like leaves at the onset of the dry season, having flowered andd developed long brown seedpods.

Date  Palm

Common throughout much of the region in the hotter drier areas, usually to be found along the banks of streams and rivers. Arab traders first introduced the Date Palm to the region as asource of food. Growing to a height of 20-50m , the slender trunk iscrowned with 30-40 pinnate leaves up to 4m in length. There are in the region of 40 different cultivated varieties of Date Palm throughout the tropics, the fruits of which ripen at different times of the year . The leaves are used in the production of baskets and mats.

Doum Palm

One of the easiest palms to identify, being the only one having branches which divide regularly into two.They often reach heights in excess of 15m. The fruit is orange/brown in colour and about 8cm long. It is not edible by humans but is eaten by elephants that are, to a great extend, responsible for seed dispersal.The leaves of the Doum Palm are used in weaving of baskets and mats.

Coconut Palm

Some mystery still surrounds the original home of this species, but it is  assumed by many to have drifted on ocean currents from South America to colonise the African shores . Growing to a height of around 30m ,the slender trunk is usually swollen at the base and is crowned with 20-30 pinnate leaves reaching up to 6m in length.Restricted in distribution to coastal regions the Coconut Palm is extremely salt tolerant and can live for up to 100 years , producing 50-80 fruits each year. The fruiting nut provides a valuable source of food and drink in some areas as well as the outer husk fibres providing material for rope making,matting and house thatching.

Jacaranda

An original native of Brazil  this tree can now be found in parks,gardens and city centre avenues over much of the region. They grow to aheight of 10m or more and have fine fern-like leaves which they shed during the dry season. The flower after the short rains blossoming into a mass of delicate bell-shaped violet blue flowers, which grow in clusters.

Bottlebrush Tree

Originally from Australia these very ornament trees have beeen extensively planted in parks and gardens throughout the region. It derives its name from the numerous red flowers arranged around a stem in the shape of a bottlebrush . They produce woody fruits that are disc shaped . They can grow to heights in excess of 7m.

Candle Bush

A comparatively small shrub reaching a height of around 3-4m at most. It has a rounded shape and bears very handsome erect spikes of yellow flowers giving the effect of a candelabra bearing numerous canddles, hence its common name. It is commonly found along roadside verges and woodland edges over much of the region.

Sisal

A native plant of Mexico imported to East Africa by early settlers and extensively cultivated for the manufacture of twine and rope. Although not cultivated to gthe same extend today it can still be found in parks and gardens and along roadside verges. It has elongated leaves up to 1.5m in length that have sharp spines at the tips and grow in a circular formation at ground level. The flowering spike,which erupts from the centre of its cluster of leaves,grows to a height of 6m and bears branches of yellow flowers.

Aloe

There are in the region of 60 Aloe species to be found in East Africa.Volkensii is tall, growing up to 6m in height. It has grey-green leaves forming a rosette at the top from which branch spikes of red flowers. They are found at altitudes upto 2,300m, usually on rocky ground.

Frangipani

Originating in the West Indies this familiar small tree is often found in parks and gardens throughout the tropics.It has a distinctive shape with regular branching . The flowers are variable in colour including pink,white and yellow and are strongly scented.The petals are arranged in an overlapping fashion, reminiscent of an open fan. It is thought to have been named after the French botanist Charles Plumier who first described it during his travels in the Caribbean in the 17th century.

Desert Rose

An indigenous succulent scrub or small tree of dry areas and rocky hillsides throughout much of the region  at low altitudes. The trunk and branches have a swollen and slunted apppearance and bear very attractive pink flowers about 5cm across.The sap is very toxic and in the past was used by local people to impregnate arrowheads.

Bourgainvillea

A very attractive and common native shrub of Brazil found thoughout  East Africa. It is thorny shrub often forming dense hedges in parks and gardens and is amass of the most colourful bracts which  range  from purple to crimson,pink,red,white and yellow.

Pyjama Lily

This very attractive plant has long tubular flowers that are pink and white striped, giving rise to its popular name Pyjama Lily .The leaves are grey-green in colour. It is a reasonably common plant of open grasslands at altitudes up to 2,700m.

Fireball Lily

This superb lily appears soon after the first rains in areas of open grassland and savannah ,on rocky hillsides and forest edges at altitudes up to 2,200m. The spectacular red flowers are carried on a single stem and as many as 150 individual flowers can be found in one spherical spike which can be 20cm in diameter. Once the flowers have faded and died the thick upright leaves appear.

Sodoms Apple

There are around 50 species of solanum to be found in East Africa :incanum is very common along roadside verges and on areas of waste ground. It is quick to colonise recently excavated ground.It is a very  tough shrub with fearsome spines on the stems and stalks. It bears flowers that are blue to mauve with yellow centres that measure around 15mm across. The fruits take the form of hard yellow balls which although edible are rather bitter.

Leonotis Nepetifolia

There are 9 species of leonotis to be found in East Africa,L. nepetifolia is very common over most of the region, flourishing along roadside verges. A plant growing to 1.5m with spherical clusters of orange flowers growing at intervals along the plants woody stem. The individual flowers, of which there are many on each cluster,are about 25mm in length.

All the mentioned species of  Trees & Flowers are found in East Africa for you to have a scenic safari you can use A Private Charter Fixed Wing Or Helicopter. East  Africa inhabitants are farmers and they own big plantations of maize, sugarcanne,cassava,millet,finger millet,flowers,potatoes,soyabeans,pyrethrum,sunflower which earns them foreign exchange when they export them.There are Major International Airports to serve these purpose in Uganda, Entebbe International Airport,Tanzania, Daresaalam International Airport ,Kilimanjaro International Airport andd Mwanza while in Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,Eldoret International and Moi International Airport for cargo and freight flights all over the world.You can do aerial survey and photography of  The Great Rift Valley in Kenya,Ngorongoro Crater and  Oldonyo Lengai In Tanzania and Karuma Falls ,Kabalega in Uganda.

You come as a visitor and you get to discover area of investments with you bussiness and gives an opportunity to use you holiday as abussiness venture, what a great deal!East Africa is comprised of many bussiness opportunities which when visiting can take advantage to learn more and even invest. There are mining sites in Tanzania ,Geita  85 miles North of Mwanza .

We have companies providing both commercial flights and private charters all over East Africa ranging from Bussiness Jets,Beechcrafts, Caravans,Helicopters,Small piston engine aircrafts.Especially Kenya and Uganda is the gateway for flights to the war troubled South sudan,Democratic Republic Of Congo and Chad.United Nations and Ngos have their Regional offices located in Kenya and Uganda for the Eastern and Central Africa operations.

All you need, safaris,wildlife,flights,investments  are all available in East Africa.

 

Introducing the Draganflyer X8 helicopter from Draganfly Innovations Inc. The Draganflyer X8 helicopter is an electric powered, eight rotor helicopter with sophisticated autopilot capable of carrying payloads of 1kg (2.2 lbs) and is perfect for aerial photography, HD videography and public safety applications. The carbon fiber helicopter folds for easy transport and is quick to deploy for an emergency situation or the aerial photographer on a short timeline. www.draganfly.com What is the Draganflyer X8? The Draganflyer X8 is a remotely operated, unmanned, miniature helicopter designed to carry wireless video, still and thermal imaging cameras. Operate the Draganflyer X8 helicopter with the easy to use handheld controller while viewing what the helicopter sees through video glasses and the optional Base Station. Expandable: The Draganflyer X8 helicopter accepts multiple interchangeable camera modules. Choose one or more cameras that are best for you: * High resolution day/night Digital IP video * 1080p HD video camera * 12.2 mega-pixel still camera * 18 mega-pixel still camera * Low light video camera * Color board camera * Thermal imaging video camera. What can it do for you? Use the real-time aerial video provided by the Draganflyer X8 helicopter for search and rescue, public safety, security, reconnaissance, inspection, damage assessment, research, real estate promotion, film and television production or advertising. It can be used for virtually anything. Easy to Fly …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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Air Transport In Kenya By Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Flights

Kenya is the hub of  and stop-over for all regional and international flights into and out  of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.Besides this  Kenya has other airports that serve both small and bigger aircrafts on commercial and private flights namely, Wilson Airport  in  nairobi,Moi International Airport  in Mombasa,Eldoret International in Eldoret,Kisumu International in Western Kenya,Wajir Airport in North Eastern,Mandera Airport in North Eastern,Moyale,Marsabit in Eastern province,Lodwar ,Lokichogio,Kakuma,Lokituang in Nothern Kenya.There are also Private airstrips and government all over the country both to National Parks & Reserves and to Major Towns which serves both the purpose of cargo and passengers irrespectively.Kenya has several National Parks and Reserves all over the  country and you can carry out any activities be it Sporting Safaris,Golfing Safaris,Birding Safaris,Scenic Safaris,Helicopter Safaris,Kenya Safaris,Fishing Safaris,Boating Safaris,Camel Riding Safaris among others but just to name afew.

There two mode of air transport in Kenya namely, Commercial Flights and Private Charter Flights,

COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS.

Commercial Flights to Major Cities departs out of   Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and  Moi International Airport on adaily basis with over 100 arrivals and departures.Eldoret Airport serves for the purpose of cargo that is  Fresh Produce,Textiles,Fish and other goods for export.Jomo Kenyatta International and Moi airports operates 24 hrs and are fully equippped with fire fighters,security screening machines,duty free shops,taxis,forex bureaus,banks,restraurants,security agents,road ambulances all available at request.

Wilson Airport one of the busiest in Africa is key for the scheduled flights to major toursists destinations in  East  Africa.All the Private Charter Firms are based  at Wilson Airport Nairobi and Moi International  Airport  In Mombasa. From Wilson Airport you can get  scheduled flights to, Masai Mara Daily  Twice  aday  that is morning andd afternoon, Samburu once daily ,morning flights,Nanyuki once daily in the morning,Amboseli once daily in the morning,Tsavo West/East once daily in the morning,Lake Naivasha twice daily ,morning and afternoon,Kilimanjaro International  once daily,middday,Diani once daily in the afternoon,Lamu once daily in the afternoon,Kiwayu once daily combined with Lamu or Malindi Service,Mombasa once daily combined with Diani(Ukunda) once daily.Out of Mombasa we have scheduled flights to National Parks  only  as follows, Mombasa-Diani-Malindi-Amboseli-Masai Mara once daily ,Departure Mombasa at 0730 hrs  arrival Masai Mara 1030 hrs and Depart Masai Mara at 1330 hrs arrival Mombasa at 1600 hrs. Flights out of Malindi will only happen from or to Malindi you will require to have minimum 6 seats or pay for the same or alternatively  catch your flight from Mombasa to andd from.Flights out of Diani are a must  and for the aircraft to route via Amboseli we will also require 8 passengers and drop off times are 0900 hrs in the mornings and pick ups at  1530 hrs in the afternoon.Some of the private airstrips  found in Tsavo West/East are Galdesa,Kambi ya Kanzi,Chyulu Hills,Finch Hattons .At  Mombasa Airport you can only find the 18 seater LET 410 and Seneca 11  twin engine 5 seater BUT  Wilson Airport you can find a 2 seaters, 3 seaters,5 seaters,8 seaters,citation bravo jet 7 seater,Beechcraft  200  10 seater,Beechraft 1900  18 seater,12 seaters,18 seaters,25 seaters,37 seaters,and cargo aircrafts ranging from 250 kilos to 5 toner aircrafts.At Wilson Airport there commercial flights to Lokichogio,Kisumu,Eldoret,Kitale,Rumbek in South Sudan on almost daily basis for both cargo and passengers.At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will find scheduled flights for cargo,freight and passengers to Kigali in Rwanda,Lusaka in Zambia,Kinshasha in Drc Congo, Bujumbura in Burundi,Khartoum in Sudan, Juba In South Sudan,Addis in Ethiopia, Modagishu International in Somalia, Daresaalam in Tanzania,Entebbe in Uganda,Lagos ,Accra, Joburg,Cairo  among many others.Wilson Airport though one of the busiest in Africa operates only from 0630 hrs to 2030 hrs daily and incase you need an early departure or late arrival then it will be out of Jomo thus the need to position  the aircraft at Jomo Kenyatta International and there will be extra charges for Parking Fees, Landing Fees,Navigation fees and extra mileage .To avoid  Jams which are normally crazy in the mornings as from  0730 hrs to  1000 hrs you can request from Jomo Kenyatta International   and on arrival to state you are on transist and you will be taken to Domestic Departure Unit 3 for local Flights and International flights at unit 2.For people travelling in groups you can buy Flying Packages which will work out cheaper and take Private charters other than Scheduled flights whereby you will save as the bigger the capacity the lower the cost per seat.We also have private airstrips and for you to fly in there you will require permission from the owner like,Loldia,Green Park,Oserian in Lake Naivasha,Tawi Lodge in Amboseli,Joys Camp in Shaba,Mara Buffalo,Loisaba,Desert Rose,Tassia,Syosambu in Elementaita,Funzi keys at the Coast.

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PRIVATE CHARTER FLIGHTS

Kenya has all types of aircrafts ranging from Citation Jets,Beechcrafts,Boeings,Ambrears CRJ ,Cessnas,Pipers,Let 410,Twin Ottters,Dash-7/8,Caravans ,DC-9 Freighter,Fokker 27-500,Fokker 28,ATRS,Hawkers to carry out  both cargo and charter flights within Africa.

The  37 seater aircrafts that are doing long haul flights are adviced to depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and not Wilson Airport due to the runnway length.The cessna C-182/C-172 3  seater,C-206  5 seater,Cessna Caravan 12 seater,single engine aircrafts are ideal for scenic flights and aerial survey and photography as they fly low and have high wings.The Cessna Caravan has a cargo door which can be used for aerial photography by enabling the photographer more room to take quality pictures whereas the C-172/C-182 andd C-206  are ideal for scenic flights and sight seeing .

There are no scheduled flights to Lake Nakuru,Lake Bogoria,Lake Rudolf,Mfangano Island,Rusinga Island, Wazini Island,Joys Camp Shaba,Sibiloi National Park on Lake Rudof and that is where the Private Charter Flights comes in handy with avariety ranging from 3 to 18 seater but not it will also depend with the serviceability of the airstrip and if unserviceable and you have to fly then the Heicopter or Chopper serves the purpose which you can find at Wilson Airport but only in the capacity of  3 and 5 seater.

Private Executive Jet Flights are also available for Bussiness Executives whose schedule cannot meet the commercial flights timetable.The Citation  Jet Bravo 7 seater with aconference table ,equipped with snacks,hot lunches,chapagne,hot and soft drinks and DVD which serves as a boardroom  while  enroute to your destination has made  it easier for quick turn around bussiness trip. As a bussiness Executive you can decide to host your client to fly with you  as you hold discussions and embark to for another meeting finish it and as you fly back finalize the bussiness deal and proceed with other bussiness.You dont have to fly from Nairobi  to Daresaalam and come back for a meeting all you need to do host your  client on the flight to and from and finish your bussiness in flight.The Beechcraft 1900/200 serves the purposes of both normal and V.I.P Flights as they are convertable to V.I.P Configutration.

AIR AMBULANCE (MEDIVAC) FLIGHTS

Air Ambulance has become one of the most reliable way to save lives of patients to the Hospitals with the modern medical equipment within the fastest means to Middle East,Europe,South Africa,Kenya among others.The aircraft is equipped with stretcher,oxygen bottle with designed places in the aircrfat to be fixed able to carry a patient,one doctor,two nurse and a next of keen and the medication process is on as usual as you fly to your destination, what a relief?Air Ambulance has saved live of many but only for both with Silver and Gold Medical Cover and indeed they are costly and before you are airlifted you will have to give your card number and the insurance company you are insured with so that a confirmation is obtained for both payments  and the covered amount and if it is within the radius you are covered.This can be done in afew hours say 2 hours if youm have all the required  documentations as there are Air Charter  Companies providing these services and they are on 24 hra call irrespective of day and time  including ,doctors,nurses,pilots,engineers and ground ambulances ready for an air ambulance operation.

Emergency & Medical Evacuation

Since  Kenya is the Hub Of both the regional and International Flights the air charter companies have put in measures to ensure each segment is covered by providing Emegerncy & Medical Evacuation flights especially from War Torn Countries like DR Congo,Somalia,South Sudan,Chad,Darfur,Central Africa Republic as Kenya has the best Medical facilities and most of the patients who have less complicated medical needs lands in Kenya.There are the Becchcraft 1900/200 andd the Citation Jet Bravo which are pressurized and flies at 25,000 ft and 42,000 ft above sea level respectively making the patient stable and the flight faster.There are cases of people being shot at or a state of emergency being declared and hence the need for an evacuation.Most of the Organizations operating in this environment have put contigency plans for Evacuations in place for this purpose and have gone as far as engaging an air charter company to be on stand-by .

HUMANITARIAN  & RELIEF FLIGHTS FOR PASSENGERS & CARGO

Humanitarian & Relief flights for passengers and cargo  is also another important area where most Non-Governmental and Untied Nations do charter Flights or Lease for this purpose.Some cargo is Bulky and thus the need for a freighter aircrafts like Fokker 27/28,DC-9,C-130  for airlifting  food,textile,medicine to areas which have poor road infrastructure.The C-130  18 toner and the Buffalo 5 toner have done great for food drops in South Sudan,Darfur,DR Congo,Chad as they can do upto 400 tonnes in a day thanks to World Food Programme,United Nations,European Union,African Union,International Communities,Non-Governmental Organization,International Committe Of The Red Cros for the great Job.They have paid  over 20 billions in air charter for cargo and passengers movement within the World to save lives to earthquake affected areas,Elnino,Sunami.Through this Kenya has become the sole provide and operator of United Nations,European Commission and International Organization and Non-Governmental Charter Flights in Africa both for Wet Lease,Dry Lease and Adhoc Flights.There are over 200 charter companies in Kenya providing both scheduled and private charters  for Tourists,Individuals,International Organizations,Governments and United Nations.

There also internal flights from both Lokichogio and Juba to various parts in South Sudan for both cargo and passengers on request at short notice.

Should you require a private charter or scheduled flight then dont worry there are provided in Kenya depending with ones requirement.

Some Simple Steps to Better Aerial Photography

Given in this write up are some very simple steps that will make you a better aerial photographer. The skill being a very commercial one needs a lot of expertise to execute and an amateurish approach is certain to do you in. Also, aerial patterns need to be very precise. Any flaw in that might make the picture look distorted. That would perhaps be the worst thing to happen considering you go all the way up to ensure that you get a top view of the shot that lies beneath. The altitude decreases with an increase in the level of pressure. 
The most important thing: your choice of vehicle. Your choice of plane or helicopter has to be the best. The altitude to which it goes, the distance it covers overall and the level to which it can safely take you up without experiencing any aerial anomalies are certain very important factors that have to be considered before you even think of boarding the vehicle. The airplane or the helicopter in use whilst doing aerial photography determines the kind of photography the artist is able to do. If you get this right, then the Nikon Telephoto Lens will do the rest. 
There is a time in the day when aerial photography is done best. This is the time when the photographs come out at their best and when they show their full effect. The time being mentioned here is either broad daylight or afternoon. Fact is, post dusk it becomes very difficult to take out precise photographs that have a lot of quality in them. This happens due to the absence of natural lighting. So even if you have the best digital camera with you and the Nikon Telephoto lens fitted inside it that you have taken up through Nikon lens Rental Florida, you will never be able to use it to full potential or advantage. 
The final nail in the coffin would be the lens that gets used inside the digital camera. The lens is of great importance. It has the final say in the quality of photograph coming out and tells whether it would have any quality in it or not. The Nikon Telephoto Lens that you hire for use inside the camera is one of those lenses that yield good aerial photographs. They work well even at higher altitudes. You can use them safely without any problem. This virtue makes the lens a very expensive proposition, and hence, most prefer renting it at an affordable Nikon Lens Rental Florida
These are some very simple steps to do better aerial photography. They ensure that the quality and clarity in your aerial photographs. Best of all, the pixels are not distorted and stay the way they should be in normal photographic conditions. These steps have been tried and tested by experienced professionals. They have only propagated these measures after trying them out thoroughly and evaluating their efficacy. So follow them, and do better aerial photography.

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Modern Remote Control Helicopters

Unmanned vehicles or remote controlled vehicles have been around for quite some years now. Leading in the promotion of the research in the field of unmanned vehicle is the association of unmanned vehicles. This for your information is a non profiting non government organization. It is for this reason that remote controlled helicopters are popular day in, day out. Apart from getting popular, they are also getting complex.

 In inaugural years when they were first produced, they were limited in task and could only carry out very simple assignments and jobs. This was however due to various limitations like the total load they can hold and the motor source of power, but nowadays they can accomplish much complicated tasks than their predecessors.

 Some of the tasks which are most common include photography, such as aerial photography. The remote controlled helicopters are redefining photography by getting camera into areas that man can only dream to be. Advancement in surveillance equipment has really done much realize this and due credit should be given.

 With digital cameras getting tinier and lighter everyday it is really boosting the industry. Now we have very tiny and light PI cameras in the market. IP cameras have the capability to communicate with other devices in the Internet and can broadcast live video feeds to bases many miles away from them. They cameras have small wireless network interface card that communicate in the network. Some of these cameras can take simultaneously live video and also capture photos. Others have internal memory capabilities and can store images and video before transmitting them or when off line. The cameras send their information in encrypted format ensuring that only authorized persons have access to the data.

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 Modern remote controlled helicopters use long range radio transmitters. They range very long but limited by the distance of vision of the pilot. However this is not a big deal any more with modern cameras in place. The kind of Radio system in use in the helicopter is two way. We got the receiver and the transmitter. The receiver is definitely in the helicopter and thus must be very light and mobile. Today’s toy helicopters use up to 2.4GHz Spread Spectrum Modulation. This gives them better reception and longer range of transmission. The receivers may cover a horizontal radius of a some miles. But can be improved for greater distance.

 The remote Controlled helicopters of today will exhibit greater and much improved aero dynamics that marches and out performs the real ones. They perform complicated airborne maneuvers that will leave you amazed and you can’t see them being done by a real helicopter. The hovering capability is also greater hence they are easier to control and can access more places.  Some of these will fly in any direction a feature lacking in the real helicopter.

 Modern remote Controlled helicopters will fly for many hours without recharge or refueling. This has resulted from the advent of lead ion batteries and poly lithium batteries. Many of the long flying helicopters have photo cells on their bodies so as to charge themselves when they are sun. Such helicopters can fly higher and higher since power is not an issue. They will cover longer horizontal distances making them the best for photography and surveillance.

Aerial Photography or Mast Photography ? How to Elevate?

There are many companies throughout the UK offering Aerial Photography from aircraft but also several offering mast photography. These offer very different products and the end use, location and size of site will dictate which is the most appropriate.

Mast Photography is where a camera is elevated from a fixed point on the ground using an extended pole or mast. This is often hydraulically operated although some manual systems still exist. Conventional Aerial Photography utilizes an aircraft such as a Cessna or a Robinson Helicopter. Both mast and conventional aerial photographic companies will often have their own extensive Aerial Photographic Library.

Although it would appear that mast photography would be lower cost it must be remembered that the photographer (with mast) must travel to the site and once at a site it takes time to set up the mast in each position. Due to these timely processes the price is often similar.

Event Photography is often undertaken using a combination of both mast photography and aerial photography due to the differences in the results. It also allows greater coverage and a much greater variety of angles.

Although some forms of Construction Photography benefit from mast photography large construction projects will often require conventional aerials as greater height will be needed. This is especially true if local transport links need to be included which may be several miles from the site. Progress Photography of building projects will often have a similar brief but ultimately the type of photography used will be dictated by the size of the site and the desired content.

An introduction on how to use MultiVision with Getmapping’s Oblique and vertical aerial photography.

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Forget the Myth of Low Cost Documentaries Being Low Quality

Documentaries are a fickle group. They can either do great things for your business, or without the proper ingredients, they can crash and burn. If you happen to be among those that believe the myth that low cost documentaries have to produce low quality, then the latter will probably happen. Sacrificing quality is not an option when producing documentaries, no matter what size budget you have.

This is not true. While you may be producing a low budget documentary, you do not have to settle for poor quality. Sure, you are not going to have the budget of Star Wars nor the storyline of Avatar, but there is no reason to capitulate to the myth that low cost documentaries need to be low-quality documentaries. Here are the top four areas in which documentary producers cut corners on quality.

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Lack of interesting photographic technique. Even if the documentary is dealing with a relatively mundane theme, this does not mean that you should be mundane about the photography. Using the same angle, the same pose, or the same zoom level over and over again is a sure way to make your viewers turn it off. Use different shots from action clips to aerial shots with a few close ups thrown in.

Lack of actual photography, and a dependence upon text, charts, or diagrams. The less creative documentaries rely on computer generated aspects to add to their film. While it may be simpler and more affordable to use less actual photography, that is no reason to deny viewers any interesting photography.

Lack of high-quality audio. In our day of low-cost, high-quality technology, you should have very little problem obtaining excellent recording quality. A simple wired microphone placed on the speaker should do the trick. Budget documentaries are famous for having horrible sound quality.

Lack of careful editing. Editing makes the video. If it does not advance the story or thesis in some way, you should not include it. The same thing is true in writing a college paper. As your English teacher probably told you, eliminate irrelevant content and focus on the theme. Documentaries are no different. Everything should be subservient to the primary purpose of the documentary.

Low cost documentaries can turn out to be high-quality documentaries. Simply resist believing the myth that quality can or must suffer.

Photography Terms

Photography Terms

The following photography terms can be very useful to anyone who enjoys taking photos. Yes, some of the definitions do talk about film. Some people may think that film is obsolete. While it is not in the mainstream of modern photography, it does still exist and some photographers still find it to be their medium of choice.

I, R. Dodge Woodson, have 30 years of experience as a pro photographer and am the owner of The Masters of Moments ~ Distinctive Photography, in Brunswick, Maine. Being an old-school guy, I did not turn loose of my film cameras easily. In fact, I did not let them go until about three years ago. While I admit that digital photography is where it is for mass photography, there is still a place for the use of film. For this reason, I have included some terms and definitions that pure digital photographers will have no interest in.

Aberration A lens fault where light rays are scattered and degrade a photographic image.

Abrasion marks Marks made on the emulsion of film that resemble scratches. They can result from dirt or dust on the film while worked with either in your camera or in your darkroom.

Acutance The objective measurement of how well an edge is recorded in a photograph.

Adapter ring A device that mounts on a lens to allow you to install further accessories, such as a gelatin filter holder.

Additive process When lights of different colors are combined you have an additive process. If a set of three primary colors are combined equally, the result will be white.

Aerial perspective You might think that this relates to aerial photography, but it doesn’t. It is the impression of depth shown in a scene that is conveyed with the use of haze.

Angle of view A measurement that has to do with the widest angle of light rays seen by a lens that forms a suitably sharp image at the film plane. To determine this measurement, a lens must be set at a focus level of infinity. In lay terms, the angle of view is what you can see when looking through your viewfinder. Or, in some cases, what the camera sees that you don’t. Not all cameras offer a what-you-see-is-what-you-get view.

Aperture A part of a lens that opens and closes to allow light to get to the film. You can see the aperture work if you look in a lens that is not mounted on a camera body and rotate the aperture ring.

Aperture priority When an in-camera meter takes its reading based on the aperture setting you have chosen, the camera is in aperture-priority mode. For example, if you want a diffused background, you would set an open aperture, say f-2.8, and your camera would choose the proper shutter speed to produce a good exposure.

ASA American Standards Association. It is a measurement of film speed and relates to the sensitivity of a particular film.

Available light Light that is on a photographic subject naturally, such as sunlight in an outdoor setting.

Back lighting Lighting that is placed behind a photographic subject.

Barn doors Hinged metal flaps found on photographic studio lights that allow you to control the volume and direction of lighting produced by the lights.

Base A term applied to the support material on an emulsion, which is usually plastic or paper.

Bellows A device used for close-up photography. It is a lighttight, extendable sleeve that is infinitely adjustable between its shortest and longest extent. Extreme magnification is possible when a bellows is used.

 

Bounce flash A procedure in which light from an electronic flash is flashed onto a reflective surface and then lights a subject. As an example, you might bounce your flash off a wall in your home to light the face of a subject in a portrait.

Bracketing A method in which you take more than one picture of the same scene using different exposures. Typically, the first picture is taken at what is believed to be the ideal exposure. Subsequent exposures are taken one stop faster and one stop slower to ensure a successful exposure.

Bulb setting A setting on a camera that allows the shutter to remain open for as long as the shutter release is depressed. By using this feature, you can produce timed exposures.

Bulk film Film that is purchased in a long roll and cut and loaded into canisters or other containers for standard use. Bulk film is cheaper than pre-packaged film containers, but it can be difficult to load. If the film is exposed to light during the loading process, it will be fogged and ruined.

Burning in A darkroom term that means you are increasing the exposure on a portion of a photograph by leaving it exposed to enlarger light while the rest of the picture is shaded or masked.

Cable release A device that allows you to depress the shutter button of your camera without touching the camera body. A cable release should be used when you are shooting at slow shutter speeds. By not touching the camera, you reduce the risk of camera shake and distorted images.

Cassette A container that 35mm film is loaded into when it is prepared for use in a camera. Another name for this container is magazine.

Changing bag A lighttight bag equipped with openings for your hands and arms. A changing bag can be used to load film into film tanks or cassettes without the need for a darkroom.

Coating A thin layer of material placed on the surface of a lens to reduce flare.

Color compensating filter A filter used to alter the color of light under various circumstances. Many ranges of compensating filters are available for all types of occasions.

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Color contrast The subjective impression of the difference in the intensity between two close colors.

Color head A darkroom device used as part of an enlarger. It is an illumination system that has built-in, adjustable filters or light sources that are used when making color prints.

Complementary colors Colors that when combined produce white light.

Composite image An image that is made from more than one image source. For example, a multiple exposure is a composite image; so is a sandwiched image.

Compound lens A lens that is made with more than one element, allowing for optical corrections to be made.

Contact sheet A sheet of exposed, developed photo paper that contains images from all negatives produced from one roll of film. Contact sheets are used to preview exposures in a darkroom and to allow evaluation of various darkroom exposures.

Critical aperture The point of aperture opening where a lens produces the best image quality. The setting is usually somewhere around the middle of the range of settings.

Cropping A procedure where unwanted items are deleted from a picture. Cropping can be done before a picture is taken by using a zoom lens, switching to a longer lens, or by moving closer to the subject. It can be done after a photo is taken by enlarging the image in a darkroom.

Dedicated flash An electronic flash designed to work with one particular camera. The flash is connected to the camera with a sensor that allows for automatic flash exposures.

Depth of field The distance at which subject matter remains in sharp focus during the picture-taking process. Open aperture settings reduce depth of field. Closed-down apertures extend depth of field.

Diffuser A material that breaks up and diffuses incoming light.

DIN Deutsche Industrie Norm. It is a method of identifying film speed and sensitivity.

Diopter Refers to the light-bending power of a lens.

Dodging A term used in connection with darkroom work. It is when a portion of photo paper is shaded during an enlarger exposure. This allows the unshaded areas to be exposed longer, giving a different type of contrast and look.

Electronic flash A portable, artificial light source used to illuminate photographic subjects. The light output from an electronic flash is perceived as daylight by film, so no corrective filters are needed when using daylight film.

Emulsion A light-sensitive material composed of halides that are suspended in gelatin. It is used in the making of both film and photographic paper.

Exposure This word relates to the amount of time that film or photographic paper is exposed to light.

F-stop Aperture settings are rated in f-stops. A low numbered f-stop, such as f-2.8, is an open aperture, and a high f-stop, such as f-16, is a closed-down aperture.

Film speed rating A measurement of a film’s sensitivity to light. It is most often referred to as either an ASA or ISO rating, each of which will be the same. A film with an ASA rating of 200 will have an ISO rating of 200. Another scale used for rating film speed is the DIN rating.

Filters Devices that are placed over lenses on both cameras and enlargers to alter light and images. They can be used for corrective purposes or to create special effects.

Flare Light that is scattered or reflected and that does not form an image. It can be reduced with lens coating and lens hoods.

Flash guide number A unit of measurement that allows you to determine the proper aperture setting for your camera when electronic flash is being used as a light source.

Focal length The distance between the center of a lens and its focal point.

Focal plane The point at which a lens forms a sharp, crisp image.

Focal point The point on either side of a lens where light enters parallel to the axis of coverage.

Focus The point where light is converged by a lens.

Gelatin filters Filters that are made from dyed gelatin. They are inexpensive, but scratch easily.

Grain A light-sensitive crystal that is normally made of silver bromide. The faster a film is, the more grain it has. For the clearest pictures, a slow film speed should be used to reduce the effect of grain in photo enlargements.

Haze A vapor of fog, smog, or smoke in the air. Photographically speaking, haze can be created by harsh light falling on the glass element of a lens.

Hyperfocal distance The minimum distance at which a lens can record an image clearly while the lens is set on a focus range of infinity.

Incident light Light that is falling on a subject, rather than light being reflected off of a subject.

Incident light reading A light reading taken with a light meter that shows the amount of light illuminating a subject.

Infinity A point in distance when light rays from objects are parallel.

Internegative A negative that is made on special color film for making copies of prints or for making prints from slides.

ISO International Standards Organization. A standard rating for film speed and sensitivity.

Joule A unit of measurement for the output of an electronic flash. It is equal to one watt-second. By using this form of measurement, you can compare the power of various electronic flash units effectively.

Kelvin When you see temperature ratings given in Kelvin degrees, you are seeing the standard unit of thermodynamic temperature. It is arrived at by adding 273 degrees to a centigrade temperature reading.

Latent image An invisible image that exists on exposed emulsion. Once the emulsion is developed, the image becomes visible.

Lens flare The result of scattered or reflected light that is non-image forming that reaches an emulsion. It can be reduced with lens coating and lens hoods.

Lens hood A device on the front of a lens that protects the lens surface from unwanted, non-image forming light that can cause flare. Some lens hoods are built-in on lenses, and others are accessories screwed into the filter threads of a lens.

Luminance The amount of light emitted by or reflected from a surface.

Macro lens A lens that gives high-quality performance when shooting close-ups. Some manufacturers call them micro lenses.

Masking A technique where a mask is used to block light from part of an emulsion. Masks can be used in filter holders for special effects when taking a picture. They can also be used in a darkroom when making prints with an enlarger.

Negative A photographic image that is comprised of reversed tones. In other words, light objects are dark and dark objects are light when looked at on a negative. When a negative is printed, the colors become positive and appear normal.

Negative carrier A holder that works in conjunction with a darkroom enlarger to hold a negative or slide.

Normal lens A normal lens is one with a focal length equal to the diagonal of the film format. What this amounts to is that a normal lens produces a picture that has a normal or everyday perspective and angle of view. Wide-angle lenses and telephoto lenses distort these qualities and are therefore not normal.

Open flash When a camera shutter is held open with a timed-exposure and flash is fired periodically on a subject, the process is known as open flash.

Panning Moving your camera in a smooth arc to follow the motion of a moving subject while keeping the subject in the same position in your viewfinder.

Photo lamp A tungsten lamp used to light photographic subjects that gives a color temperature of 3400 degrees Kelvin.

Primary colors Red, green, and blue are primary colors, so are cyan, magenta, and yellow. Primary colors are colors that when grouped in threes can be used to make any other color. When mixed together in equal proportions by the additive process, they make white. If the subtractive process is used, they make black.

Pulling film A process where the development time for film is shortened.

Pushing film A process where the development time for film is extended.

Reciprocity failure Light-sensitivity lost during exposures that are either very short or extremely long is known as reciprocity failure.

Resolution The capability of a lens to distinguish between items placed closely together. The higher the resolution of a lens, the better the lens is.

Ring flash An electronic flash that is shaped like a doughnut and attaches to the end of a lens.

Safelight A light that can be left on in a darkroom without affecting light-sensitive materials. Most safelights are either red or amber in color.

Sandwiching When two or more images are combined to make a single image. This process is usually done in a darkroom with an enlarger, but accessories can be purchased that allow you to sandwich slides and shoot the composite picture with your camera.

Scrim A screen placed in front of lights to reduce their output.

Shutter priority One form of an automatic camera. When an in-camera meter takes its reading based on the shutter-speed setting that you have chosen, your camera is in shutter-priority mode. For example, if you want to stop the motion of a Ferris wheel, you would set a shutter speed of 1/250th of a second and your camera will choose the proper aperture setting to produce a good exposure.

Single-lens reflex camera A camera that uses a mirror to allow photographers to see exactly what is focused on their film.

Slave unit A device used with multiple flash setups that allows independent flashes to fire in unison with the primary flash that is serving a camera.

Snoot A device that is fitted to the head of a photo lamp to narrow its beam of light. Snoots are often used when lights are intended to highlight a modelÕs hair.

Spot meter A handheld, independent light meter that takes reflective light readings from very small portions of a subject. It is the most accurate reflective light meter you can own.

Stepping down This means that you are reducing the aperture size or the shutter speed for your exposure.

Subtractive process When the combination of primary colors, dyes, or filters that absorb light are used to produce a black image.

Thick negative A negative that is dark or that has a dense image.

Thin negative A negative that has a thin density and is pale.

Transparency Another name for a photographic slide. It is a positive image meant to be viewed by transmitted light, such as that from a light table or slide projector.

Tungsten light Light that is created by heating a filament of tungsten to a temperature where it emits artificial light.

Vignetting The gradual fading of the edges of an image to either black or white.

 

As The Master of Moments, I hope this article has helped to answer some of your questions.

 

R. Dodge Woodson

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