Photos Onward

[Lawreston]

In another thread " Photos of planes at local airport"(gorgeous photography), BTIZ somewhat endorsed my "stuff." So as to not hijack that thread, I'll update something here for BTIZ. Bill, you'll remember that about the time you were here I had been hired to do an extensive photo shoot on/at Seguin Island Light Station(dates to the late 1700s, lighthouse built in 1838). After October 05, and heavy fog, the Friends of Seguin Island Light Station sent me back, in bright sun, on October 25. With 300+ photos in hand, Friends are sorting them to produce a CD which will be available through their website . Additionally, there will be at least ½ dozen of my 4" x 12" mounted panorama prints illustrated in the website. Panoramas are usually thought to be horizontal. But in the case of a long tram up the side of the island, that wouldn't work. So, another attack(see images).

The 1st image was the first one I cropped from its full-frame. After printing and mounting I took it to the FOSILS office as a sample. A banker lady who was visiting the office bought it on sight. While I was at printing a replacement sample I spotted another full-frame that had to have been taken micro-moments before the other one. The angles of the tram vary slightly; of course, with the plane flying at 75 mph the lay-of-land would change. A day after emailing the new image to the FOSILS office I received an email from the FOSILS president:

"This is actually a better angle, because it gives a glimpse of the "trestle"
aspect of the tram ...
In fact, it is one of the most inclusive and descriptive views of the island,
of which the relationship of the Tram to the other structures is more
clearly manifest.

In short, I LOVE IT !!

Well, done !

Fred"

Coincidentally, Fred was the U. S. Coast Guard Keeper on Seguin from 1960 to 1962.

HR
[EDIT] That new image printed a lot better than shows up in the posted image. ???

 

[BillTIZ]

I like the one showing the angle better, not "straight up" the hill.

 

[Lawreston]

) And it does print -- from my master -- much clearer than it shows in the post.

 

[BillTIZ]

Did you get any good images from our trip to the Kestral factory?

I got a new Nikon Coolpix pocket camera for Xmas.
Need pocket camera for my flying. All the Alaska photos were on the wife's 12meg camera.
My new one is 16megpix and 10x zoom.

I'll graduate to your style camera in a few more years.

 

[iWantWings]

Hi,

what a cool photoshoot you had to do and the landscape is beautiful. I know some photographers would love to have the chance to do what you did, and the panorama you posted is great!

I had very rarely seen vertical panoramas and the one you took is just right for it. Looking at it it makes me want to see more of that landscape. If I think of it, could you Splice the original image into 3 vertical panoramas and then frame them separately? i saw something similar to that - i have no artistic eye at all or the creativity that others do, but i sometimes try to copy what they do if i like it

So what airplane were you in? I assume you did not shoot thru glass but the had the window open (or no doors)? I'd like to try something like that but could do it only if i wasn't flying - otherwise i would only take some point-and-shoot snapshots.

thanks for posting, it is unique and looks great

 

[iWantWings]

I like the one showing the angle better, not "straight up" the hill.

I looked at obth and couldn't make up my mind. I like the one with the diagonal layout of the tram, it complements the vertical panorama I think.

But i really like the curvature of the coast on the lower part of the photo and with all the straight lines in the photo, the curved coast is a nice complement.

 

[jpower]

Did you get any good images from our trip to the Kestral factory?

Mini thread hijack! What's the latest going on at Kestrel? When are they going to be delivering planes? Any word? Assuming this is the same Kestrel we're talking about. Seems like a realllly nice plane....

 

[Lawreston]

Did you get any good images from our trip to the Kestral factory?

I got a new Nikon Coolpix pocket camera for Xmas.
Need pocket camera for my flying. All the Alaska photos were on the wife's 12meg camera.
My new one is 16megpix and 10x zoom.

I'll graduate to your style camera in a few more years.

Bill: thanks for the discreet reminder that I haven't sent you the shots I took when we were at the Kestrel "Tour." It's been busy here at home and away.

HR

 

[Lawreston]

Mini thread hijack! What's the latest going on at Kestrel? When are they going to be delivering planes? Any word? Assuming this is the same Kestrel we're talking about. Seems like a realllly nice plane....

Kestrel's actual plane manufacturing will be done in Wisconsin(because State of Maine screwed-up re financial matters). Kestrel Brunswick's operation is research, development, engineering prototype production of modules, etc. Yes, it's the same Kestrel, headed by Alan Klapmeier(formerly head of Cirrus).

HR

 

[Lawreston]

Hi,

what a cool photoshoot you had to do and the landscape is beautiful. I know some photographers would love to have the chance to do what you did, and the panorama you posted is great!

I had very rarely seen vertical panoramas and the one you took is just right for it. Looking at it it makes me want to see more of that landscape. If I think of it, could you Splice the original image into 3 vertical panoramas and then frame them separately? i saw something similar to that - i have no artistic eye at all or the creativity that others do, but i sometimes try to copy what they do if i like it

So what airplane were you in? I assume you did not shoot thru glass but the had the window open (or no doors)? I'd like to try something like that but could do it only if i wasn't flying - otherwise i would only take some point-and-shoot snapshots.

thanks for posting, it is unique and looks great

I own/was flying the Skyhawk you can see in my avatar, 1971 C-172L. I took the elbow out of the bracket on the pilot's windscreen so that the screen opens right up to the wing. I attach a heavy cord to the window latch, the cord long enough that I sit on the extended end. When it's time to close the window because photography is done I extract the cord from under my butt, simply pull on it to get the window down to the "closure" point. Then I can easily reach over and secure the latch. All during the "closing" procedure I don't have to take my eyes off their normal activity, as in reaching out to finger-grasp the window to pull it down through the air pressure. Below are some other panorama pieces I created from the original full-frame shots. The first one , with the square house on it, is just off Popham Beach/Fort Popham. The house is owned by the Maine State Treasurer(though the new Legislature may opt to put in their "own" party person). The extensive photo shoot I did of Seguin Island is for their history records and for promotion/publicity venues. Any photo that they release will have the
© by Lawreston/ Distinctive Views credit w/ publication of same.

HR
[EDIT] It's the fourth image "with the square house." The order of images got skewed in posting.

 

[Lawreston]

The second image shows the trestle which supports the tram that goes from the boat house up to the lighthouse. I don't know why some of these look grainy here. They are not when printed. The other shot is of Fort Popham, right at the mouth of Kennebec River as it flows into the ocean.

Incidentally, the lighthouse and tram goes back to 1838, though I don't know the rebuilt or past maintenance data of the tram and trestle.

HR

 

[iWantWings]

I own/was flying the Skyhawk you can see in my avatar, 1971 C-172L. I took the elbow out of the bracket on the pilot's windscreen so that the screen opens right up to the wing. I attach a heavy cord to the window latch, the cord long enough that I sit on the extended end. When it's time to close the window because photography is done I extract the cord from under my butt, simply pull on it to get the window down to the "closure" point. Then I can easily reach over and secure the latch. All during the "closing" procedure I don't have to take my eyes off their normal activity, as in reaching out to finger-grasp the window to pull it down through the air pressure. Below are some other panorama pieces I created from the original full-frame shots. The first one , with the square house on it, is just off Popham Beach/Fort Popham. The house is owned by the Maine State Treasurer(though the new Legislature may opt to put in their "own" party person). The extensive photo shoot I did of Seguin Island is for their history records and for promotion/publicity venues. Any photo that they release will have the
© by Lawreston/ Distinctive Views credit w/ publication of same.

HR
[EDIT] It's the fourth image "with the square house." The order of images got skewed in posting.

Beautiful landscape and photos - all the more remarkable that you were both pilot and photographer.

Does the lighthouse still "light up"? I'm thinking at dusk, before it gets too dark so there is still some light in the sky, if the lighthouse were lit i imagine it might make a nice scene to photograph. The timing between available ambient light and light from the lighthouse would have to be just right.

Oh, and, nice to have a high wing in this case, isn't it.

Thanks for sharing!

P.S. the structure/scafolding the supports the tram looks interesting... and all made of wood...

 

[Lawreston]

The lighthouse is fully functional, since 1838. It is now owned by Friends Of Seguin Island Light Station. We members are responsible for the maintenance/upkeep of the REAL ESTATE; however, the United States Coast Guard remains in charge of all matters related to operation of the actual light which can be seen from a distance of some 20 miles. If a Coast Guard helicopter is flying somewhere over the ocean, mission nothing to do with Seguin, and a pilot finds a need for "call to nature," they'll land on Seguin for purpose of using the outhouse(privy) which is located just slightly up from the shoreline.The helipad is adjacent to the lighthouse, so said "emergency visit" might occur between early October and Memorial Day, the period during which there is no resident keeper on the island. And there's quite a walk from the helipad to get to the privy, the lighthouse's actual housing "facilities" being locked during the winter months.
The prime reason for having sent me out there -- two occasions -- was for history records and "if it's man-made, photograph it," to identify any factors that may need maintenance or repair(the lens being sharper than the eye?). One COULD walk up the tram -- straight line -- to the lighthouse; however, it's POSTED now to restrict same because carpenter maintenance has become necessary in numerous places. The normal route from shore to lighthouse is a wide hiking trail through the trees and bushes.
Yup; high wing can be a blessing. Other flying friends have R-V and other a/c with the bubble canopy; gorgeous, but photography through the bubble is with problems.

HR

 

[BillTIZ]

Sorry I did not get back to this thread until now.
Those proofs of the island look great. Nice "ocean side" shot of the Fort.
That fort and beach was one of my Dad's favorite places to go.
Of course we just lived "up river".

 

[Lawreston]

Tonight I'll be hanging an exhibit at CAFE CREME in Bath. The majority of the pieces will be the 4 x 12 panoramas but there should be room for some of the canvas enlargements. The hanging will be up through February. Oh, yesterday I made contact with a new store in Freeport. It specializes in Maine-made Arts & Crafts. It would be super to get in the shoppers' panacea of Freeport; and it's right across the street from LL BEAN's main store and adjacent to Linda Bean's restaurant. 2013 might be looking good.

HR

 

[BillTIZ]

Tonight I'll be hanging an exhibit at CAFE CREME in Bath. The majority of the pieces will be the 4 x 12 panoramas but there should be room for some of the canvas enlargements. The hanging will be up through February. Oh, yesterday I made contact with a new store in Freeport. It specializes in Maine-made Arts & Crafts. It would be super to get in the shoppers' panacea of Freeport; and it's right across the street from LL BEAN's main store and adjacent to Linda Bean's restaurant. 2013 might be looking good.

HR

Sounds great! I sent my brother information on the exhibit. He's in New Gloucester, Me.

 

[Lawreston]

Sounds great! I sent my brother information on the exhibit. He's in New Gloucester, Me.

If I didn't leave my memory up on the step ladder there are 45 4" x 12" mounted panoramas from land, sea and air; 7 11" x 16" photo canvases(same sources); and one 20" x 30" photo canvas of a seagull's view from 1400', just before flying over the Kennebec River from Bath to Woolwich. CAFE CREME is a busy place; this, obviously my largest hanging, though my "stuff" can be seen in six other businesses in Bath. I was showing one of the art boards(six aerials of Bath) to a banker lady at the credit union. A fellow standing nearby glanced at the board and said, "That's my boat house right there, and there's a better shot of it in that one. I've lived on that property my whole life." )

HR

[Added:] https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Creme/90066531736