fi rst glance Photos by Jim Mauchly/Mountain Graphics
Photography’s
New Frontier Upper Valley photographer Jim Mauchly is granted an FAA exemption Jim Mauchly, owner of Mountain Graphics Photography, has been granted a 333 exemption from the FAA. This exemption permits commercial uses of a small, unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV), more commonly known as a drone. Jim and Braxton Freeman, owner of Aerial Design Aerial Photography, are collaborating to offer a higher-quality, more creative, and lower-cost alternative for aerial photography and video. Jim brings to this venture many years of photography experience on the ground as well as from aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopter. Braxton is a licensed pilot with 30 years of aviation experience. Their combined expertise provides excellent opportunities for aerial imaging. Among their plans is one to market virtual flyovers of golf courses, allowing a golfer to view the entire fairway from the tee to the green on his smartphone before making the shot. Many other applications have become possible too, such as tower, roof, and steeple inspections. Aerial photography can also be used for property and estate photography; first responder assistance, such as search and rescue and safely evaluating an active fire scene; and agricultural applications, such as crop inspections. } Top: Hot-air balloons at the Post Mills Airport from a bird’s perspective. Bottom: A crowd of curious onlookers at the Wings and Wheels event at the Lebanon Municipal Airport.
30 i m a g e •
Summer 2016