PAPA views
3rd Quarter, 2016 a publication of professional aerial photographers association international
“Summer Strippin” by Tayler B. Schmitt
Editor’s View Papa Views is written, produced and printed by PAPA members. If you would like to contribute an article, post a classified ad or advertise a product or service with a business card or display ad, please contact Julie Belanger at Julie@the 111th.com
Editor Julie Belanger, 111th Aerial Photography Squadron, Morgan Hill, CA
Layout & Production Dee Ann Mooney, The Positive Image, Houston, TX
2014 PAPA Officers: President Stan Macbean, Photographic Solutions stan@utahbyair.com
Vice President of Programs NIKI BRITTON, 111th Aerial Photography niki111th@gmail.com
Vice President of Membership STEVE HANE, Metroair Photo LLC info@metroairphoto.com
Secretary / Treasurer John Mooney, The Positive Image jmooney@positiveimage.com
Eastern Regional Director AMY HARTSFIELD, Amy & Company, Inc. amy@aerialphotosbyamy.com
Central Regional Director FRANK CARLTON, Top Flight Aerial frankc@topflightphoto.com
Western Regional Director DAVID WYATT, Loftics pilot@loftics.com
International Director Brian Harvey, Vision Communicators visionco@bigpond.net.au
Immediate Past President Chuck Boyle, Boyle Consulting Engineers cboyle@boyleconsulting.com
Executive Director Julie Belanger, 111th Aerial Photography Squadron
Julie@the111th.com
Senior Executive Director Ted Campbell,
by Julie Belanger
Hello PAPA Members, I love sharing good news- HEWLETT PACKARD HAS JOINED PAPA! I wanted to share some exci ng news with all of you! Please give a warm welcome to our newest Corporate Member & Sponsor, Hewle Packard! Did you know that HP makes SPECTACULAR photo quality printers? Well neither did I! And the company wants us all to know about it. As part of their sponsorship commitment to PAPA and our membership, Hewle Packard has offered to take on a very ac ve role in PAPA’s 2017 San Francisco Interna onal Conference taking place March 17-18, 2017. HP will be prin ng and dona ng the banners for next year’s print compe on display stands. Similar to last year, there will be eight 60” x 120” canvas prints displaying all the entries in their chosen category. A very impressive and generous gesture from HP. HP will also be bringing their large format printers to the conference in San Francisco to demonstrate their prin ng prowess by prin ng out many of the 2017 print compe on entries. HP will be supplying not only the printers, but all the paper and ink we need for this exhibi on. If you’re like me, you enjoy watching your aerials come to life on a big printer. It will be a joy to watch these printers prin ng their hearts out just for us. Now what to do with these freshly printed images? Read more about some exci ng “Prints with a Purpose” plans in this issue of PAPA Views. Informa on about entering images into the PAPA print compe on will be available soon. And HP’s commitment to PAPA doesn’t stop there: HP also has printers that print on metal. Hewle Packard has offered to print some of last year’s winning images on aluminum, and with the makers’ permission, these beau ful pieces will also be auc oned off as well! You are definitely going to want to check them out! But wait there’s more! PAPA’s biggest prize of the year will now be known as the Hewle Packard Aerial Photographer of the Year award. HP has generously offered to sponsor this award. We can’t thank Hewle Packard enough for lending their name, printers, money and promo onal engine to PAPA. Watch for HP and PAPA in the news as the company has plans to send out press releases about their sponsorship. There will be much more about the 2017 print compe on, the Prints with a Purpose charity auc on and Hewle Packard in the coming weeks. HP now has a direct landing page where PAPA members can contact our two HP DesignJet pre-sales specialists to discuss their needs and next steps. Link: h ps://h71044.www7.hp.com/ga/us/en/contactus.php?DESIGNJET There is also a phone number for our members who prefer to call directly. Phone number: 888-772-9897 HP’s pre-sales team is up to speed on PAPA -- who we are, what we do, and the general needs of our members in regards to printers. HewleƩ Packard will be at the conference. Will you?
Campbell’s Creative Photography
PAPA Views
3rd Quarter 2016
PAGE 2
The President’s View by Stan McBean Photographic Solutions, stan@utahbyair.com
W
hat a great time to be involved in Aerial Photography! With all the advances in digital cameras, computers, stabilizers, aircraft instrumentation, UAS, and the ability to extract more information from our photographs than ever before, the possibilities and opportunities are endless. That’s not to say that there aren’t also many challenges. For most of us change is uncomfortable, but as has been said many times, the only thing constant is change. We all need to evaluate these new technologies and decide which things to incorporate into our business model that will attract new customers, and keep the old ones coming back for more. The new rules and regulations for UAS have opened the door for many of us to add that service to our aerial tool box. Others have experienced lost opportunities to those who charge less than manned aerial photography, or customers who think they can do it themselves. I don’t think that UAS services will replace the need for photography from traditional aircraft, but it may change the way some of us do business. Manned aircraft have the advantage of covering more ground in less time, and providing a perspective not possible from lower altitudes. UAS also has its own unique perspective and capabilities. There is room for both in the aerial photography world, and room for both in PAPA. Sharing your successes and concerns with other PAPA members can be a mutually beneficial way to help keep your business on the cutting edge. In our business here in Utah we have benefited a great deal from our association
in PAPA. Not only have we learned many techniques and skills from the conferences and seminars, but we have developed many lasting friendships and business relationships. One of the best benefits has been the work we have completed for other PAPA members who have clients with projects in our area, and/or customers who have found us through the PAPA website. Speaking of the website, I’d like to reiterate what Chuck Boyle said in one of his previous President’s Messages . . . Upload a picture of yourself to the PAPA directory! People like to see who they are dealing with, and that there is a smiling face behind the name. It strikes me that as photographers this should be a no-brainer. A great way to meet other PAPA members, and develop new relationships, is to sign up for our 2017 International Conference in San Francisco coming up next March. Niki Britton has done a fantastic job of planning a conference with lots of learning and growing opportunities in a great setting. Of course, you can learn more about the conference right here in PAPA Views. Allen and I are planning on flying our 170 cross country to the Eastern Regional in Frederick, MD at the AOPA facility this October 20th and 21st. This looks to be another great PAPA experience. We hope to see many of you there. Many thanks to all PAPA members for all that you do and share for the benefit of all. Stan Macbean stan@utahbyair.com
Thank you!
to Laura & Steve Boyko
In all organiza ons there are usually only a handful of members that take on the lion’s share of the work. Over the years, PAPA has enjoyed the generosity and hard work of the Laura and Steve Boyko, the husband and wife team and owners of Sky High Enterprises in Blackstone, Massachuse s. Since joining PAPA more than 20 years ago, the duo have never missed an annual mee ng and a ended as many regional mee ngs as possible. In 2002, Laura accepted the posi on of Vice President of Programs which came with the duty of planning the annual conference. With Laura in that role, she effec vely created the program and conferences we see today and all future conferences are modeled a er her schedules, room layout, hotel selec on, contracts and even food choices. Steve has always been the go-to guy at the conferences. A conference is a lot like a duck on a pond. It looks like smooth sailing above the water, but underneath there is paddling like mad. When anything went wrong, went missing, or went crazy, Steve was there to set it right. Microphones don’t work? Call Steve. Something was needed at the office supply store? Call Steve. Someone needs to be picked up at the airport? Call Steve. Computer on the fritz? Call Steve. You get the picture. Steve was everywhere. Laura held the posi on of VP of programs from 2002 to 2006 and she served as President of PAPA from 2006-2008. She created and headed the PAPA Conference Commi ee documen ng every step needed to produce a PAPA conference so that those stepping into her shoes would have a step-by-step guide to pu ng on the conference on me and on budget. She stepped up again in the role of VP of Programs in 2012 and con nued for another four years before handing over the reins in 2016 only when she was certain it was in good and capable hands. Laura and Steve have been the steady hands on PAPA’s keel, keeping us on course for more than 20 years. PAPA will always be grateful to the Boykos for all their efforts on behalf of PAPA. As a team in support of PAPA we cannot thank them enough.
PAPA on The Hill by Hunter H. Harris, PAPA FAA Liaison Representative In my last report I mentioned that PAPA had participated and was well represented during the FAA’s UAS Symposium which took place at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University in April. Chuck Boyle, Steve Hane and I would all agree that the FAA, in cooperation with representatives of “manned aviation” and the UAS industry, are working diligently to ensure safe integration of UAS operations in the NAS. I also mentioned that as we began to wrap up the FAA’s ARC (Advisory and Rulemaking Committees) back in March, we found the ARC unable to unanimously agree on our final report of recommendations for certain UAS operations within the NAS. This report was expected by the FAA Administrator and was due within hours. Four members of the ARC demanded a statement, describing in detail why they were not in agreement (with certain sections of) be included in the report. ARC representatives from PAPA, ALPA, HAI and NAAA recognized that the report did not include reasonable recommendations to support the current integrity of the National Airspace System (NAS). As a result of this experience during the March ARC in Washington DC, then soon after during review with fellow ARC members at the April Symposium, the idea to become better organized was agreed on.
“The 26 Coalition for UAS Safety” was formed for the purpose of better organizing the aviation associations with long-term experience in the operation and regulatory environment surrounding the NAS. Our intent is to work together to improve and maintain safety and security standards as we usher in this new era of unmanned aviation. By the way, the name represents the year that the US Congress passed the Air Commerce Act which was the onset of government regulation of civil aviation. The first official 26 Coalition meeting was held Tuesday this week at the Washington Headquarters of the Helicopter Association International (HAI) in Alexandria, VA. More than 20 members attended the three hour meeting and many more participated via live ‘Call In’ conferencing. The FAA UAS Integration Office leader, Joe Mora, who many PAPA members will remember from the 2015 PAPA conference in Atlanta, gave a presentation on the complexities of Part 107, Micro UAS and the FAA’s visions for UAS integration into the NAS. I am working on providing PAPA members with a link to this very informative presentation. There was also a report and discussion about the first FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting that had taken place in DC a few days prior. Several members of the 26 Coalition
are also members of the DAC. A few months ago I applied for membership to the DAC on behalf of PAPA, but was not accepted. “There were a large number of very qualified applicants….” so the rejection letter said. However, I have learned that PAPA may be asked to participate with upcoming DAC subcommittees as things develop. There were several topics discussed including potential 26 Coalition initiatives, one of which I proposed that aligns with proposed sUAS State Legislation I have been working on locally here in Maryland. More on that later as things develop or flop. As you can see by this report and are probably well aware of, there continues to be growing activity and interest and activity by the FAA and others in regards to sUAS operations and rule making. Here is something you may not be aware of: the new Part 107 is not the only set of rules that apply to sUAS…… it is only the first set of specific rules. Please be careful out there, folks! I look forward to seeing everyone in a few days at the Eastern Regional PAPA Conference! Hunter H. Harris Aloft Aerial Photography, Easton, Maryland USA hunter@flyaloft.com
PAPA Views
3rd Quarter 2016
PAGE 5
PAPA Chat…What you might have missed For those of you new to PAPA, PAPA Chat is PAPA’s on-line email forum for sharing information. Members use the forum to pose questions, get quick help for technical problems and to share images. Below is a recent posting on PAPA Chat that bears repeating here in the pages of PAPA Views. The answers could be of help to you in the future.
Original Post: We’ve got a reckless aerial photographer in our area. He’s breaking the FAR’s,......flying well below the 1000’ agl, the 2000’ horizontal rule etc. The other day he arrived and flew orbits under us while we were already doing orbits at 1800’. He knew we were there.....BFI Tower called us out as traffic well before he arrived and he acknowledged us as “in-site”...... This was our first encounter with him but another PAPA member brought him to our attention some time ago. SEA APP and Tower have several low time controllers currently so ATC management has told them to only take us when they “know” they can handle their primary responsibilities first. As a result, Class B requests have become problematic. Apparently this flyer is not coordinating his requests prior to lift-off and is giving us all a black eye when he pops up unexpectedly, requesting B and D access that is sensitive under the best of circumstances. This guy is dangerous and he’s making the rest of us look bad. What to do? Thanks wp Skytech Aerial Photo, Inc. www.skytechaerial.com
r #1: e w s n Best A
m proble re the r e h w mo culty the fa gest proble good gs. o t in it h t is ig a v the b A few have ve ake a uld m e, where it’s tter, if you hat you ha o w I , e t s b n d a e c n n h First e a r tive. T n. Ev in you ou do e is. Or s most ofte ght what y to be proac feed of th li a n h e le s e p ig v a ib ha hap re. H hing poss veatc.net h clip to ct the conta oing everyt erhaps if li nd pull the pecialist or d c rt s es a e, p been e issu the archiv ith a suppo the air traffi y h t s s o u t w o m c t in e is t in b o d u ach o bably ncy, g issues freque u. You’ll pro r. I would re s most atc e e o sdo. with y line manag . This solv local f le t e n h ib t o s r s nd af po opa a ger, if tact a tion. n mana nce. o c ie would pilot devia exper elp, I h n. ’t is a n s irectio doe there d if t is , h h t o ig f d r I in the ially fs ir.com Espec ts you u .... p mTheA o is r h F t s tc...... o y a t ll e o u v f h li e P . Hop www own own in ed it d ow well our rgan k o c M a r t y Tro - we ear h s Troy hance to h k n a h c T was a t. plus it ound - nea s Inc. s io rad hoto, P l ia r ch Ae com Skyte ytechaerial. k www.s
Best Ans wer
#2:
I am told th to follow e FAA’s Safety -up on re Hotline is p inspecto r might c orts that a local required hoose to FSDO ignore. Hotline web form Email: F AAHotlin e@faa.go v Fax: 202 -267-955 5 Mail: Fe de Office o ral Aviation Adm f Audit a inistratio nd 800 Inde n pendenc Evaluation Washing e Avenu e, S.W. to Attn: AA n, D.C. 20591 E-300, R oom 911 Mark Sa nderson - Focal P LLC lane Ph otograp
hy,
PART 107 IS HERE! Have you taken your test yet?
As of August 29, 2016, the new small UAS Rule (Part 107) including all pilot and operating rules is in effect. Part 107 covers ϔlying a UAV for Work or Business (non-recreational)
F
irst things first, you must take and pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test and remote pilot certification.
Those of you who already hold a pilot’s license and have completed a BFR (Biannual Flight Review) within the past 24 months may opt to take an online training course focusing on UASspecific areas of knowledge instead of the aeronautical knowledge test. The online training for current pilot certificate holders is available at www.faasafety.gov. If you do not hold a current pilot’s certificate, you must take and pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test to obtain a remote pilot certificate. A list of FAA approved knowledge testing centers is available online at the following link: http://bit.ly/FAATestCenters. Hopefully there is a testing center near you. You should expect to pay a fee of $150 to take the initial aeronautical knowledge test. The FAA will not recognize any previous UAS training you may have taken. Should you fail the test, you may retake the test after 14 days. Study materials are available online. Applicants are encouraged to review the following links before taking the Knowledge Test. Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PDF) http://bit.ly/ACSforUAS , Remote Pilot Study Guide (PDF) http://bit.ly/UAS_StudyGuide , Sample questions (PDF) http://bit.ly/UAS_SampleQuestions After you have passed the initial aeronautical knowledge test, you will then complete the FAA Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application (known as IACRA) to receive a remote pilot certificate. IACRA is a web-based certification/rating application that ensures you meet the requirements and electronically submits the application to the FAA’s Airman Registry. Applications should be validated within 10 days. Applicants will then receive instructions for printing their temporary airman certificate, which is good for 120 days. The FAA will then mail you your permanent Remote Pilot Certificate within that 120 days.
Welcome Verifly - Our new PAPA Corporate Member If you are just an occasional user of your UAV, read on for valuable informaƟon about insurance! Verifly provides on-demand drone insurance for recrea onal and commercial UAV flights. Through an app on your smart phone, you can get up to $1 million of drone liability insurance for 1/4 mile around your selected loca on. Pricing starts from $10 an hour. The insurance works with any drone under 15 pounds. And it is simple to use. Using your smart phone and the Verifly app, you select a flight area, you’ll see a real- me price, and with two taps you’ll have instant approval and on-the-spot proof of insurance. The app will also warn you if you are a emp ng to get insurance in an area where UAV usage is not allowed such as near an airport. For more informa on visit www.verifly.com
Theme for the Next Cover of PAPA Views Construction Progress
The chill in the air alerts that fall is arriving. Highway projects are wrapping up in the northern states and the forest of orange barrier posts is being stowed for winter. As the summer construction season winds down, it’s time to take a short break and consider your best work of the season. PICK TWO of your best construction progress images for the next PAPA VIEWS cover photo contest: Highways Hotels Schools Hospitals Office Buildings Housing Here are a few guidelines to follow for submitting images to the contest: The photograph does not have to be in your area. Each photographer may send in two (2) image entries for this contest. Do not put any text or logos on the image that would identify you as the photographer. Do not worry about the PAPA Views logo placement, just compose your image and send it in. We’ll take care of the masthead, orientation, and tag line positions. Please submit a TITLE for each image. The title is a very important part of the image judging process, and I cannot stress that enough. Also, please use that title as the file name. For example, if the image I submitted was titled “Serene Sunset”, I would submit the file with the following file name: “Serene Sunset.jpg”. Please include a brief description of each image, including camera settings, platform, location, and any short, interesting stories that bring meaning to the image. All images must be submitted in .jpg format, and should be no smaller than 2000px on the shortest side. This is a change from the past. As long as the images are at least this size, all will be right in the world. Send the images to: pilot@loftics.com If one of your images is selected for the cover, I will contact you. DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 23, 2016 If you have any questions, contact me at pilot@loftics.com Thank you, David Wyatt, Chairman, PAPA Print Competition Loftics.com
About Our Cover - (Vacation Theme) “Summer Strippin’” Las Vegas, NV Vegas... Undoubtedly a summer vacation hot spot for travelers. Each day, car-loads of people funnel up the interstate onto Las Vegas Blvd. In the air, travelers are coming and going overhead in constant volumes of airline traf ic which makes photographing The Strip a bit dif icult. However, on this particular day, all the stars were aligned with favorable winds and runway con igurations at McCarran Airport. While en route to a monthly photo project well north of the downtown area, I was able to catch a glimpse of the hustle and bustle while transitioning overhead in the Cardinal. It’s amazing to note the amount of attractions that can be seen in this photo that only represents a such a small portion of The Las Vegas Strip. Tayler B. Schmitt The 111th Aerial Photography Group Ofϔice: 408-683-9111 Cell: 408-607-0825
Hasselblad A5D
Member in the Viewfinder Brandon Anderson, Alaska Aerial Technologies The EvoluƟon of an Alaskan Aerial Photography Business
As an Alaska State Trooper Brandon Anderson was frequently airborne in a variety of aircraŌ while responding to calls or patrolling the vast areas of the 49th state.
A
lthough not a pilot himself, he spent a lot of me in the “right seat” (le seat in the helicopters). During his 8 years as a patrol sergeant based on the Kenai Peninsula he o en was on “HeloOne,” an A-Star helicopter, on search and rescue opera ons. This is where he first learned the importance of proper technique for ge ng high quality aerial images for the reports or to share with the media.
A er Brandon re red (the first me – he’s gone back to work for the Alaska State Troopers twice), he realized he missed the challenge and fun of aerial photography. In 2007 he got his first business license for Alaska Aerial Technologies, bought a decent Canon DSLR, and began flying around with his son Burke, who has his own Piper PA-22 Colt with a slider window, collec ng thousands PAPA Views
3rd Quarter 2016
of images. The scenery in this part of Alaska makes ge ng stunning images fairly easy, he says. During his Trooper days Brandon had met PAPA member Vern Kingsford, owner/operater of Scenic Mountain Air in Moose Pass, Alaska. According to Brandon and just about everyone else in Alaska, Vern, is the world’s best mountain pilot and float-plane instructor. Brandon had to charter with Vern a few mes when he needed emergency transport to remote loca ons in the area. Vern encouraged Brandon to become a member of PAPA. Brandon did join, and joined Vern at the PAPA conference in Redondo Beach in 2008. Energized by the conference and new friends like the Belangers, Brandon worked hard at establishing PAGE 12
his business. He learned that the vast distances of Alaska made it very challenging to respond to requests for assignment shoots, simply because (for example) the cost of ge ng to some remote mining camp 500 miles away in the middle of nowhere made quo ng a job daun ng. And of course, not having his own aircra (his son Burke had since become a commercial pilot and was no longer available to ferry his Dad around for free) meant the aircra charters o en made the job cost prohibi ve. The business was a part me endeavor, at best, but it did afford Brandon the opportunity to fly and take pictures and make a li le money. When a job paid well enough to jus fy chartering an R-44, the fun was infec ous. Along the way Brandon’s daughter Janessa was studying photography, and had the
Dad & Daughter Training
Alaska provides some beautiful scenery Nadir
opportunity to fly with her brother and do some beau ful AP on her own. At the PAPA conference in Sugarland Texas in 2010, Brandon a ended a break-out session on videography taught by Decker Campbell (Streamwerks). Brandon thought it might be worthwhile to bring Decker and her “Arnie Rig” to Alaska and try to add that aspect to the business. Brandon arranged several clients in what he called a “route shoot.” The idea being if there were a few “anchor” sites to film (contracts signed and deposits made), then he could adver se an aerial video shoot to any number of other businesses or poten al clients in the vicinity along the route to the “anchor” sites. The first me Brandon and Decker picked a two-week period in the summer of 2011. Decker brought her truckload of pelican cases of equipment and they had the good fortune of a long stretch of gorgeous weather (not common in Alaska).
The joint project went pre y well and some beau ful footage was obtained. The hope was that the stock footage shot along the way would provide more income in the future. Decker didn’t get rich off the deal, but she seemed to have a smile on her face a lot while filming grizzly bears chasing salmon in a remote stream, mountain goats running along jagged mountain peaks, and close-ups of glaciers and icebergs in glacier lakes. Although the first year of this joint project went well, the following year the weather window was not as favorable and many days were wasted. Another well-established videographer who had since invested in his own R-44 and hardmounted Cineflex was ge ng all of the big contracts, and was shoo ng the aerial video seen in almost all of the many “Reality” (a word used in this context that means non-reality) shows about Alaska. Brandon and Decker had the opportunity to
Janessa in Paris
Burke with ATR
PAPA Views
3rd Quarter 2016
PAGE 13
work collabora vely with Daniel Zatz (Zatzworks), who was gracious and helpful. Brandon began to realize that trying to compete with Zatzworks was fu le, and besides he had the nasty habit of going back to work for the Troopers on contract inves gator jobs. So Alaska Aerial Technologies remained a very small business endeavor seeking a niche. As many people began doing a few years back, Brandon was intrigued by the rise of robo cs, especially the flying kind. Brandon recognized the poten al of using UAS for public safety purposes (search and rescue, scene mapping, etc.) before he re red the first me, and tried to get his department involved. But the me was not right yet. Brandon began buying and experimen ng with his first drones five years ago. The business acquired two 3DR Solo’s and began learning how to operate these “smart drones.” Janessa had moved back to Alaska
Left to Right: Niki Britton, Tayler Schmitt, and Janessa Anderson at the PAPA Sugarland Conference in 2016.
and began to get interested in what her Dad was doing with these, and his plan to use them for more u litarian purposes including mapping. Brandon and Janessa enjoyed me together last winter flying the Solos and stockpiling footage. Those of you who a ended the 2016 PAPA Sugarland Texas conference will remember mee ng Janessa. Although already a University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) graduate, Janessa decided to enroll in an online degree program in Geographic Informa on Systems (GIS). Two new business en es were formed: Alaska Unmanned Aerial
Systems, LLC (Ak-UAS), and Alaska Search, LLC. The Ak-UAS en ty owns the hardware and so ware with the intent of future leasing, and Alaska Search is the en ty just now being “stood-up” to provide UAS services to a variety of public safety en es (State Troopers, municipal police and fire departments, state homeland security and emergency management). Very recently a coali on of community patrol groups (civilian community safety patrols to help police) in Anchorage received a grant and partnered with Ak-UAS to acquire two drone systems, mapping so ware, new computers, and training. Working closely with the FAA and other government agencies, this partnership and concept will be
“fleshed-out.” Brandon is excited about the direc on his AP endeavors are headed. He con nues to fly with his son and take stock photos when he can, and he is enjoying the opportunity to work alongside his daughter as she becomes an aerial mapping expert. His lovely wife Nancy con nues to hope the drones will earn their keep one day. Brandon & Nancy Anderson with daughter Janessa make their home and base their business in Seward, Alaska. Brandon can be reached at bca.alaska@gmail.com
PAPA’S PRINTS WITH A PURPOSE The 2017 PAPA conference in San Francisco will usher in PAPA’s inaugural “Prints with a Purpose” Auction. The Prints with a Purpose idea grew out of recognizing that so many beautiful prints were going to waste simply because they were left unclaimed or unwanted after the conference. Switching over to the digital competition still left us at the end of only two days use, cutting up, giving away or destroying the display prints. It was a terrible waste. But now we have a better option. Our new and generous corporate partner Hewlett Packard has offered to print up our display banners and printing up many of the images entered in the competition. Then, with each makers’ permission, auction off the prints at the conference. Any prints not sold at the conference may be offered for sale on the Internet with the money raised going to a very special charity! PAPA’s Prints with a Purpose can now turn these beautiful prints into badly needed funds for a very worthy cause. PAPA has chosen that the recipient charity of our first Prints with a Purpose Auction will be the Noreen Macbean Children’s Center in Santa Lucia, Honduras Noreen Macbean was married to Allen Macbean, an active member of PAPA and co-owner, with his father Stan, of Photographic Solutions in Orem, Utah. Noreen was a beautiful young woman who was a dear friend to many in our association. At 37, she was tragically killed in a biking accident in 2015. In her lifetime, Noreen always had a compassion for children. In her memory, her family established the Noreen Macbean Children’s Center in Santa Lucia,
Honduras. The Center will provide much needed space and equipment for training in micro-enterprises such as ceramics, woodcarving, music and jewelry design. Noreen’s Center is part of the Hope for Honduran Children’s Foundations which is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to providing education and housing to orphaned and abandoned boys in one of the most disadvantaged countries in the world. The Foundation works to protect, serve, educate and mentor neglected youth, providing them the knowledge and skills that will enable them to support themselves and improve their villages. Noreen is dearly missed and this portion of the conference will be a way for PAPA and our members to honor our friend. PAPA members entering the print competition DO NOT need to donate their image for the Prints with Purpose auction. It is only with the maker’s permission that a print will be auctioned off for the charity. Also, PAPA members need not enter the print competition to participate in the PAPA Prints with a Purpose auction. Members may also donate imagery from previous competitions or out of their own stock libraries to be a part of the fund raising auction and sale. For more information about the PAPA Prints with a Purpose Charity Auction, please contact Julie Belanger, Julie@the111th.com For more information about the Noreen Macbean Children’s Center please contact Allen Macbean at allen@photographicsolutions.cc
Thank you by Allen Macbean I am deeply honored and touched by the outreach of love that PAPA has shown me since the passing of my beau ful wife Noreen. She loved coming to the annual conferences, especially since she got to go explore each different area with her PAPA friends while I sat in mee ngs. She told me several mes that the friends she made at the conferences were special to her, and she wished she could spend more me with you. When I was asked if the Image compe on auc on could benefit her charity, the Noreen Macbean Children’s Center in Santa Lucia, Honduras, part of the Hope for Honduran Children Founda on, I was once again amazed at the though ulness and love that PAPA has for my wife. Noreen loved children and this is a great way to truly help those in desperate need. We could not have children of our own, but I like to think that she is happy on the other side knowing that we can help so many in her name. To me, PAPA really is more than just another professional organiza on, its family. Thank you all so very much.
PAPA Views
3rd Quarter 2016
PAGE 15
PAPA International Conference 2017 Greetings PAPA Members! As your new VP of programs I am excited to announce that registration for the 2017 PAPA Conference is officially open! All current information regarding the conference can be found on the PAPA Website or at the following link: http://bit.ly/PAPA2017_SF As new information becomes available I will update the PAPA event page.
PAPA’s 2017 Annual Conference March 17th & 18th San Francisco, CA We will be staying at the beautiful San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront! This gorgeous hotel is located just one mile from the San Francisco Airport and provides a FREE shuttle to and from SFO and the BART train! The hotel is about 15 miles outside of downtown San Francisco, however, the bay area is teeming with Ubers, Lyfts, and taxi cabs. The Bart train is also an easy and cheap option to get to the city. Because we are in one of the hottest locations for conferences and travel in the US, hotel prices are not cheap, but I’ve worked hard to arrange a FANTASTIC room rate for us! This is a great deal you don’t want to miss! The Marriott is fully renovated with beautiful conference spaces, views, a salt water pool and more! The hotel has a gorgeous lobby and outdoor area with 2 miles of walking trail along the water where you can get a fantastic view of airplanes taking off and landing at SFO!
Hotel Rate for PAPA Members is $143 Per Night 2-Day Conference Fee is $379 ~
Be sure to make your hotel reservations ASAP! Make your hotel reservations at the following link: http://bit.ly/PAPA_SFhotelReservations
PAPA International Conference 2017 What’s Happening at the Conference!? March 16th: San Francisco Helicopter Night Shoot! Sign up for the San Francisco Helicopter Night Shoot! (includes night shoot ground school, seat in an R44 and a Gyro!)- $275 Space is limited! Sign up today by contacting Niki Britton (niki111th@gmail.com or 408-712-4466) or registering online when you register for the conference!! Only a few slots left!!
March 17th: Night out in San Francisco! Join your PAPA friends and colleagues for an authentic San Francisco dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf! $55 per person, Transportation included!
PAPA International Conference 2017 March 17th & 18th: Conference Days! AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER PANEL: Building a Better Business Some of our planned topics for the panel are: a How to price your jobs a How to set a reasonable profit margin a Incorporating Drones if you haven›t already - how to price those jobs a How to find new clients and keep your old ones coming back a Full time/part time employees and on demand help a Renting vs. Owning your aircraft (operating expenses, insurance, liability) a Renting vs. Owning vs. Home office **(if you would like to volunteer to be on our panel, please contact me!)** PRESENTATIONS/TABLES: a BUILDING A BETTER BUSINESS! a Stand out with special certifications: SBE (small business entity), DVBE (disabled veteran business entity), DBE(Disadvantaged business entity) a Vertical Photography, Flights lines, mosaicing your images, more a ADVANCED Photoshop a FAA representative to speak about new drone rules and what to expect a SFO ATC representative to speak about building relations with your ATC a Presentations from our vendors! a MORE TO COME (STAY TUNED!) **Have suggestions? Want to make a presentation? contact niki111th@gmail.com**
PAPA International Conference 2017 Print Competition! Show off your best images, earn points toward your Masters and bragging rights.
New This year: PRINTS WITH A PURPOSE! Read about this new addition to our Print Competition in this issue of PAPA Views)
Saturday Night Awards Banquet! Great Food, Drinks, Friends and Awards! $60 per person.
KENYON-GYROS has donated another 6x6 Gyro Kit, valued at $4,720!
We will be raf ling it off at the awards banquet! (each PAPA Member attending will receive 1 FREE entry with their registration!) Additional entries can be purchased. The 6x6 Kit Includes: - Gyro with 5 ft. strait cord - 12 volt Inverter - 12 volt sealed lead acid battery in belt pouch - Battery charger - Cigarette adapter coil cord - iM2400 Storm Case
I hope you are all as excited as I am for our upcoming conference! I think this event will be one of our most successful in years but we can’t do this without the help and attendance of our most important assets, YOU! So what are you waiting for? Sign up NOW! Please contact me with any questions, suggestions, or comments! Cheers, Niki Britton (408) 712-4466, niki111th@gmail.com The 111th Group VP of Programs PAPA International
Eastern Regional Conference October 20 & 21, 2016 Hotel: Holiday Inn & Conference Center Frederick Frederick, Maryland Conference Registra on: Fee $50 Price includes Thursday and Friday, meals excluded REGISTER NOW ON THE PAPA WEBSITE CUT OFF DATE FOR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS OCTOBER 5TH! EVENT INFO: Thursday, October 20th: Sessions will be held at the AOPA Na
onal Avia on Community Center located at the Frederick Municipal Airport (KFDK). The schedule is packed full of informa on and includes some hands on photography prac ce on the tarmac at the end of the day. Join AOPA Staff Photographer Chris Rose as he discusses the techniques and challenges with capturing the images that appear in the associa on’s publica on each month. Topics will include equipment, safety, planning, technique, ligh ng and digital enhancement to name a few. This will be followed by hands on prac ce on the tarmac under Chris’ tutelage with either a warbird or biplane as the subject aircra – so bring your equipment! Other subjects to be presented on Thursday include: P How to Produce Award Winning Air to Air Imagery by PAPA President Stan Macbean P The Latest Informa on on ADSB: Automa c Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast is a surveillance technology in which an aircra determines its posi on via satellite naviga on and periodically broadcasts it, enabling it to be tracked. P 3D Modeling by Benjamin Vander Jagt, PhD of Pixelement P Legal, Financial and Insurance Benefits for AOPA Members P Tin Type Photography presented by PAPA member Steve Hane
Friday, October 21st: We will go on a “Field Trip”.
We will motor from Frederick to Warrenton, VA for a special tour of the Potomac Tracon. We will see airspace safety from their perspec ve and learn how to “Help Tracon to Help Us”. From there we will motor up to The Udvar-Hazy Na onal Air and Space Museum in Chan lly, VA for an a ernoon of avia on immersion.
Saturday, October 22nd: For those who are interested in exploring more of the area while in town, we will go on a Civil War History Adventure. We will visit both An etam Na onal Ba lefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland and Ge ysburg Na onal Park in Ge ysburg, Pennsylvania. PAPA member Steve Hane will lead a discussion on the topic of “The SimilariƟes of the Strategies and LogisƟcs of the Civil War BaƩlefields and Running an Aerial Photography Business”. Airports: For those flying in own aircra – KFDK. For commercial flights – Baltimore Washington International (BWI) is recommended. There are shuttle services available from BWI or of course, rental cars. Lunch and dinner meals will be at the expense of the a endees. Lunch on Thursday will be at the Airways Inn Restaurant on the grounds of KFDK. Friday we will stop for lunch on transit between tracon and the museum at a recommended restaurant. Dinner options will be available for each night, Wednesday through Saturday. All are welcome to come. There are some minimal park entrance fees for those who plan to stay for Saturday’s adventure which will be paid by the a endee, but we will coordinate transporta on once we know how many plan to par cipate. Tracon must have the list of those who are touring the facility 2 weeks in advance for security checks, so you must be registered for this event by October 5! For more informa on and if you have ques ons contact me: Amy Hartsfield, Amy & Company, Inc., Pace Florida 850-995-0770, Amy@aerialphotosbyamy.com
PAPA Views
3rd Quarter 2016
PAGE 21
Product Review: DJI OSMO
M
ost of us have tried to shoot aerial video “on the cheap.” Using a video camera or an SLR with video capabili es a ached to a gyro but the results were very poor. Post produc on stabiliza on can help a bit, but it usually fails to give the professional look the clients are hoping for. The DJI Osmo now lets you get professional results at a very low price point. Using the same stabiliza on and gimbals that are on the DJI UAVs and the Osmo is capable of producing incredibly smooth imagery while simply holding the camera’s handle. The Osmo is a camcorder on a handle with the interface of the camera controlled through a Smartphone app called “DJI Go.” The Osmo uses a 12.4 megapixel Sony Exmor R CMOS ½.3” sensor with a 94 degree FOV and a f/2.8. It has an ISO range of 100-3200 for video and 100-1600 for s ll photos. The Osmo can shoot in the following frame rates and resolu ons: UHD 4K (4096 x 2160) 24/25p UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) 24/25/30p 2.7K (2704 x 1520) 24/25/30p FHD: 1920 x 1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p HD: 1280 x 720 24/25/30/48/50/60p The retail price of the Osmo is $569.00 (USD) The new Osmo+ with zoom is priced at $649.00 (USD)
Member reviews: I can see a lot of applicaƟons Allen Macbean, Photographic SoluƟons, Inc. With the idea of being able to provide stabilized, forwardlooking video from our airplane, we purchased DJI Osmo a li le while ago. The Osmo is a 4k video camera on a stabilizing gimbal that a aches to a hand grip and is designed to be held in your hand. The camera is controlled by either the bu ons on the handle or through the DJI app on your smart phone or tablet. DJI also has a few different moun ng op ons for a aching the Osmo to your bicycle, motorcycle, car, etc. I have the bike mount and the resul ng video riding around my neighborhood is pre y amazing. The stabiliza on is be er than I thought it would be and the video is sharp and clean. Our goal is to use it for forward-looking video from the plane. We’re working on several different methods of a aching the camera to the plane in a manner that won’t upset the FAA too much. Our working prototype mount is basically a 6” tube with the Osmo horizontally inside, the front end cut at a 45° angle and covered with an -reflec on plexiglass to keep the camera out of the wind. The gimbal can withstand winds up to 30mph according to the product literature, and even our Cessna 170 is faster than that. With the camera inside the tube a ached to the wing, the Osmo is controllable in the cockpit through the app on our iPad with a live-feed video, although at a reduced resolu on. Changing the se ngs, exposure, frame rate, etc. is quite easy. Our favorite views so far include panning shots either looking forward and panning down, or the reverse. The camera does an excellent job of stabilizing the footage in flight. It’s actually pre y amazing how smooth the video is, even in rough air that would normally make shoo ng video from the plane impossible. There are a few drawbacks that we’ve found so far. First, we
currently have no way to turn the unit on or off in the air. This means that the camera is on for the en re flight. We’re working on a solu on. This brings up the second issue, ba ery life. The ba eries that come with the unit last about an hour or so. Not bad, really. DJI does make a dummy ba ery that can then be plugged into one of their larger drone ba eries for significantly longer recording me. Third, the Osmo in our tests seem to exhibit, for lack of a be er term, gyro-type precession on the horizontal axis. This may just be an issue with our par cular Osmo, however, but a er a few turns the horizon tends to begin l ng to the le . I don’t know the cause, but the app does allow you to adjust the horizontal level of the camera on the fly, although it’s not as smooth as it could be. This is not an issue unless you’re trying to level the horizon while recording, it which case each degree of change happens with abrupt movement. The other issues we have are unique to our installa on. We’re working of ge ng rid of the high-frequency vibra on that is present in our airplane from the engine. This vibra on causes a slight shake in the footage. A six cylinder engine with a three bladed composite prop would probably fix our problems there, but spending $50,000 for a new engine and prop seems like overkill for a $600 camera… Our conclusion is that this project is very feasible. The test video is significantly be er that I expected, and the ability to pan the camera from the cockpit is a real bonus. The newest version of the Osmo included a 3.5x op cal zoom as well. I can see a lot of applica ons for video at al tudes and in areas that drones can’t legally fly. The real issue for us will be developing a mount that dampens the high frequency vibra on and that will keep our IA happy and the FAA sa sfied. Allen Macbean, Photographic Solu ons, Inc. allen@utahprophoto.com The DJI Osmo is a game changer Julie Belanger, The 111th Photography & Video And it paid for itself on our first shoot. For us the Osmo works best shoo ng out of an open door of a helicopter. The Osmo’s wide field of view needs plenty of open space to shoot. You do need to be careful not to put the camera in the slipstream so keeping it just inside the door is important. We have go en good footage out of the camera window in our (strutless and retractable gear) airplane, but again the slipstream can upset the gimbals. The Osmo is great for elevated ground photography and video. When a drone cannot be used, we a ached the Osmo to a telescoping pole for elevated s ll and moving imagery for our clients. Tip: Watch the online tutorials on how to use the Osmo. I watched one at least five mes before I was confident enough to take it out on the job. Julie Belanger, The 111th Photography & Video Julie@the111th.com It’s worth its weight in gold! Susan Hedenberg, DC Aerial Photos Inc So a few months back, I got a request for aerial video in downtown Washington DC. In fact, it was a referral from another Aerial Photographer. How hard can it be? Right?
So I went out with my trusty Nikon D810 and did some prac ce. OMG! It was so shaky and unstable (we fly a fixed wing airplane) that it almost made me airsick to watch it! Plan B: Borrow a Kenyon Gyro and hook it up hanging inside the airplane and give it another go. Not very much be er especially because the client wants 3600 video to use as a basis to make 3D renderings. Even the gyro didn’t help much when flying in a circle... It was clearly me to ac vate the PAPA HELP LINE! I called Julie Belanger and told her of my woes. “You have to get an OSMO!” says she. “Right Now!” and while we were talking on the phone, she texted me a link to buy it from B&H ProPhoto. I trust Julie & Pat and if they say ‘buy it’ I should do that (you can’t argue with success), so I did. It arrived a day and a half later and I commenced its use. Hmmmm, 3-gyro axis, controlled by my iPhone, automa c almost everything with the ability to manual-ize if needed, automa c tracking of the subject and awesome 4K video. Wow! 15 minutes of YouTube Videos and I was up and running! It produces beau ful, stable video and will shoot s lls in jpeg + raw. For $569 it is an amazing tool (for ground shots as well)! There was a bit of a learning curve controlling the gyros when turning the airplane or when movement was detected (the gyros want to correct for it) and is not fond of being in the slipstream out the window. The videos show it mounted on car hoods and roofs but 100mph on the airplane is a bit too much for the gyros to fight. I over came it and figure out how to outsmart the gyros. I have used Osmo for about half a dozen jobs thus far. It’s worth its weight in gold! Learning to process the videos was a much harder than learning to shoot the video. You hear
Photogs tell you that when they bought this or that new piece of equipment, it paid for itself on the first job. Do the math.... it’s also a money printer! Susan Hedenberg DC Aerial Photos Inc susan@dcairphotos.com Osmo not for me Kevin BuƩs, Red Wing Aerial Photography A er a few test flights with the OSMO, we returned it...just didn’t work well for us in the fixed wing environment with the wind. The super wide angle was also difficult. We changed over to a 4K Sony camcorder that has a fantas c “op cal” stabiliza on system with a Zeiss lens. We’ve been making some nice extra money with it. Kevin Bu s, Red Wing Aerial Photography KBu s@redwingaerials.com
iXU 1000 SERIES WITH 100 MEGAPIXEL SENSORS
Large format coverage Medium format price and size More coverage ȼ More flying hours ȼ More details
aerial.phaseone.com
Osmo attached with Ram Mount shooting out the photo window. Photo provided by Susan Hedenberg.
Partnering with PAPA International since 2014 “Treating your insurance as if It were our own.� UAV Insurance Aerial Photography Insurance Aviation General Liability Insurance Building/Hangar Insurance Workers Comp Life Insurance More
Scott Gault | Todd Lewis | Roy Soto PAPA@aviation-marine.com 800-972-0907