This Photographer Lit Landscapes at Night Using LEDs on Drones

[iamzip]

With all the talk about drones and photography, I never once thought of using them as lights. Wish I had.

http://petapixel.com/2016/04/07/photographer-lit-landscapes-night-using-leds-drones/

 

[newsgrunt]

not a big fan of drones but the fourth and sixth photos...

 

[iamzip]

He's just using them as fancy light stands - which I think is pretty genius. How else would you light formations like these? This is nothing short of groundbreaking - something we've never seen before.

 

[BillBingham2]

Did similar with a Vivitar 192, Nikkormat and a 24/2.8 way back in High School for a shot of the school. Running around firing off camera, open flash at the subject. I learned about the idea in a seminar a year earlier. I remember it described as a guy years before who did with a hand held flash gun and a bag full of bulbs.

Excellent execution, liked the shots.

B2 (;->

 

[aizan]

they didn't mention that he's in ladytron!

 

[rogue_designer]

Really nice idea. I sometimes use a big quadcopter for some aerial work... might try mounting a strobe on it.

 

[css9450]

Running around firing off camera, open flash at the subject. I learned about the idea in a seminar a year earlier. I remember it described as a guy years before who did with a hand held flash gun and a bag full of bulbs.

Big, old Kodak Brownie flash gun and reflector and a box of #5 flashbulbs. Fire 'em by shorting the two prongs on the bottom of the flash. Close your eyes first! Don't trip on anything in the dark....

 

[Lss]

This is nothing short of groundbreaking - something we've never seen before.

This has certainly been done for some time. The first time I have seen this done (meaning I stood there thinking that's a pretty neat idea) was a couple years ago. The location wasn't as impressive, though.

 

[oftheherd]

Did similar with a Vivitar 192, Nikkormat and a 24/2.8 way back in High School for a shot of the school. Running around firing off camera, open flash at the subject. I learned about the idea in a seminar a year earlier. I remember it described as a guy years before who did with a hand held flash gun and a bag full of bulbs.

Excellent execution, liked the shots.

B2 (;->

That's been around for a long time. I was taught it iirc, about 1967. Your use may go back beyond that.

It can be useful for inside-home photos with wide angle lenses as well.

I once thought of photographing my home outside but didn't. But large monuments? I would not have thought of if with flash bulb or electronic flash. But now we have drones. Who knew?

 

[jsrockit]

1st and 5th do it for me... the rest, not so much. Good idea, but needs to keep going with it to really flesh it out. I'm sure he will.

 

[Brian Legge]

Well that's going to encourage a bunch of people to use drones illegally. Or at least they're not legal in most Washington parks. I understand the reasoning but it's a shame as some of the footage people were producing was very cool.

 

[jbrianfoto]

Not taking anything away from this ingenious photographer, but Dr. Harold Edgerton did it from a bomber aircraft in 1944;

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-06/06/harold-edgerton-legend-dday

 

[Out to Lunch]

Tech hype. I'd rather believe in the power of natural light.

 

[BillBingham2]

.... I was taught it iirc, about 1967.....

Mine was in the mid '70's. When I had energy to run around multiple times painting with light on different frames hoping one would turn out with too many hot spots.........

B2 (;->

 

[DougFord]

Very effective lighting technique.
"I can't move the sun, and it's always in the wrong place...". Has me wondering about O. Winston Link with drones.

 

[TXForester]

Maybe put flash gun on the drone. This place would have suitable big flash bulbs.

http://www.meggaflash.com/index.php/flashbulb-gallery

 

[KM-25]

Cool idea but these shots look like tests more than actual finished photographs. I'm just not that impressed with them as landscape photographs.