To celebrate Icelandair’s new Boeing 737 MAX 8, Jökull recently shared seven tips on how to get the perfect picture from cruising altitude. And though flying over the lovely landscapes of Iceland might help your cause (and some of these tips are specific to the country), the information presented is still going to be beneficial no matter where you find yourself traveling too. Just be sure to get a window seat.

Play with colors, lights, and shadows to add depth to your photo.

Clouds can make an interesting pattern on the ground. In Iceland, the contrasts of a snow-covered landscape against rivers or lakes can make for a great photo. The black sand beaches or a rocky coastline against the surf and the waves of the blue Atlantic also show off the amazing landscapes of Iceland. As the ground is slowly changing color from the brown and yellow autumn and winter tones you might find green colors popping out, like moss-covered lava fields.

Use the rule of thirds

Carefully balance the space between the sky and the ground: 1/3 sky versus 2/3 ground works well. When you are in the air and can only see the sky and/or clouds, you can use the wing and engine as a prominent part of the photo.

Including part of the aircraft wing in the shot can make the landscape really stand out.

The window of the aircraft also nicely frames the landscape. When you are photographing the landscape below, the wing will automatically point diagonally upwards in the photo, creating a connection between the plane and the ground.

Use aperture priority or manual mode to get the best results of sunrise or sunset photos.

If it’s getting dark then adjust your ISO setting to 800-1200. The golden hour before and after sunset or sunrise can be rather long in Iceland, especially in the winter because of the low angle of the sun. The sunset light can linger, providing up to two hours of beautiful golden, pink, red and purple colors until the dark blue color of the night takes over.

Reduce window glare

To reduce glare on your picture from the window of the plane, hold the camera lens close to the window or even covering it with your other hand so the reflection does not reach into the lens.

Take full advantage of the new Boeing 737 MAX LED light settings to help shooting at dark by waiting until the cabin lights are set to night mode.

Use a tripod

Photographing northern lights from a window of a plane requires the use of a tripod, as you would use on the ground. A small Joby Gorilla Pod is always a great tool to have around. Set the camera to ISO 2500-4000 and use f/2.8 or lower with 5-10 second shutter speed you should be able to capture some northern lights. Try to set the camera lens up to the window to minimalize glare reflecting the light of the window.

Left is best!

In general, it is better to sit on the left side of the plane if you plan to photograph through the window. It is easier for your posture and for framing the shot so you don‘t have to twist your body to get the shot.

Editor’s Note from Michael Bonocore: But sometimes, on long-haul flights, the view is best on the right and may be worth the uncomfortable photography posture. Use a site like Flight Aware to research the flight path on previous days. Use Google Earth to then find out what you ‘think’ may be the best side to sit in order to get the best view. Also, take into account the sunrise and sunset. Shooting into the sun, especially from an airplane, can be harsh. If I am flying during a sunrise or sunset, usually I will opt to sit on the opposite side of the sun.

So there you have it! 7 tips that should help you make those long flights a little more entertaining. Your Instagram followers will thank you.

The post How to Get the Perfect Picture from 32,000 Feet Above appeared first on Resource Travel.

When I landed in Las Vegas and arrived at our hotel, the beautiful W, I was shocked to see that Sony had brought out many of my journalist friends for this trip. I knew at that moment that the industry leader in mirrorless cameras had something big to announce. And indeed they did. On Monday at 5pm PST, Sony gathered us all together at the Industrial Event Space to show off their latest full-frame mirrorless camera, the A7III, which is the third generation of the one that started it all. I have always thought the A7 and A7II were the perfect cameras for those who wanted to either wanted to step up their game from a point and shoot, or if they were already DSLR users, the perfect all around camera to enter into the mirrorless universe.

So naturally, I was excited to get my hands on the A7III. But, being a travel photographer, I am usually not used to taking photos of models in elaborate sets (although I got some great shots of them too), so when I learned that Sony planned to strap us in some open door helicopters with Las Vegas based Maverick Helicopters, I was excited. Being that it’s much easier to drop things out of an open door helicopter, we were told we wouldn’t be able to change lenses during the flight, so I opted to just board the chopper with the A7III and the insanely versatile Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens, tightly strapped around my neck, of course.

*Editors Note: I had finished this article on the afternoon of Sunday March 11th, just hours before the tragic helicopter crash in New York City. While our flight with Maverick Helicopters was doors off, we did not have the type of harness systems that was on the helicopter in NYC. I am fully confident that in case of emergency, I would have been able to quickly get out of my ‘seat belt,’ which was released with a strong turn of a wheel positioned over your stomach. While the type of belts used by Maverick do not allow for the type of free movement that the harness does, I was easily able to put my camera out of the helicopter (and even my head) to get the shots I desired. I decided to publish this article to show that, while there is always danger involved in experiences like this, the safety record of helicopter tour operators is very high, and I think it is important to tell the story of our incredible tour, one which I always felt safe, and would do again in a heartbeat. Our condolences go out to the victims and the families affected by the NYC tragedy. 

So off we went to McCarren Airport, where my group met our pilot Danny Green, a man who could have easily been cast as Iceman in the original Top Gun if he was only 30 years older. Danny was the lead pilot who would navigate our squadron of four ECO-Star EC-130 helicopters for the 30 minute flight to the rugged and beautiful Valley of Fire State Park. Luckily, my friend Ted Forbes from The Art of Photography was in my helicopter to capture the incredible video above, which really shows how surreal the experience was.

As soon as we were off the ground, the famed Las Vegas strip, with giant buildings packed into minimal square acreage, became seemingly as small as a toy model. We quickly reached our cruising altitude of 1,000 feet and barreled towards Valley of Fire at 100mph. Although it was late afternoon, the sunlight was still harsh, making it hard to get the photos I had envisioned. But, really, from this altitude, the scenery looks unique an interesting in any time of day. So I started snapping. Even though I wasn’t at the open door for this part of the flight, I was still able to get some great views.

But the real magic started happening as we made our approach over the Hidden Valley Ridge and the bright red rocks of Valley of Fire began to come into view. 

While the majority of helicopters out of Maverick’s base travel to Arizona’s Grand Canyon, a select few pilots are tasked with bringing the adventurous visitors to Valley of Fire. This responsibility falls on the shoulders of Maverick’s most experienced pilots, as the landing into the State Park is tricky, technical, and insanely exhilarating. Having visited Valley of Fire before by the not as fun means of transportation known as the car, I figured we would be landing the helicopters somewhere on the park’s floor, in a nice wide open space. I was pleasantly surprised to find this was indeed not the case. Danny approached a large rock cropping, told us to get ready for the fun and made a hard bank left as we quickly descended towards the rocks.

As we inched closer and closer to the top of this stunning mountain made of rock, I was amazed at the concentration and precision that went into Danny’s landing. Being able to see the ground below me, I had no clue how he was going to pull this off, as there really isn’t much ‘flat’ area to get his landing skids. But after about 60 seconds of slight maneuvers, we touched down. The other three choppers followed suit and impressively found their own minuscule spots to land, and we jumped out onto the rocks with a feeling of excitement and amazement.

Danny informed us that we had about 45 minutes to enjoy the view, so I started exploring with my Sony A7III in hand.

As we packed up to head back to Las Vegas, I noticed the light hitting the rocks was getting much softer and more attractive than when we had flown out, so I gladly took my seat on the open door at the back left of the chopper. We took off and made our way back to Las Vegas.

As we flew over the Hidden Valley ridge, we noticed the winds had picked up considerably, adding a little more excitement to our return home. But, this wasn’t going to be a standard return home. Danny had a surprise in store for us.

Allright guys…so I have checked our fuel level, and we are doing pretty good. So I want to take you guys on a little side mission. Have you ever seen the Hoover Dam? Even if you have, there is no better way to see it then from the sky!

Now this was an awesome addition to an already incredible experience. While I actually HAD seen the Hoover Dam from above (I skydived over it many many years ago), I didn’t have a camera at the time. Nor a vivid memory of the experience. Because, Vegas. To get to the Hoover Dam, we had to fly by Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States in terms of water capacity. The soft light made for great photos of the clear blue water and the setting sun cast an eerie shadow of the mountains on the land just off the lake’s edge.

As we approached the Hoover Dam, I adjusted my position to hang my camera slightly out of the door to get exceptional views of 82 year old engineering marvel, now the second biggest dam in the United States. The pilots made two circles around the dam, giving both sides of the chopper a great view. For the approach where I didn’t have a view of the dam, I was greeted with the rugged looking Colorado River, weaving through the landscape as it made it’s retreat south from the Hoover Dam. 

When we made our final pass over the Dam, Danny informed us that is was time to head back. But, as I glanced out of the open door, I could see the setting sun casting an almost unreal light on the approaching landscapes and the Las Vegas strip in the distance. This is where I would put in the hardest, and most painful, work of the trip. To get the photos of the bright sun setting behind the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, I had to put my head completely outside of the helicopter. The brutal cold force of the winds as we approached the strip at 100 miles an hour felt like hundreds of needles being stabbed into my face, but the resulting photos were worth the pain.

As we approached the strip, I returned to my position fully inside the cold, yet, less windy helicopter as we flew parallel to the Las Vegas strip. As we slowly made are final approach to McCarron, I couldn’t help but think of all of the unique stories unfolding in the casinos, restaurants, bars and hotel rooms below. While I had spent much of my many trips in Las Vegas making those memories below, it was a welcoming and refreshing feeling to be making a new memory of Las Vegas. One from high above the chaos, where a peaceful feelings replaced the usual madness that Las Vegas is known for.

A big thank you to Sony  and Maverick Helicopters for this unforgettable experience! Preorder your Sony A7III today. First orders ship in April. 

The post Flying In An Open Door Helicopter From Las Vegas to Valley of Fire appeared first on Resource Travel.

Recently, Shainblum visited the Italy’s Dolomite mountains with Andrew Studer, and together the team created a beautiful look at these mystical looking mountains. While Shainblum handled the time-lapse, Studer contributed the drone clips that are sprinkled into the two and a half minute film.

Shainblum and Studer have been partnering alot lately, and were the team behind these incredible eclipse photos.

There is no doubt the two travel photographers are talented by themselves, but as evident by their latest works, they make a great team. It will be exciting to see what Michael Shainblum and Andrew Studer come up with next!

Shainblum posted an extended photo story on his blog that includes some incredible photos. Check it out on his blog.

See more from Shainblum on his website, Facebook, 500px, and Instagram.

Follow Studer on his website, Instagram and Facebook. 

Tre Cime Milky Way photography.

Tre Cime abstract landscape photography.

Seceda sunset in the Dolomites, landscape photography.

Sunrise landscape photography taken in the Dolomites.

Foggy landscape photo taken in the Dolomites.

foggy landscape photo taken in the Dolomites.

Alpe De Siusi landscape photo taken in the Dolomites.

The post A Dream Like Journey Through the Dolomites appeared first on Resource Travel.

After watching the two minute video, it’s easy to see why the brothers chose New England. Vibrant reds, yellows and greens consumed the landscape, making the scenes a gold mine for aerial photo and video. Matti spent the majority of the trip flying his DJI Phantom 4 Pro to capture a unique view of the vibrant scenes.

Matti filmed this from October 7th through the 11th, but told me: “They were a little late this year. Usually, it’s the last week of September and the first week of October for the areas I went. But for most of new Hampshire I’d say the first two weeks of October are your best bet. But obviously, it changes every year based on the weather, so it’s hard to plan your trip too far in advance.”

With a little last minute flexibility and some luck, Matti proves that the Northeast, especially New Hampshire, is a beautiful location to welcome autumn.

Follow Matti on his website, Instagram, and Facebook.

The post A Bird’s-Eye View of New Hampshire’s Vivid Fall Colors appeared first on Resource Travel.

Best and an expert fisherman, an ecologist, and studying geologist set out in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta to locate three indicator species of a fresh water ecosystem. What does that exactly mean? Well, fish and bird life are the barometers with which we measure the health of our planet’s ecosystems and sensitive natural habitats. So by studying various endemic species such as the American dipper bird, bull trout, and pure-strain westslope cutthroat trout, scientists are able to give an update on the health of the planet, essentially.

But as Best said, if you are going to be studying these species in such beautiful terrain, you may as well have fun doing it. “Getting outside and experiencing our wild places reveals what we have and what there is to protect.”

After the team wrapped up their adventure, they all headed home to their families and every day lives. Little did they know, however, that all their lives would drastically change. Chad Kendrick, founder of Treeline Outdoors and a close friend of Best arrived home to be with his wife as she gave birth to their first child, a boy appropriately named River. But only three months after his son was born, Chad went to the doctor to discuss a rapid loss of strength and mobility in his arms and legs. Soon after, the heartbreaking news came back.

Chad Kendrick had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS.

His family immediately began investigating treatment options, and found some hope in stem cell treatments in a California. They started a GoFundMe campaign which has allowed Kendrick to begin treatment. But as anyone who knows someone with ALS is aware, the road is difficult to say the least.

That’s when this film became more than a conservation film to Best. He became obsessed with helping his friend and getting the word out about the devastating effects of ALS. I sat down with Best to discuss the film, his relationship with Kendrick, and how this has changed his approach to becoming a father.

You made this film with Chad, without knowing his future diagnosis with ALS. After you found out about Chad’s condition, how did that change what this film meant to you on a personal level?

Everything changed. It’s hard to describe and perhaps I am over feeling during these types of moments. I describe Chad’s personality and love for life as extremely contagious. He’s one of those humans that you just have to be around. He loves this planet we’re on and humbly takes care of it. You could almost say I try and take him farther into the world than he wants to be, as he never wants to be a face. For his brand, for a movement, for anything. He does however want to lead by example and does. Therefore, even if this question could be answered in a thesis, it’s been the journey with Chad that makes this hard for me. It’s hard for me to even type these words, just know it’s affected my life in every way.

It is quite obvious that Chad’s diagnosis with ALS is in your mind all the time. You have been a huge advocate of the Kickstarter campaigns to help him get the experimental treatment that could stop the disease’s progression and you even started a clothing line where all profits will go to the Kendrick family. Where did that idea come from? Have all the efforts been able to help at all?

The hats were a friend’s idea. Then the idea of #CapForACause kicked off to help Chad, but then will morph into helping many other causes we are passionate about. We’re really just trying to be creative. Chad is part of this amazing outdoor community and is too humble to ask for anything, so taping into this industry was a way to spread the message of his diagnosis and ALS as a whole. There have been many fundraisers all over the world by people he’s touched. We’ve collectively raise a lot, but it’s never enough. His newborn son River has never been held by his father which is so heartbreaking when you really think about it. So I vowed that while I have full use of my body, I’m going to use it to help keep a good human on this planet.

The last scene of the film shows Chad after the diagnosis and the effects of ALS had set in. It shows Chad in his element, fishing…enjoying the outdoors. It is obvious from this clip Chad is a fighter, and will continue to fight to return to his home in the great outdoors and to his wife and son. Tell us a little about Chad’s personality and how he has been since his fight began.

Chad is all heart. Days are tough, and there’s no sugar coating it. However, due to his steadfast and free flying soul he’s taking this journey in stride. He fights for his son, for his wife, his family, and this beautiful world. A couple examples: As I’ve served him dinner, helped him dress, or held water to drink from his straw, he looks at me and says, “If and when I get past this, I’m going to be a force to be reckoned with, boy.”

 

Chad has carried me across many rivers while filming him and during my last trip to see him I returned the favor. When picking him up out of his boat I reminded him of this past and told him it was my turn. He laughed and reminded me to remember of my sexual orientation. Never a dull moment with this guy!

 

There literally aren’t enough words to describe the inspiration that Chad has given me over the years , not to mention the hundreds of emails coming in from people sharing how he’s impacted their life one way or another. It’s powerful.

You are about to be a father. I can’t imagine that this project and fighting alongside your friend as he battles hasn’t changed your perception on life. How has the last 8 months changed your approach to your travel schedule, work/life balance and fatherhood?

Yup, indeed I am about to be a father. It sounds so strange, but I’m stoked. It just means I have to be better. The last 8 months of my life just about claimed my life. I’ve been battling many things, but this little lady is going to pull me from the fire. I’m gearing up for an exciting next chapter that the whole family will be part of. Travel is part of my job, but there will be many new opportunities to travel as a family. The last two years living on the road, working in beautiful places all over the world, dealing with every stimulation imaginable, has really shown me that life is fleeting. There’s never the perfect answer…just do it. I’ve shifted gears and started getting into the sport side of the job. I grew up an athlete and am going to be diving into many new things in the coming years. All to get to where I want to be in life, spiritually and mentally. Most importantly, I can’t wait to show my little girl that you can be a badass, powerful, strong woman in this crazy world. And that no matter how many times you get knocked down, there is always going to be fight left in you. She will give em hell, just like my dear friend Chad is.

Follow Andy Best’s adventures on his website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

All photos provided by and used with permission from Andy Best.

The post How a Conservation Film Became a Mission to Save an Outdoorsman From ALS appeared first on Resource Travel.

Once I saw the film and accompanying photos by my friend Eric Rubens from his recent trip, I can understand why the average daily cost is so high. The scenes look almost magical, and being both a fan of adventure and relaxation, the British Virgin Islands seemed like it easily joins the two into one. Having the need to hear more about it, I reached out to Rubens and asked him about this week long trip with a small team from the Sony Alpha Collective.

We love the video you created because you manage to show that the British Virgin Islands is both relaxing and an adventure. It’s usually hard to find both in one place, but the BVI seems to be on that list. Is finding both in one location a rarity on your travels?

My favorite locations are ones that offer quite a variety of activities and landscapes. The British Virgin Islands are definitely a great location to relax and that’s what most people probably imagine themselves doing on a trip there. There are a lot of activities and adventures to be had if you take the time to look for them. Besides the popular water sports like sailing, wakeboarding, and kiteboarding, there were some awesome hikes and hidden gems to find if you take the time to look for them!

What was the general itinerary of the trip? What was your most memorable day, experience and location from the week that you were in the BVI? 

For me, the trip was focused on testing out the capabilities of the new Sony a9 and utilizing all of its features. Our itinerary was centered around spending a few days on Virgin Gorda and then a few days on Tortola. We had lots of activities planned that really put the camera to work! Shooting professional kiteboarders and diving with underwater housings were both super unique and memorable opportunities, but my favorite was the helicopter ride over the island chain. Seeing how clear the water was and all the different shades of blue there was stunning.

It’s hard to imagine there being any hardships on a job such as this, but there had to be SOMETHING right?

 

Sometimes the perception on these trips is ‘I’ll get to relax all day and then jump out of the hammock at sunset to grab a quick shot.’ I wish that were the case! We shot sunrise every morning, sometimes on the other side of the island so there was a wake-up call between 4:30 AM and 5:00 AM every day. Our daily itinerary was pretty packed with various activities so I spent most the days shooting video every possible second I saw something intriguing. Sunset was always a time where we’d frantically be running around trying to find the best angles and then at night we’d try to shoot astro. It was an amazing trip but definitely one where more time was spent shooting than relaxing!

This trip was a sponsored trip by Sony for some of their Alpha Collective members. What is the Alpha Collective? And with all of the perks you have received from being a Collective Member, where does the BVI rank? 

The Alpha Collective is a group of Sony shooters who promote the brand and get the opportunity to try out new gear and go on trips such as this from time to time. We are all passionate about shooting with Sony and spreading the word about how quickly the technology is advancing in their products. Visiting the BVI was definitely the highlight of being on the Collective team so far! Growing up in Southern California, my style of photography has always been focussed on emphasizing the beauty of our local beaches. Getting to travel around the world and seeing new beaches is something I’m extremely grateful for. I’d list this spot right near the top for anyone who loves the ocean!

So what’s next? We love the way you bring the viewer into your eyes, both on the ground and in the air. We need to know what to be excited for next!  

Next for me is a trip to Jordan and then off to the Azores to find new beaches! I’m excited since they both will provide unique shooting opportunities and I’m excited to put together a video from each location. I’m hoping to make it back to South Africa after that since it’s one of my favorite places in the world. The beaches, wine country, and safari experiences make that country one of the gems of the world. Hopefully I’ll be able to convey the beauty of those spots because each of those countries deserves a visit from everyone!

Follow Eric Rubens on his upcoming adventures on his Instagram. 

The post What 7 Days of Relaxation in the British Virgin Islands Looks Like appeared first on Resource Travel.

So when Gray published a new film showcasing the beautiful coastline of his new home state of Oregon, I knew it would be an engaging film. And as always, Gray delivered.

Hailing from Northern California, Gray moved to Oregon for school. While Oregon State is obviously a great school, it’s no secret that the surrounding landscapes played a role when it came time for Gray to choose a university. Gray told me:

As most artists can agree, being stuck in a creative rut can be frustrating to say the least. At the end of my senior year of high school, I was not feeling very inspired. I needed a change of scenery. I had lived in the Bay Area for my entire life, and as much as I love it there, there was a restlessness inside of me that I just couldn’t shake. When it came time to pick a college to attend for the next four years, this restlessness ended up playing a big part when making my decision. I ended up choosing to go to Oregon State University, which turned out to be the perfect place to meet both my creative and academic needs. After moving up to Oregon, the creative rut I had felt previously seemed to have been filled, and I looked at my new environment with an open mind. The possibilities were endless, and I soon took an interest in aerial filmmaking and the Oregon Coast. It wasn’t long before the two merged together, and “Clearly Coastal” was born!

So it’s safe to say that Taylor is loving his new home. But with his whole life ahead of him after college, it will be interesting to see where Gray winds up. I asked him about what the future may or may not hold.

Right now, my biggest passion is landscape and travel photography/filmmaking and I would like to be doing this type of work for as long as I possibly can. However, there are so many opportunities and possibilities in front of me, that I find it somewhat difficult to pinpoint exactly where I will be in the next four years. I am keeping the door wide open for different opportunities that may come my way involving this sort of work. Traveling, shooting, and filming for a living is my biggest dream, but to answer the question truthfully, I do not know where I will be at the end of my college years because there are so many different experiences and possibilities that await me, which will ultimately help shape my perspective and allow me to find the career path that is right for me. Looking back four years ago, camera technology was nowhere near where it is today, and I believe that I wouldn’t have been able to achieve the same quality of work back then that “Clearly Coastal” has now. I cannot even fathom where technology will be in the next four years, but I believe that I will be in my right place and ready for whatever comes my way regardless of the direction my career takes in the coming years.

Wherever Gray’s path leads him, we are sure Gray will be very successful wherever he winds up.

See Also – Taylor Gray: My Future is my Inspiration.

Read Taylor Gray’s previous article on Resource Travel which talks about his photography inspiration. Also to see more from Taylor Gray, follow him on Instagram at @taylorgrayphoto, Facebook or on his website.

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The post Explore Oregon’s Rugged and Diverse Coastline From the Sky appeared first on Resource Travel.

The video opens with a quiet downtown scene at 12:01am and flawlessly takes us through a California sunrise, the chaotic mid-day, colorful sunsets and finally, seeing the never ending freeways still bustling well into the night.

The Vimeo description says that the team shot the scenes from over 50 locations while paying particular attention to the time of day, in order to tell the 24-hour story that they had sought. After the filming was complete, they had over 4TB of photos that wound up being consolidated to this two-minute film, which was matched perfectly with an original song “Lost Panorama” by To Be Decided.

See more from Beverly Hills Aerials on their website, Vimeo, Facebook, and Instagram. 

The post Aerial Timelapse Shows 24 Hours in Los Angeles appeared first on Resource Travel.

As shown in the above aerial film by Shutter Sky Films, one of those wonders is Shoshone Falls, which, at 212 feet tall, is taller than Niagra Falls.  Located near the southern Idaho town of Twin Falls, this incredible wonder that lies on the 1,078 mile long Snake River is a perfect place to spend the day, as there is a swimming area, boat launch, hiking trails and a picnic area with a remarkable view of the extraordinary waterfall, which is flowing at some of it’s highest levels in decades.

If you are close to southern Idaho, make some time to visit Shoshone Falls in the next month. I know I will be!

The post See the Massive Water Flow in Idaho’s Shoshone Falls Right Now appeared first on Resource Travel.

Usually, most people, including myself, would have a problem keeping focused through a five-minute video of nothing but travel clips, but Kolder’s incredible cinematic style mixed with Hyperlapse and some crazy good After Effects transitions is captivating. Add to that the sheer number of beautiful and dramatic looking locations and Kolder creates one of the best travel ‘reels’ we have seen in quite a while.

Hard to believe the skill level that Kolder possesses now. We are beyond intrigued to see where he is 10 years from now.

Follow Sam Kolder’s 2017 adventures on his YouTube, Instagram  and Facebook.

The post Sam Kolder’s Year in Travel Was More Epic Than Yours appeared first on Resource Travel.

Oli Haukur Myrdal from OZZO Photography has utilized some of these similar techniques, but this time with a twist. In order to capture the low light video, OZZO has to go far beyond a DJI Phantom 4. For this film, Mydral mounted a Sony A7sII onto a DJI Matrice 600 Hexacopter to capture beautiful aerial footage of Iceland’s incredible landscapes under a full moon. To add to the landscapes, OZZO and his team show that there is no better time to go for a surf or a kayak than under a full moon in Iceland!

Follow OZZO Photography on his website, Instagram and Vimeo.

[Featured Music: “Side By Side” by Generdyn (feat. Eric Swavley)]

The post An Athletic Adventure Through Iceland Under a Full Moon appeared first on Resource Travel.

Vanarey gives credit to the camera system as well as being willing to flying with a cinematic mindset.

When watching Vanarey’s skillful cinematic take on aerial photo and video,  it’s hard to believe his initial background was in the corporate world working in real estate economics. Michael began to crave something more out of life and packed his bags before heading to over 21 countries. All he needed was his camera, a close friend or two, and a vision.

We sat down with Michael to talk about the work that went into capturing this film.

How has the addition of a drone changed your creative process?

Wow, where do I start. The DJI Phantom 4 has taken my production value to the next level – no pun intended! It’s allowed me to capture another perspective that is critical to my storytelling by allowing me to get to places my legs simply can’t. The drone ticks all the boxes and fits in seamlessly with my Sony a7 footage on the ground.

 

I use the DJI Phantom 4 as a flying camera platform not a toy. I cinematically compose a flight path and have a creative vision before I take off. I also sometimes remove the blades to handhold the drone to get that steady shot as well – It nearly replaces the DJI Ronin M!

Where do you plan to take the DJI Phantom 4 next?

I am currently in Hawaii with my company Roam Travel PR shooting for some Resorts for the upcoming month. I am super excited to have just ordered the new Phantom 4 Pro with the larger sensor and extra obstacle avoidance! Pumped to test it out on the incredible coastline of Maui and mountainous terrain of Kauai. After Hawaii I am off to Cuba, Argentina, Colombia and Peru in the spring. I can never say no to a Mediterranean summer and then I am off to Africa and Iceland in the Autumn.

 

I will hopefully capture plenty of footage to add to my drone montage of the last 6 months that’s up on my Vimeo channel.

Any advice to those who are considering following in your footsteps and travel with a drone?

While traveling, I always check the legality of importing a drone. Morocco, for example, will confiscate on arrival. I always bring the DJI Phantom 4 as carry on with the LiPo batteries out and at a ~50% charge for safety. When passing through security always act friendly and be confident in what you’re carrying. I have a rain coat for the styrofoam box incase I get caught out in the rain. I also have put stickers on the Phantom 4 itself with my contact details in case I lose it.

 

While it doesn’t suit my professional needs now, I highly recommend the DJI Mavic Pro for its portability – it can fit in your pocket and pump out some seriously quality footage.

 

While on location and ready to fly, be prepared and 100% confident in safety. Properly manage and cycle through your LiPo batteries to ensure their reliability. There is nothing worse than crashing on location! I bought an ND filter kit to slow down my shutter speeds in bright lighting environments. It has been the biggest step I took towards getting a cinematic shot.

 

I record in smaller clips to highlight what I want to record and don’t film meaningless footage – be clinical in what you capture. When recording I am super careful about adjusting my Yaw (left stick on the controller) as it’s the fastest way to make a great shot seem amateur.

We really appreciate Vanarey and Roam Travel for sharing his film and photos with us, so we gave him a vote in the current Woodbox film competition. Check it out and give him a vote here! 
Check out more from Vanarey on his website, Facebook, and Instagram

The post Watch This Cinematic Aerial Tour Over 4 Continents appeared first on Resource Travel.

The Chanburi Buffalo Races in Thailand is an annual event that dates back at least a century. The dangerous races are entertaining to spectators while having high stakes for the riders. Valuable prizes and prestige are awarded to top jockeys who devote a considerable amount of training and time in preparation. Filmmaker Roberto Serrini described the event as,    “A crazy sight; exciting, frightening, fast, furious, dangerous, and beautiful.” Captured in a unique fashion, Roberto employed drone footage combined with selective desaturation to put a modern artistic spin on the traditional festival.

To see more from Roberto Serrini check out his website or follow him on Vimeo.

Check out some of our favorite shots from the film below.

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Travel Feels: Norway is just one short film in a series created by filmmaker Matti Haapoja. This particular video features vignettes of an adorable couple on a picture-perfect vacation dotted between incredible aerial footage of the vast and dramatic Norwegian landscape. Produced in conjunction with Visit Norway, this film showcases the adventure possibilities of a Scandinavian trip and accomplishes exactly what it set out to do: demonstrate why Norway should be your next destination.

To learn more about traveling to Norway, check out Visit Norway’s website or Facebook.

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The new Timelapse reveals a sharper view of our planet, with truer colors and fewer distracting artifacts. Google again teamed up with TIME to give updated takes on compelling locations, such as the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge reconstruction, or a meandering river in Nyingchi, Tibet.

The new Timelapse also provides a more detailed view on glacial movement in Antarctica, urban growth, forest gain and loss, and infrastructure development. Using Google Earth Engine, the company sifted through about three quadrillion pixels — that’s 3 followed by 15 zeroes — from more than 5,000,000 satellite images. Google also had access to a lot more images from the past, thanks to the Landsat Global Archive Consolidation Program, and fresh images from Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2.

We took the best of all those pixels to create 33 images of the entire planet, one for each year. We then encoded these new 3.95 terapixel global images into just over 25,000,000 overlapping multi-resolution video tiles, made interactively explorable by Carnegie Mellon CREATE Lab‘s Time Machine library, a technology for creating and viewing zoomable and pannable timelapses over space and time.

To view the new Timelapse, head over to the Earth Engine website. You can also view the new annual mosaics in Google Earth‘s historical imagery feature on desktop, or spend a mesmerizing 40 minutes watching this YouTube playlist.

[images by courtesy of Google]

The post Drastic Google Timelapse Update Comes With Petabytes of New Earthly Details appeared first on Resource Travel.