Image Ref: 2012-05-16--23   ©2012 StevenDraper/FOCUSBritain 

Sunrise over Teignmouth

With a perfect weather forcast, I set out early to create the FIRST aerial photo from the mast in the UK.

Combining a stitching technique with an elevated polepics perspective, and a 5.30 sunrise proved a great photo challenge to get the Aerial aspect of my FOCUS Britain photography project underway.

To be honest, a lot of the strain is carried out by specialist software, such as the oddly named PtGui that I've used for a number of years. 

So after helping it on its way, I left it to find contol points, match things up and render, while I sipped the coffee and unpacked my gear. But as is usual with photo editing, the image doesn't emerge looking as it does above. 

Image Ref: 2012-05-16--23 Interim PtGui Output  ©2012 StevenDraper/FOCUSBritain

It's rather more "casting like," with the final polish requiring a few more hours of delicate work. This includes a lot of detail extraction from the shadows, and in zooming in, I found a couple of areas that would need further adjustment before applying the general work flow that produces my signature look.

Q - Would it not be easier to simply use a wider angle lens?
A - Yes, and no. There are certainly times, particularly when there is a lot of movement - when I'd use the 14-24mm and accept some of the compromises it generates - but in still conditions with a cloudless sky and quiet streets the stitch enables a bigger overall file for a larger wide print with less edge distortions. 

 Image Ref: 2012-05-16--31   ©2012 StevenDraper/FOCUSBritain

My second shot from the day is a conventional single image cropped to my prefered 645 ratio. It would also crop wide for tasks like Facebook Page Pictures, or for HD Widescreen Video - but I enjoy big empty skies in my work, and so do editors as the space is great for placing headlines, text or even other pictures. 

Finally, here's a short video showing  some cool GoPro video footage taken from the mast during tests a few days earlier.

 

 

Similar FOCUS Britain Photo Adventures and Related Image Gallery Links:

• The Seaside --- All the FOCUS Britain photo adventures relating to The Seaside
• The Seaside --- All the Photos from this and other Seaside photo adventure
• Teignmouth --- All the Photos from this and other Teignmouth  photo adventure

***

Thank you for visiting. I'm an award winning Fine Art and Commercial photographer, creating eye-catching images that Document, Celebrate and Promote; The People, The Places and The Things that make Britain Great.

You can follow my photographic adventures by clicking LIKE at the FOCUS Britain Facebook page, follow live tweets from photo shoots @FOCUSBritain on Twitter, subscribe to my inFOCUS eNewsletter or FOCUSBritain YouTube channel.