BAP at Photopreneur.com

Photopreneur is a "must read" for anyone trying to monetize on photos.

And (talking about aerial photography), here's their latest Can a Balloon Inflate your Photography Income? post.

Sharper aerial pictures spark privacy fears in London

Read the story published in "the Guardian".

See the "super zoomed" map in www.192.com

County in North Carolina, US buys camera.

Harnett County in North Carolina, US will get US$11,664 for camera equipment that will be used for aerial photography.

Read the whole story here

Radio Controlled Helicopters For Aerial Photography

An interesting article on using RC Helicopters For Aerial Photography on rchelisite.com including advantages and disadvantages. click here.

CFP: International aerial archaeology conference

Here's an interesting call for papers.

CALL FOR PAPERS

International aerial archaeology conference (AARG 2008)
Ljubljana, 9 - 11 September 2008

Hosted by the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana
Proposals for sessions, papers and posters are invited.

Read the details here.

Ground Based Aerial Photography

Areal photographs can be obtained in many different ways.

An airplane (e.g. the Cessna 172) can be used for heights between 500 feet (above sea) and 10.000 feet.

A Helicopter, ( HAP) especially for heights below 500 feet.

A remotely controlled helicopter ( RCAP) for heights up to 300 feet.

A blimp (or balloon, or zeppelin) ( BAP) for heights up to 500 feet.

A kite ( KAP ) (not recommended for professional use).

And finally, a rising trend, a Mast ( GBAP ) for heights up to 100 feet.

For details try to google search the expressions: "Ground Based Aerial Photography" or Mast aerial photography (the latter without quotes).

Improper development spied from sky

Comparing old and new aerial photographs, state environmental officials spotted a suspicious-looking change in the landscape in Methuen, Massachusetts.

In July, they visited a horse stable on Tyler Street and confirmed that the owner had graded and filled wetlands without a permit, in violation of state environmental laws and regulations.

Read the whole story here

Blimp in Brazil

A youtube video of a Brazilian company, using a blimp for aerial photography shots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5ESNkPFSpw

A saddle that absorbs vibration.

Here's an interesting product from an Australian company.

It's the Cinesaddle, a "dynamic mount" for a video camera that moves. High tech beans inside the Cinesaddle absorb vibration, providing a very stable surface for the camera.

For still picture cameras have a look at their Babysaddle.

http://cinekinetic.com

Policemen in Nebraska, US use aerial photos

Aerial photos are a tool for police officers in a variety of situations: special events planning, tactical operations, missing person searches, crime scene and traffic crash investigation.

You can read the details here.

New GPS features aerial photography to help golfers.

A new GPS device will include laser technology, which a golfer could use to measure distance.

Included with the device is a color screen that is able to display aerial photography of the golf course as well as detailed data course layouts.

The device will give views of the course based on the golfer's location, and three different views that would automatically update as the golfer moves through the course.

http://www.betanews.com/article/New_GPS_features_aerial_photography_flyovers/1199983551

Thieves steal blimp.

Adelaide, Australia.

The theft of a blimp has left a business deflated and two men out of work.The blimp, a motorised balloon operated by remote control, was stolen from suburban Granville in Sydney while in an enclosed trailer attached to a car. Mat Tubb, a spokesman for the blimp's owner, Airship Solutions, is hoping the stolen goods will be too hot to handle.

The blimp, which is about 8m long and also used for aerial photography, flies unmanned and is controlled from the ground by a van. Without the control van, the blimp is useless.

The trailer and blimp have a combined value of about $30,000.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23032557-5006301,00.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sydney-crime-hits-high-in-blimp-blag/2008/01/10/1199554789523.html

The first aerial photo of Everest

Richard Halliburton took the first aerial photo of Everest (details here)
Here's the Wikipedia article about Richard Halliburton.

Freak winter tornadoes hit U.S. midwest

Here's an aerial photo showing damage in the town of Wheatland, Wis. after a rare series of January tornadoes ripped through southeastern Wisconsin, USA.
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/rss/article/177766

Favoring the Robinson R22

Although I disagree (having used a Cessna 172 very effectively at low speeds) here's a blog post that favors Helicopters as the only choice for aerial photography.

Using aerial photography to improve services

A consortium of Local Authorities in Nottinghamshire, UK, has chosen aerial photography to aid decision-making, support delivery of essential council services and improve communication with residents.
More details in this link.

Aerial photo mode

Many of the Panasonic Lumix series Digital Cameras (e.g. the DMC-FZ8) include an "aerial photo mode" (for non-professional photographers shooting out of the airplane window). Just remember you have to switch off your camera during takeoff and landing!

Here's the official link to the camera specs.

Aerial Photography in Wikipedia.

I was looking in Wikipedia for the most comprehensive article on aerial photography. I think is the French.

You can find it here: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographie_a%C3%A9rienne

The article in English is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_photography

Some people confuse aerial photography with Satellite imagery.
You may read about Satellite imagery here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_imagery