Skyline

Welcome back to Dallas! I hope you brought your parka from Florida because it's about to get bitterly cold. I originally had some other pictures that I took in January ready to post but figured this series would be more timely. This first image comes from before the storms and 400 feet above Trinity Groves. The weather at the time of this picture was about 27 degrees, with light snow flurries and moderate wind. While using my car as a windbreaker, I moved my frozen fingers to angle the drone for this capture. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but it was cold and snowy and windy. Regardless, I ended up with this wonderful picture of the Dallas skyline. 

 

Motion

Wow! Did I post on a Saturday again? Yes, I did! When I originally scheduled the posts in mid-January, I was still working on this image. After a little while of editing, I wanted to post it before the next series, but I also wanted to start that series on a Monday. So, I posted on a Saturday, lucky you! This picture is a combination of two images; one of the people walking on the beach at night and the other of stars. I took both pictures within thirty minutes of each other, but the settings were wildly different. For the people portion of the image, I used a shutter speed of ten seconds and an ISO of 640. For the star portion of the image, I used a shutter speed of twenty seconds and an ISO of 100. Both parts had an aperture of 2.8. Basically, these two portions would not form this picture on their own, and some editing needed to be done. After multiple attempts to merge the images, I ended up using the sky replacement tool in Photoshop and created this. 

 

Sunset Watching

For the last image of the adventure, I chose this one of a family watching the sunset. I felt there was something about a picture of people watching a sunset that made for the perfect last image. The adventure started with the sun rising just above the skyscrapers and ending with this sunset. The sun creating streaks in the sky and the silhouettes of the people, perfectly ending our Florida adventure.

Starting next week, I continue another adventure back in Texas as I have been testing and perfecting my drone skills and am excited to show them. 

 

Crashing Waves

This scene is one that I made, with no expectations of it turning out like this. I saw the seashell and thought about how interesting an image would be if the focus is sharp on the shell with a long shutter speed and blurred waves. I waited for a few rounds of water to flow over the sand and make it less manmade, then snapped the shutter. There is something so elegant about the simplicity of this. The crisp focus, soft colors, and smooth water, all work so well. 

 

Under the Sunset

As we enter the final week of Florida pictures, we close the adventure with three sunset pictures. This picture is of two swimming heads as they swam under the sunset. When you first looked at the image, you probably had no idea that those two black spots were heads. But, now that I mention it, the picture probably looks a lot better. Either way, the colors of the sunset are spectacular, ranging from blue to red, top to bottom, with clouds dotting the sky.

 

Beachside and Lakeside

As the sun began to set and I biked on over to the beach, I sent the drone up, as I now typically do. This first image comes from the Grayton Beach State Park, which does cost $5 per car and is not all that different than the public beach, but it's the experience that matters! Anyways, near the state park was the deposit of the lake water into the sea. I saw this on Google Maps as I was researching where the best beach might be, but didn't expect this much of a contrast. I am still not entirely sure why the lake is as dark as it is but creates an interesting scene with the light green seawater and brown lake water. 

Afternoon Float

Continuing the adventure on Western Lake, after I received the critically low battery warning and while the drone was forcing me to land, I took this one last picture of the lake. Some paddleboarders happened to go by, which resulted in this wonderful image. From this vantage point, you can imagine my position in the past few images. Monday's image came from the bridge in the background, Friday's image was from far to the left of this but of the same general area, and Wednesday's was from right above that dock. While the ocean was interesting, I think I took most of my pictures at the lake. 

Blue Skies and Calm Waters

Down on the lake, I found this fisherman enjoying the calm water and moderate temperatures. When taking the picture, I didn't think it was good. I looked at it on the little camera screen and was like, eh. But, when I was reviewing the pictures (almost a month later, oops), this stood out. I feel like I have seen a picture like this in a fishing magazine. I don't follow fishing, so I don't know fishing magazines or big brands but feel I have seen a similar picture back when I would read a magazine while waiting for a haircut. Who knows, maybe this will star on the next cover???

 

Nothing but Blue

As I flew the drone further and further away, it revealed the entire Western Lake. What makes me like the image so much is all of the white roofs and blue waters. On its own, the blue waters would be enough. They are bright and contrast well with the surrounding brush. Then you add the white rooftops, and each looks a little different and special. They pop against the blue waters and match the white sand beaches. Then, and my favorite part, there is a single red roof (from one of the gazebos I mentioned a few days ago). You don't really notice it at first, but once you do, you can't not look at it. 

 

Lakeside

Continuing in our hypothetical day, around midday, I flew the drone over Western Lake. On the lake, there are many wooden docks. There were about two more like this one and two others with a little gazebo at the end. Right as I took off and was looking for interesting objects to view from above, I looked down and saw the fascinating contrast between the green shrubbery and bright colored wood. I positioned the dock such that it was vertically centered, and both the coast and tip of the dock were in the frame, then took the picture. 

 Main Street

About thirty minutes later, I decided to fly the drone over the main street of Seaside, Highway 30a. I am glad I took the picture when I did, as the shadows of the palm trees and faint hues of the sunrise complement each other well. The centerpiece of the image is the bright sun but around it is the rich colors in the shadows. The two leading lines, one from the street and the other from the shoreline, both lead to the back of the image where the sun is. It all just flows so smoothly. For the one who carefully looks at the image, can you find the 4Runner? Just another reason to like the image so much more :)

 

Morning Adventures

As the day continues and the sun rises a little higher into the sky, I wanted to end the sunrise portion of this adventure with this. Even almost two months after taking it, I still remember my reaction when I first looked through the camera and saw the scene. I was so excited to have been able to take the picture. The seagulls were flocking around this person and their two children as they took a morning stroll. The focus was sharp, the exposure was proper, and the action of the seagulls with the people and sunrise created a wonderful picture. If I were to name a favorite of any of my sunrise pictures, this would be the one. 

 

Color

For this next picture, I wanted to capture the sand and the remnants left behind when someone walks in it. As I was waiting for the sun to rise, this person walked by. I waited for them to walk a little ways away, adjusted the focus to barely in front of the lens, then took the picture. I like how it ended up, the sand in crisp focus, the person with some resemblance of a human but not entirely, and the vibrant colors of the sun. The one thing that I dislike about the picture is all of the other marks in the sand. I wish that there was only one line leading to the person, but I can't complain as this still turned out exactly how I wanted. 

 

Peaking

As the sun continued to rise, a few more people decided to take a morning stroll. One of those people was this couple who happened to stop to take a picture a little ways ahead of me. I ended up taking a picture of them taking a picture, and it ended up like this. Everything looks so calm and still. Them in a silhouette, the sun just barely peeking above the clouds, and the waves crashing along the seashore. There was the smell of the sea in the air and a steady wind creating a little taller waves that day. 

 

Morning Walk

Back on the ground, I took this picture minutes into the new day. The sun was barely above the sea when this person walked by with a dog. I waited for them to walk a little further away from me, then took this picture. The orange sun lighting up the sky, the buildings of the town a few miles away from this beach, and the silhouette of the person and their dog as they took a morning walk along the beach, all combining into this picture. 

 

Rise

As I continue through the rest of my adventure, I want to structure the pictures as if a day will pass by, starting with, of course, a sunrise. Once again, from the drone, this picture comes from high above the sea. There were two directions to take the picture, one facing directly into the sun, and possibly overexposing it, and one facing away from the sun. I chose to face the sun because I felt I could manage the bright sun by decreasing the exposure. The raw picture ended up really dark, but with the power of Photoshop, I was able to brighten the city while keeping the sky a nice soft orange. 

 

Town Square

Welcome back to Florida! As we pick up this adventure again, I wanted to start with a picture from the center of Seaside. I flew the drone about 500 feet above the town, then took this picture. I like how simple everything looks. The green space is in the center, which is surrounded by a row of palm trees, which is surrounded by a row of buildings. Surrounding the buildings are homes, then in front of the buildings and green space is the highway, which cuts almost directly through the middle of the picture. Above that are more homes, the beach, then the water, which happened to be a dark green that day because of the wind. From up above, everything looks so peaceful and structured. 

 

Reflection

As the sun continued to set, the clouds became more and more interesting. In the color version, you can see bright yellows and some oranges. Although the black and white version doesn't show that, you can still see the sunlight pouring through the clouds in the middle left side of the picture. I wanted to turn the picture black and white to really illustrate the silhouettes. I positioned myself between the sun and my brother and sister and captured them as they were running from the waves. I also was lucky enough to take the picture when they were in the highlight of the clouds, which made their silhouettes sound out even more. 

 

Sunset Walks

After landing the drone, I took some sunset pictures with my main camera. This first picture is one that I took as I was walking along the beach. There were also some other people walking, and I wanted to capture them and the surrounding environment. I took a few steps closer to the water, partly getting my feet wet, and moved my camera closer to the surface of the water, then took the picture. The people are barely out of a silhouette, the sky is colorful, and the waves create a soft blue tone to the image. 

 

Floating

As I flew my drone over the water, I noticed some manta rays swimming. At first, it was just one, then another, a third, then this large squadron (yes, a group of manta rays is called a squadron, I Googled it). I happened to be at the right place and the right time because as I flew my drone over the group, some paddle boarders were right over them. I changed the camera angle such that it faced directly downward and snapped the picture. The dark spots of the rays below the light green water, below the bright colors of the paddleboards.