on landscape The online magazine for landscape photographers
Issue 255
Browse On Landscape on your Tablet, iPad or Desktop
End frame: Conception Rock by Michael Lundgren
James Popp chooses one of his favourite images
Subscribers 4×4 Portfolios
Peter Roworth, John Dominick, Mark Burley, Karin De Winter and Jo Van Rossem
Chris Byrne – Portrait of a Photographer
Nature Photography as Risk versus Reward
Helmut Pilo
Featured Photographer
The Parallelism of Ferdinand Hodler
A concept useful in landscape photography?
The Low Drone
A Silent Revolution?
Keep it Still
Or… go bananas!

sponsored by ..

Viewpoint Editor’s Letter editor@onlandscape.co.uk
Tim Parkin

In issue 255, Theo Bosboom has written about the ‘Low Drone’, the idea that the drone can be considered an extra-large tripod rather than a cheaper way of taking aerial photographs*. It coincides with the launch of the DJI Mini Pro 3, an incredibly capable drone targeted at the ‘under 250g’ category, which has minimal restrictions on use and which is also a lot quieter than previous drones. At this sort of weight, it fits in the ‘extra lens or drone in my bag?’ category where I might just include a drone ‘just in case’.

I’m cautiously excited about this as although drones have produced quite a few genres of cliches, I don’t think the potential of the drone as a general tool for creative landscape photography has been fully realised yet. I’m sure Theo would be interested in your thoughts (as would I) so please do comment on the article (here’s a link to the online version).

In my opinion, the only thing letting down drones for creative photography purposes is the lack of longer lenses. Once the drone includes a mid-range and perhaps telephoto lens, in the same way that has become commonplace with mobile phones, this idea of the ‘drone as tripod’ may become the defacto creative mode of use for the landscape photographer.

In the meantime, my 7ft tall Gitzo will continue to be hauled around for most photography purposes, which also has the advantage of being silent (unlike me when I’m trying to get the positioning just right).

*I shudder to think of the fuel costs of helicopter-based aerial photoshoots

p.s. We’re nearly at the start of the 2022 Natural Landscape Photographer of the Year awards and as part of our build-up, we recorded a session with Sandra Bartocha about what judges look for when assessing entries. If you’d like to take a look, it’s live on the awards YouTube channel.

Click here to download issue 255 (high quality, 132Mb)

Click here to download issue 255 (smaller download, 80Mb)

Tim Parkin

Content Issue Two Hundred and Fifty Five
On Landscape Issue80
Comments

Issue 255

Click here to download issue 255 (high quality, 132Mb) Click here to download issue 255 (smaller download, 80Mb) more

Conception Rock Michaellundgren
Comments

End frame: Conception Rock by Michael Lundgren

In Michael Lundgren’s Conception Rock, two spherical shapes loom out of the darkness. While they appear large, the scale is not clear cut. At first glance, what they are or whether they even belong to this world or not is an open question. more

Mark Burley Spring Flow
Comments

Subscribers 4×4 Portfolios

Our 4x4 feature which is a set of four mini landscape photography portfolios submitted by our subscribers: Peter Roworth, John Dominick, Mark Burley, Karin De Winter and Jo Van Rossem more

Chrisbyrnephotography.9
Comments

Chris Byrne – Portrait of a Photographer

In Chris’ own words in a well-produced video on his website, the root of risk, when we boil it down, is answered by a simple question: “What are you willing to risk to get what you want?” more

1
Comments

Helmut Pilo

It must have been frustrating to have begun to explore the grand landscapes of the North only to have travel restricted by the pandemic, yet 2021 turns out to have had a silver lining and gave him the opportunity to spend more time on his photography. more

Lake Thus From Lessigen 1904
Comments

The Parallelism of Ferdinand Hodler

he photographer is more constrained. The choices are those of framing, light, and the length of exposure. These can all influence the degree of parallelism, symmetry, rhythm and the unity of nature evident in a final image. more

The Low Drone 11
Comments

The Low Drone

In this article, I would like to zoom in on another, in my opinion much less widespread, application of the drone for landscape photography. This does not involve flying high - on the contrary. In this technique, the drone is used to create intimate landscapes more

Adamp Hold Still Leaves
Comments

Keep it Still

In this article, I will look mainly at ICM i.e. deliberately moving the camera during a single exposure, but also at multi-exposure in one frame, in-camera layering of two or more separate images and combinations of all these techniques. more

On Landscape is part of Landscape Media Limited , a company registered in England and Wales . Registered Number: 07120795. Registered Office: 1, Clarke Hall Farm, Aberford Road, WF1 4AL. Midge Specs, midge net glasses from the Highlands.