Idaho Airships, Inc.

We lifted off well before the sun was up this morning, 8/9/08, enroute to Coeur d’ Alene for some technical work. I couldn’t resist playing with the gear as we climbed out from Nampa.  This is the Garrity Auto Mall.

My coffee was sitting on the instrument console, still full and still very hot. Fortunately, Erik (my pilot) is highly skilled-when I interrupted his climbout to circle for this shoot, I didn’t lose a drop (thanks, Dutch Brothers).

This type of image is made possible by a number of capabilities. The first is that our 1DsMIII’s are incredibly clean at high ISO…in this case, 1600. Additionally, we use stabilized systems. Perhaps just as important is the photographer’s technique-much of mine was picked up at the rifle range and with experience.

One of the issues with internet viewing is that you don’t really have any idea how clean or sharp the image actually is-even an objectionably blurred (focal or motion) image can be made presentable at 6 inches wide and 72 dpi. To dispel any rumors, here’s an inset of the display pad in the foreground (lower center of the frame):

For those familiar with higher grade cameras, this is an excellent example of why professional aerialists are flocking to the top-of-the-line Nikon and Canon bodies. A professional “MegaPixel” is easily distinguished from a consumer and even prosumer “MegaPixel.” This particular example will absolutely compete with a 6×7 negative film artifact shot during the day and Tango-scanned.  Shooting this subject on film at night is simply out of the question.

Please note the noise evident in the shadows at upper left frame-this is residual after sharpening. I didn’t mask it out because it’s a great benchmark for just how clean the 1DsMIII shoots at high ISO (and proper exposure).

Dedicated to Ms. Briana, who just might catch cold!

L