A Kayak Aerial Photography Method – a behind (and above) the scenes look!

What is the single most distinguishing feature of South Florida?

It’s not tourists, not retirees, nor the humidity.

It’s the flatness – this country is incredibly flat. In many ways, living down here is a lot like living in a kind of Flatland (remember that story?). Consequently, like for so many,  my photography was also seemingly trapped in just “two dimensions”.  In my quest for a new angle, I have gone to some modest heights to bring back interesting images from the third dimension.

Think of this as low altitude but with a higher attitude!

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Birds-eye view from the third dimension.
Little Rabbit Key in Florida Bay.

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After seeing my Aerial VR Panoramics, large format prints and unique birds-eye views of the Everglades, people are always asking me  how I do it. When I first wrote this some years ago, it was called Pole Aerial Photography. Today with ubiquitous selfie sticks in every tourist’s hand, it could be called Really Long Selfie Stick Photography! 😉

While I certainly did not invent the pole photography idea, I have however developed & perfected my own technique.

Also, as far as I’m aware, I may well have been the first to apply this type of aerial photography technique to the outback Everglades and especially from the seat of a moving kayak!

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In the middle of the Everglades with a 6 foot monopod and dslr/fisheye.

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Using what I already had, at first I started with a 6 foot monopod and a DLSR cam with a fisheye lens. This was roughly equivalent to a selfie stick with an action cam but with much better resolution. It produced some interesting enough results that I decided I definitely needed more ALTITUDE !

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Kayaks in the Ft Lauderdale Winterfest Boat Parade. Monopod with DSLR and small flash.

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:WARNING:

I am describing to you my method and only what has worked for me. Use any and all information at your OWN RISK! If you decide to try some aerial photography, know that what goes up must come down.  Use common sense and be mindful of your surroundings and aware of the situation you are in! There is a real risk of TOTAL equipment loss!

Think, twice – no three times before deciding to do anything like this in a populated area and watch out for power lines and trees!

Your flying camera can seriously hurt you and/or other persons and property – PAY ATTENTION!!

:WARNING:

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Older DSLR with Samyang 8mm fisheye wrapped in plastic.

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Doing some research, I looked at kites, balloons,  even model airplanes and Drones. My criteria were simply that it be cheap, simple, portable, reliable and safe. Between all the factors, like cost, size, portability, choice of cam, charging batteries, etc ..  most people today opt for some type of a Drone. However, for my application the pole does have it’s merits as Drones are not allowed in national parks! I therefore decided to carry forward this principle but on a much longer scale.

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On a beach, preparing to set up the BIG pole.
But first .. we joust! 😉

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Kites and balloons will go as high as you care, but after a certain height, your pics will all start to look a lot like Google Earth closeups. In terms of height, a pole could be 15, 25 even 35 feet tall. My method then is very much low altitude, yet enough attitude to convey that elevated bird’s-eye view. It also relies on quite a bit of post processing to get the best results, so it may not be for everybody!

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With a pole planted on the ground, even aerial night shots are sometimes possible!

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A typical DSLR cam with a fisheye lens is a combination that can weigh 4 to 5 lbs. That doesn’t sound like a lot, until you hang those 5 lbs on the end of a stick 25 feet away – that’s when leverage comes into play. I eventually moved on to a small mirrorless cam with fisheye, which weighs only a fraction of that.

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Big pole, 25 ft version for DSLR/fisheye.

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Regardless of the cam, one thing that quickly becomes apparent, is that the longer the pole, the more leverage and torque will need to be exerted to raise/lower and keep steady. It’s just simple physics and there needs to be a counter-weight at the base. Keep in mind that even with the counterweight it’s always a handful, sometimes very difficult to handle if there’s wind!

The downside to a heavy base foot is that it tends to sink into the soft mud! I had a real close call this one time in the middle of nowhere just as I was raising the BIG pole, when all of a sudden the force pushed me down into the soft mud to my knees! I was stuck! Pole over the shoulder with a camera dangling 25 feet away and no way to move. As I contemplated my options, the foot suddenly kicked up, which meant that the top went down, and so the cam just ever so “kissed” one of the many sea water puddles in the low tide mud flat. At that point I knew I had to act fast and pushed against the pole, prying myself out of the mud, racing to the dunked cam, fearing a “kiss of death” total loss. Well it did get wet, but by chance hit the back lcd screen. Clearing off any liquid, I rubbed some hand sanitizer alcohol gel into the buttons. Camera was acting spastic, going though menus all by itself, it was shorted! That was the end of that session!

In a desperate effort, I later actually re-wet the back of the cam with some fresh water & after more alcohol and several drying cycles it works perfectly to this day. Moral of the story?

Watch your STEP and need MORE counterweight! 😉

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To actually take the pics, the cam is set on a timer that takes a pic every few seconds. As the cam keeps taking pics, supporting and stabilizing the pole becomes the primary objective. It’s actually a good amount of work and I feel less a photographer and more like a technician gathering the data points.

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Setting the intervalometer function on the cam.

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This muck can suddenly disappear from under your feet and you will be down to your knees!

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Above, standing on First National Bank raising the BIG pole. Result is below:

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Result from above: Aerial birds-eye 360 panoramic of First National Bank in Florida Bay.
CLICK for VR 360 aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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On my 20 ft sea kayak, the pole sections just fit on the foredeck and are light enough not to effect anything significantly. The heavy counterweight foot rides at the bottom of the back hatch, nicely also lowering overall CG and stability feel in 4 – 6 foot seas that I’m willing to paddle in!

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The Banana Boat easily carries the BIG poles on the deck, then again, she’s 20ft long!

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Raising the BIG early 34 footer version at Cape Romano.

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The BIG pole now stands at 34 feet (10 meters), but I am looking to get even higher. Eventually it’s gonna top out at just over 40 feet tall which I feel will be the final “safe” limit! The BIG pole is always used planted on the ground, so it’s much more stable than the hand held versions.

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At work, with the 34 foot BIG pole.

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Pole on the rocks on Biscayne Bay.

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Sometimes you get a surprise shot accidentally as the cam keeps taking pics .. until you turn it off.

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Aerial VR Panoramics

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The BIG pole at 34 ft (that’s 10 meters!!) is close to the practical limit for handling, portability & safety.
Photo credit: Russell Van Riper.

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Shark Point chickee aerial done with the BIG pole.
Shark Point Chickee on Florida Bay!

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:WARNING:

I am describing to you my method and only what has worked for me. Use any and all information at your OWN RISK! If you decide to try some aerial photography, know that what goes up must come down.  Use common sense and be mindful of your surroundings and aware of the situation you are in! There is a real risk of TOTAL equipment loss!

Think, twice – no three times before deciding to do anything like this in a populated area and watch out for power lines and trees!

Your flying camera can seriously hurt you and/or other persons and property – PAY ATTENTION!!

:WARNING:

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Kayak aerial photography self portrait over the Eastern Everglades.

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Another type of pole I made can easily be deployed right from the seat of the kayak!  It’s the one I used for those really cool birds-eye panoramics of the Eastern Everglades Expansion Area and the Shark River Slough trips.

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Setting up the pole on the Shark River Slough in the Everglades.
Photo credit: Robert Carew.

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Seat of the kayak view vs. birds-eye view!

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Result from above: Sweeping aerial panorama of paddlers on the River of Grass!
CLICK for VR superwide aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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Oyster Bay chickee at foot level.
CLICK for VR superwide panoramic!

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From the same spot .. dramatic example of perspective change from foot level (above) to tree-top level (below) – about 18 feet up.

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Oyster Bay chickee at bird level.
CLICK for VR superwide aerial panoramic!

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Setting up medium pole on the Taylor Slough.

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Setting up for aerial in the Bill Ashley Jungles in the Everglades.

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Result from above: Aerial panorama in the Bill Ashley Jungles (Herman Lucerne backcountry).
CLICK for VR 360 aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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At work in a Cypress Dome in the Everglades, standing on a Sit On Top kayak.

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Since the pole is sectional, I can adjust the height to what works best in a given situation. Big thanks to “Kayak Erica” of  www.allamericankayak.com  for these great pics of me in action!

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Result from above: Aerial birds-eye Cypress Dome panoramic from maybe 22 feet up!
CLICK for VR 360 aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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In the tree and poking up above the canopy over the Shark River slough.
Kayaking at Shark Valley – A visit to Seagrape Hammock, aka Willoughby Key!

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Setting up the pole on the Crooked Creek chickee in the Everglades.

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Result: Aerial view of the chickee and crooked Creek!
Gone up Crooked Creek to have a little chickee camping fun!

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Aerial night shot from probably 17 feet.
The hold up at First National Bank in Florida Bay!

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It gets HOT out there and smells quite FISHY!

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Setting up just off Rattlesnake Key in Garden Cove, Florida Keys.

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Wading in the low tide above. The result is below from about 28 feet!

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Jonathan Seagull’s view of Upper Sound Point on Rattlesnake Key in Garden Cove, Key Largo.
CLICK for VR superwide aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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Retrieving the head (cam) from some dead wood.

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Below: Result aerial panorama over Bradley Key from about 28 feet up!

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Aerial birds-eye view of point on Bradley Key point in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park (just a couple of miles west of Flamingo).
This key is named in honor of Guy Bradley, an Audubon Warden shot and killed by bird poachers about 100 years ago – one of the defining moments that led to the establishment of Everglades National Park!
CLICK for VR 360 aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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Kayak Aerial Photography over the East Everglades Expansion Area.
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Above & below:  Bird’s eye view  vs  Canoe level view.

Big thanks to Vivian Oliva for capturing me in action from the same spot!

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Kayak Aerial Photography over the Everglades prairies.
Grass Paddling in the East Everglades Expansion Area – History, Gladesmen & more Grass!
Photo credit: Vivian Oliva

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Kayak Aerial Photography!
Photo credit: Vivian Oliva.

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Poling on one end, cam on the other! Water Conservation Area 3A.
Grass paddling and poling in the Everglades Water Conservation Areas.
Photo credit: Carmen Ferreiro.

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Blue Skies!

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“I’m gonna Put It On (the lens cap)”
CLICK for interactive panorama!

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Your choice of camera will dictate how high you can go. Action cams like the GoPro series are very light & would seem like a good choice, but they are really meant for filming. For stills, they, along with camera phones aren’t the best choice if you want to make large prints and do post processing. On the other end full size DSLRs will give great image quality at the cost of size & weight. The newer breeds of the “mirrorless” cams with a matching fisheye lens hit the sweet spot. I’m still using the Pentax Q which gives excellent results and is the lightest smallest cam that accepts a dedicated fisheye lens. It’s also real fun to use and surprisingly versatile.

The Q is the “little cam that could!”

The Pentax Q is so tiny, it’s smaller than your iPhone and lots of times people don’t even notice that there’s a camera at the end of that big ol’pole.. 😉

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NEW sister site @  www.AwakentheGrass.com

Aerial VR Panoramics

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At Fisheating Creek with my “hiking” pole and cam of choice: the Pentax Q with fisheye!

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This is the shortest pole I have and the only one I paid for. It’s a painter’s pole from a hardware store and goes up to 16 ft with a super light tip. The yellow pole is automatically an instant conversation starter wherever and whenever people are around! Actual hiking with the pole in practice means carrying it much like one would a long spear! I bet I could fight off a bear with it, or at least take it’s picture~ 😉

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The Pentax Q is a tiny mirrorless cam pictured with the 03 fisheye lens.
It’s an excellent choice for aerial photography! 🙂

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Result with pole above, aerial view of Fisheating Creek campground in Palmdale, Florida.
CLICK for VR superwide aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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Bird’s eye view aerial of Fisheating Creek at Ingrams Crossing in the dry season.
CLICK for VR 360 aerial panoramic!
Large panoramic prints also available!

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In the Looney Big Cypress .. photo combat.

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Woodpecker’s eye-view of hikers in the Big Cypress Addition Lands.

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Walking the pole over a flooded Big Cypress old ORV track.
Photo credit: Carlos Atomic JohnBob

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Eye-level perspective vs. birds-eye!

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Aerial view of hikers on same ORV trail in the Addition Lands of Big Cypress NP.

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||||||||||| Large panoramic prints also available – CLICK for more info! |||||||||||

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Happy shooting, Peace! 😉

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:REALITY CHECK:

Sometimes, despite best care, it’s the little unexpected things that will get you. Recently while doing my aerial pole photography thing in another part of the world, everything was going great until I stepped off a 3 foot boulder which then unexpectedly shifted, causing me to step off the wrong way and nearly breaking my ankle. That hurt really bad (but I expect to recover fully – T.G!). In the middle of the incident I let go the pole and my Pentax Q hit the rocky ground – breaking the rear LCD glass.

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The Pentax Q “patient” is alive .. but awaits an LCD glass transplant!

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Enjoy and keep it SAFE friends!

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:WARNING:

I am describing to you my method and only what has worked for me. Use any and all information at your OWN RISK! If you decide to try some aerial photography, know that what goes up must come down.  Use common sense and be mindful of your surroundings and aware of the situation you are in! There is a real risk of TOTAL equipment loss!

Think, twice – no three times before deciding to do anything like this in a populated area and watch out for power lines and trees!

Your flying camera can seriously hurt you and/or other persons and property – PAY ATTENTION!!

:WARNING:

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© 2012-2017 Flex Maslan / kayakfari.com / awakenthegrass.com. All original photographs, artworks and music in this portfolio are copyrighted and owned by the artist, Flex Maslan, unless otherwise noted. Any reproduction, modification, publication, transmission, transfer, or exploitation of any of the content, for personal or commercial use, whether in whole or in part, without written permission from the artist is strictly prohibited.

All rights reserved!

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DISCLAIMER:: The maps and images on this site are not intended for navigation, I am not a guide; use any and all information at your own risk! Your mileage may vary .. so use good judgement before venturing out!

With that said.. Blessings friends!