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Posted on 13/11/20 2:38:15 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3959 Reply  |
Tiny Planet
i have always been fascinated by the 'Tiny Planet' technique. I recently bought myself a DJI Mavic 2 Pro drone and am currently planning a series of aerial images of my home village, Ditchling. One of the images that is in the queue is a Tiny Planet of a snow-covered Ditchling which, of course, will have to await the arrival of snow. I thought I would go out today to check out the best vantage points and heights rather than wait for the day itself. This image is compiled of 26 separate jpgs stitched together, shot from a height of 200 feet above the village green.  _________________ If at first you don't succeed then skydiving is not for you. |
Posted on 13/11/20 6:07:20 PM |
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vibeke
Kreative Kiwi Posts: 2166 Reply  |
Re: Tiny Planet
WOW, I'm looking forward to the snow photo. _________________ Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize. |
Posted on 24/11/20 09:34:08 AM |
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tooquilos
Wizard of Oz Posts: 2884 Reply  |
Re: Tiny Planet
Thats fantastic Gordon! It is so clear. What do you use to stitch it all together? _________________ Wicked Witch of the West: I'm melting! I'm melting! |
Posted on 24/11/20 12:38:10 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3959 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
Thanks Anna The software within the Mavic produces a panoramic image as a jpg which is brought into Photoshop and the Polar Coordinates filter wraps it into a spherical shape. The Mavic also produces all of the images as separate dng files which can then be tweaked in Lightroom or Capture One to be output as jpg or tif files. These are then brought into Autopano for stitching together as a Tiny Planet. I must say that I am greatly enthused by the capability of the Mavic 2 series of drones. _________________  |
Posted on 24/11/20 1:02:39 PM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3092 Reply  |
Re: Tiny Planet
Very nice Gordon... great shot (shots), also looking forward to the snow images. Do you need a drone pilot license in the UK? They are required here locally. Also, do you have to file a flight plan? I find drone photography quite fascinating, but at my age, it won't happen for me... |
Posted on 24/11/20 2:43:46 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3959 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
Thanks Loyd There are a few requirements for drone flying but you only need a full-blown licence from the Civil Aviation Authority if you intend using a drone for commercial purposes. What is required, however, is that you must register your drone with the CAA and they will issue a personal serial number which has to be affixed to the aircraft whenever you fly as a legal requirement. To get this you have to answer some simple straightforward questions about certain flying restrictions such as how close you are permitted to fly to people and how high you can fly from your launch site. This can lead to some rather anomalous situations. If I launch at the foot of the hill on the edge of my village I can only climb to 400 feet above the village but if I walk to the top of the 200 feet high hill I can now legally fly at 600 feet above exactly the same point of the village No requirement for a flight plan. We are still a few weeks away from any possible snow here in the south east corner of the UK so the snow image won't be taken for a while and it will be from a much lower height and much closer to the church than this image but here is a photoshopped version that I was playing with.  _________________ Always remember that you are unique - just like everyone else. |
Posted on 24/11/20 4:21:13 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5526 Reply  |
Re: Tiny Planet
I see it offers 30 minutes of flight time. Sounds like a lot but I'll bet it passes in a flash when you're working! 
Apart from an onscreen warning or suchlike does it have a failsafe of some kind if you get carried away. I could see myself doing that very easily. Can it autorotate? Or safety chute? I think I'd be terrified without something very, very idiot proof .......  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 24/11/20 6:08:21 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3959 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
Hi David Yes the time does disappear very quickly when you are working. I haven’t actually timed it but in lower temperatures the battery life is reduced but you get a low battery warning when the battery level drops to a certain value which is defaulted at 25%. This can be changed if you wish but it’s best not to. When the battery drops to 10% it initiates a fully automatic return to its departure site. You can initiate an automatic return at any time and it’s all hands-off to landing and shutdown. If there are any obstacles in the way it will self-navigate around them. You can shut it down in-flight as an emergency procedure but flight characteristics are similar to those of a brick. No autorotation I’m afraid. It’s a very clever bit of kit. _________________ Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana. |
Posted on 24/11/20 8:14:21 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5526 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
That's the bit I wanted to hear ......
That's the bit I didn't ........ I fully understand your passion for this - it's wonderful to see! 
But you have a lot more courage than I do. 
I think I'll stick to land bound food photography for my recipe book.  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 24/11/20 9:26:03 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3959 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
That is for an extreme emergency. If the idea interests you you could have a look at the Mavic Mini 2. Smaller, lighter with a lower resolution camera but very effective. _________________ Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana. |
Posted on 25/11/20 00:08:03 AM |
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lwc
Hole in One Posts: 3092 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
Interesting Gordon... I read a review by PC Mag, they were certainly impressed with this drone. I think that a successful flight/shoot would be most satisfying indeed. Your photoshopped snow scene looks great... I would be happy with that and stay in the warm house when it is snowing... |
Posted on 26/11/20 12:10:36 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5526 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
I just stumbled upon this by chance. Mrs Bain at Mavic feeding time ............. ? My apologies to your dear wife Gordon.  _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 26/11/20 12:33:53 PM |
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GKB
Magical Montagist Posts: 3959 Reply |
Re: Tiny Planet
_________________ Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana. |