UAV used for Chimney Stack Inspection

With the latest cold, damp weather, there have been a few concerns regarding the structure condition and safety of some brick chimney stacks.  Stacks which have been built many years using traditional clay bricks and mortar and have since remained dormant of use.
To assist with the Grade 1 visual inspection, Quantity Surveyors have used our services and that of the unmanned aerial vehicle to their full advantage.
After we complete our risk assessment and obtain the necessary permissions, the UAV is deployed on site with a professional DSLR or video camera and flown to within metres of the structure or any part of it. From there, via our live video downlink, we can see at ease any degrading of the brick work or mortar or any other problem area which will give cause of concern.
In this example a scaffolding structure would have taken days to erect at a cost at approximately £9000.00 pounds never mind the inconvenience to the residents in the area.
Our overall cost was less than 5% of the scaffolding hire charge and completed in about 1.5hrs with the images delivered next day.
The QS can now call upon the necessary maintenance teams to take care of the mortar and brick work.

The results of the grade 1 inspection

Snow covered Mountains of Mourne

The Mournes has always been a favourite location of mine whether we walk or fly.  And I love to photograph the rolling mountains whenever I can.
Today was no exception.  I had a few commissions which took me airborne.  The majority of my time was spent in the Newcastle area travelling throughout the mountainside.  Its only from my perspective as an aerial photographer can we appreciate the stunning world in which we live.
But to photograph the Mourne Mountains covered in snow is really the icing on the cake.
We are compiling framed prints ready for sale and if you should desire to get your hands on a limited edition set please do contact me directly.
Enjoy.

Donard to the Isle of Man

Time Lapse

This week we have received two enquiries from construction and facility management companies regarding time lapse photography.  Both companies have major construction projects planned for the forthcoming weeks / months ahead and would like to record site progress from the first cut of soil to the completed structure.
The use of  time-lapse photography can benefit the project manger in many ways, from site progress development to time management.
Our cameras record still frames greater than HD video and are rendered at 25 frames per second to a seamless film covering the total build time on site.

We can cover one day events through to prolonged builds and have a tariff to suit all needs from a single camera through to multi camera setups.
Click on the link below to view a very simple one camera set up.

  To view demo click HERE

New arrival at quarry

Today in the wind, rain and freezing cold we were onsite at one of Northern Irelands leading quarry companies.
Our client has recently heavily invested in some new trucks of all shapes and sizes.  Several images were required for the company PR for both our client and the Donnelly Group.
Just as we set up for this shot, the first shot of the day, the heavens opened.  Needless to say the shoot was over very very quickly. But not before getting what we needed.

New addition to the fleet

Hotel Bedroom view

Just recently we have been working with a client who has the foresight for one of the best ever Hotel golf and spa resorts right here in Co Down.

We have been on site today capturing the sweeping hills before construction work begins.  Our brief was to show the view from the hotel bedroom, which of course has yet to be built.  However in the pano image below this is the wonderful view you can expect to see.

If this goes ahead Northern Ireland will have a golf-course to boast about.

This photograph is made up of five stitched images taken at a height of 40mts AGL using our UAV.

View from Hotel bedroom

Aerial filming - Causeway Coast

For those who are following our progress on aerial filming and aerial photography work will be aware that the Causeway Coast is part of a client requirement to promote Northern Ireland as a tourist destination, second to none.  

The brief for the stones from the Art Director was simple. "The stones, are the Causeway coast so we want to see definition of the stones in the aerial footage".  That was basically it, apart from you have to fly low- very low, the deadline and the fact that it had to be captured in sunshine.

On Friday past if you just happened to be at the Causeway on a beautiful day you certainly saw us and our crew with the UAV filming the coast line, with of course the permission from the National Trust.

Following the directors brief, the aerial video and photography will show the stones in all their glory and we've taken to screen shots from the video just to show that.

From what I have seen so far, this footage is a jaw dropper.  I just you think so too.

Soon to be screened on TV.

Screen shots from the aerial footage of the causeway stones, Co Antrim

Causeway stones - National Trust property

Air to Air

Our last post related to Ground to air photography.  Isn't is strange that only this week we're now shooting air to air.
Using two helicopters we covered some aspects of the Robinson 22 flight.  A great day out was had by all.

Robinson 22 North Antrim