Photographing aerial Student Housing with the drone

At July 22, 2019
By admin
In aerial, Aerial photography, aerial video, architecutral, areial video, commercial photography, drone, Drone photography, Fine Art, lifestyle photography, Photography, Photoshop, professional, student housing, student lifestyle
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Photographing aerial Student Housing with the drone

How many times have I just wanted to get the camera up 10 feet to really showcase the exteriors of some of the student housing properties I have shot? Photographing aerial Student Housing with the drone is the simple answer because the drone allows me to get a different perspective on the property. Usually I noticed that I do get some keystoning distortion simply because I am often shooting down. This is easily corrected with the vertical perspective tool in Camera Raw in Photoshop. Here an example of the difference in perspective from ground photographs off the tripod and similar ones from the drone. These are both the same property by American Campus Communities.

Ground photo from tripod of the pool at Townhomes at Newtowne in Lexington

Aerial Drone photo from tripod of the pool at Townhomes at newtowne in Lexington

Aerial Drone photo from Mavic Pro drone of the pool at Townhomes at Newtowne in Lexington

Architectural photography for RollFab

I was recently asked to do some Architectural photography for RollFab in Austin. They are based in Phoenix. RollFab makes metal panels that look like wood. They offer a full line of the highest quality metal roofing systems, siding and metal wall panels for architectural, commercial, industrial, and residential projects of every kind. Architects, contractors and installers appreciate the quality service from their professional staff. They are ready to answer any question, and help devise custom solutions to individual project needs. This project is located at the Village at the Triangle in Austin. It is pretty cool stuff so I thought it would be nice to toss in a few drone shots of the building too because actually getting up an additional 15 feet higher was very helpful in showing the vertical side panels of the RollFab product on the building.

Architectural photography in Austin for RollFab

RollFab products installed at Village at Triangle architectural photography Austin

Aerial Drone Architectural Photography

At May 13, 2019
By admin
In aerial, Aerial photography, architectural photos, architecutral, Austin photographer, drone, lighting, Photography, professional, real estate photography
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Aerial Drone Architectural Photography

I was asked by an architect named Humphreys & Partners Architects who have offices in the US, Vietnam, China and Uruguay, to photograph some twilight aerial drone architectural photographs of a property in Austin, called ThinkEast Austin. Student Housing photography is my main forte so this apartment complex was a familiar project. As a professional architectural photographer in Austin I have learned that the drone is my best friend. Just to be elevated 10 to 15 feet to photograph a structure can make all the difference. The rain had just ended and I launched the DJI Mavic Pro in pretty heavy wind. Getting a fast enough shutter speed with the lowest possible ISO is always the challenge when shooting in the dark. You cannot shoot from a drone with a shutter speed higher than 1/30 especially if it is windy. My ISO was pumped up to 1000 but it worked out well after I did my adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw. The lighting on the building was not very attractive so I had to create my own light in Photoshop. I had to push and pull the shadows, highlights and white quite a bit to get a nice looking final image. Here is the before and after.

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro Johnny Stevens

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro Austin AFTER editing

ThinkEast Drone architectural photo before professional architectural photogrpaher austin

ThinkEast Drone architectural photo before editing

The Mavic Pro drone perfect perspective

At March 21, 2019
By admin
In 17 mm, aerial, Aerial photography, aerial video, architecutral, drone, Drone photography, Photography, professional
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The Mavic Pro drone perfect perspective

How many times have I been shooting architecture from a tripod and wishing I could get just 10 feet higher? The Mavic Pro drone adds the perfect perspective for those situations. The drone does not have the vertical perspective adjust-ability as the TS-E 17 lens does, but once you are up 10 or 20 feet, you don’t need it because the verticals are true at those heights.

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro photographer Johnny Stevens

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro Austin

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro Johnny Stevens

Architectural photo shoot for VRBO and AirBnB

At January 16, 2019
By admin
In Aerial photography, architectural photos, austin architectural photographer, Photography, real estate photography
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Architectural photo shoot for VRBO and AirBnB

I was just asked to shoot an Architectural photo shoot for VRBO and AirBnB. The home is tucked away in Rob Roy, It has a lovely views of Barton Creek Country Club. There were 2 different rentals, the bottom floor of the main house and a separate quest house. They were both beautifully decorated and appointed. Here is what the client had to say on Google reviews:

First, and most important, the quality of Johnny’s work is EXCEPTIONAL. The way he selected the angles, lighting, composition created remarkable images well above my highest expectations.
Also, he is very friendly and pleasant to work with, did the job quickly and thoroughly, returning several times to take pictures in daylight, twilight, using a drone, …
Highly recommended.

Architectural image of Austin home rental

Exterior twilight architectural shot Austin

Sunset rule wins again.

At June 27, 2018
By admin
In Aerial photography, american campus, austin architectural photographer, Austin photographer, Fine Art
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The 20 minutes after sunset rule wins again.

I was shooting an exterior of this apartment pool in Tucson last week. I always ask the client to arrange with maintenance to have the pool lights in the pool and the perimeter lights forced on at least 30 minutes before sunset. Normally these lights are on solar cells or light sensors and turn themselves on when the sun light dissipates and the ambient light gets dark enough to trigger them on. Inevitably, they turn themselves off way after sunset and too late for the perfect twilight shot. I was watching the sun go down and as it approached 20 minutes after sunset, I was concerned that this scene was going to be boring. The sun must not behave the same in Arizona. But I shot my bracketed shots anyway, and because I was so close to the pool, I decided to shoot and upper image and then shift down with my 17mm tilt shift lens and shoot a lower image so I could stack them together in Photoshop to get more room for the top and bottom of the image.

Entrada Real in Tuscon twilight exterior real estate student housing photography

Aerial Drone Photography

At May 30, 2018
By admin
In aerial, Aerial photography, aerial video, architectural photos, areial video, austin architectural photographer, Austin photographer, drone, Drone photography, Drone Video
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How many times have I been shooting a structure and wishing I could get just 20 feet up instead of shooting from the ground?

U Club on Frey student housing

Alas, this is just what the drones offer us. Not only do they offer a different perspective on a structure, but we can add video to leverage aerial motion and feature the surroundings. Add a bit of moody music and you have a very compelling representation of a property. My drone of choice is the DJI Mavic Pro simply because I can pack it in my photo bag and travel with it on planes. The camera delivers a superior still image as well.

Drone Photography and Video by Johnny Stevens

FAA Licensed Drone Pilot

FAA Registration FA3347KRKA

Simple Video settings for Canon 60D

At May 24, 2018
By admin
In Aerial photography, aerial video, video, videography
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Recently I drilled through the Canon 60D to provide my client with some setup Simple Video settings for Canon 60D instructions that the staff could carry with them for shooting video with this camera. It is a wonderful camera for shooting video. Here you go.

Canon 60 D SLR camera

Simple Video settings for Canon 60D

SHOOTING VIDEO

Automatic:

These Automatic notes apply to shooting photos in AUTO as well:

You get no control over any settings like, shutter speed, white balance, f stop, ISO or focus.
However, if you have had a margarita and don’t want to deal with settings AUTO mode will give you acceptable video quality.
The only concern you may have is not having control over focus unless you set the lens to Manual Focus and focus the lens manually by zooming in to the subject, focusing and then zoom back out to wherever you like.

Shooting Video on AUTO

If you have a lavaliere mic, clip it onto the subject and plug the mini jack into the mic port on the under the rubber flab on the left side of the camera. Otherwise sound will be recorded from the camera mic (not great sound quality). The lav may need a micro mini adapter to fit the mic in port.
Power up camera (left thumb)
Turn Main dial above power switch to the video camera icon. (last one)
On the lens select AF (Auto Focus)
On the lens select stabilizer OFF if you are on a tripod. ON if you are hand holding .

If nobody has messed with the camera settings these should stay in place for AUTO. But if you want to double check these AUTO settings:

MENU

SCREEN 1
- Movie exposure – AUTO
- AF Mode – Live mode (lets you see the image on the camera window.)
SCREEN 2
- Movie REC Size 1920 x 1080 / 30p is fairly standard HD video. 24p is best for cinematic footage.
- Sound Recording – AUTO

You can start shooting now

Focus on subject by placing the square in the middle of the window on the subject and press the shooting tigger button (right forefinger) half way to set focus. (or press the AF ON button with thumb.)
Increase or decrease exposure by rotating the Thumb Wheel.
Push camera icon by viewfinder to start recording.
Push again to stop recording

Shooting VIDEO on Manual

Rotate top dial to the video camera

Press Menu (there are 3 VIDEO screens for settings. Select them with the wheel on the top right on your right forefinger)

SCREEN 1
- Movie exposure – Manual
- AF Mode – Live mode (lets you see the image on the camera window.)
SCREEN 2
- Movie REC Size 1920 x 1080 / 24. This is the most cinematic setting.
- Sound Recording – Manual. Adjust the sound level so that it is not hitting 0 Just above 12 is fine.
SCREEN 3
- White balance. For indoor office setting choose SUN – Daylight.

(Most of these menu items can also be accessed from the Q button (Quick Menu). Move up and down these icons by pressing the top and bottom of the outer ring on the SET button.

Then you can set your shutter speed, aperture and ISO just like you would if shooting photos.