Bill Swartwout Photography – Page 20 – U.S. Pictures

January 3, 2022January 20, 2022

Getting a New DJI Mini SE Drone

And adding a new camera perspective to my photography galleries…

My U.S. Pictures gallery will be gaining some new perspective in 2022. Several of my wall art photograph sales over the last few years have been taken from the high vantage point of my Ercoupe airplane and/or the top deck of a large cruise ship. I no longer have the airplane (it was a very expensive to maintain toy for nearly seven years) and we will not be cruising again for the foreseeable future (until the COVID protocols actually makes sense and work).

Here is a popular photograph that has sold multiple times. It was shot from the top deck of the Grandeur of the Seas at it left the Cruise Maryland terminal at Port Covington and sailed past Fort McHenry two days after the Baltimore Blizzard of 2016.

Here is an image shot from my airplane a few years back of the Century I Condominium building in Ocean City, Maryland. A drone would be able to replicate this image – but they are (supposedly) not allowed to fly within the town limits of OCMD.

Century I Condominium Ocean City Maryland

There are several other instances of high-vantage-point images that have been purchased from one of my online galleries. A drone, once I learn to effectively fly it and become licensed to do so for commercial purposes, will allow me to photograph many interesting landscapes and seascapes from unique vantage points. This will offer a perspective that most people will never see from the ground and using their cell phones.

Related: The drone arrived and, of course snow was in the forecast. LINK

January 2, 2022May 12, 2022

The DJI Mini SE Drone Has Arrived

Now to begin the learning curve to fly safely and legally – with my TRUST Certificate in hand.

So the package arrived mid afternoon on the day before a predicted few inches of snow. Of course, the batteries wouldn’t be charged fully until after dark. LOL

I opened it immediately, checked all the parts, looked at the (basically) useless papers that came with it. I’m glad I had already downloaded the .PDF User Manual file, which is very useful. And, of course, I’ve been watching some training/familiarization videos on Youtube.

Meanwhile – yesterday I did study the online course for Recreational Flyers and received my “TRUST” Certificate so I can fly legally (when it stops snowing).

And the info on the back of the certificate…

Transcription of the Certificate Information…

For Recreational Flyers operating under the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft (Title 49 of the united States Code (49 U.S.C) S 44809), this document is evidence that the holder has passed the aeronautical knowledge and safety test as required by 49 U.S.C S 44809 (a)(7).

Register your drone if it weights more than 0.55 pounds.
Fly only for recreational purposes.
Operate in accordance with or within a Community-Based Organizations (CBO’s) safety guidelines
Always fly within visual line of sight.
Do not interfere and give way to any manned aircraft.
Obtain authorization before flying in controlled airspace.
Do not fly higher than 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace.

Recreational Flyers must make this certificate available to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or Law Enforcement officials upon request. For more information visit faa.gov/uas.

I studied for the TRUST Certificate with the free course at the Pilot Institute. It was easy to understand and was not difficult at all to pass and obtain the certificate.

PART 107 Certificate

Once I obtain my Part 107 Certificate, which permits the drone pilot certificate holder to use a drone for commercial purposes. I will then be able to use the Drone as a camera platform, enabling me to add a new perspective to my landscape and seascape photography.

Let the Games Begin!

January 1, 2022January 20, 2022

I Use Zazzle for Calendars

My photographs appear on Calendars, Jigsaw Puzzles, Ornaments, Prints and more at Zazzle.

Yes, people still buy and use calendars and the first day of a new year is an appropriate time to bring this up. Just this morning, New Years Day, I received an email inquiry from a fellow artist at Fine Art America (FAA) inquiring about where I have my calendars produced. There have been quite a few discussions on the FAA Forum about the possibility of offering calendars there. For a number of reasons I doubt that will happen. Below is the gist of my answer…

My 2022 Assateague Pony Calendar Offering

I am certainly willing to share information with fellow artists about calendars. I use Zazzle, another quality POD (Print On Demand company) that make about a gazillion products. I sell calendars, ornaments, jigsaw puzzles, calendars and (yes) even some prints there. I no longer promote the puzzles at Zazzle because I prefer the ones offered at FAA. However, I had started offering puzzles and calendars with Zazzle six years ago and they still sell – a lot. I suppose that is because they have been in their internal search for so long and, because of that, Zazzle actually promotes them with Google ads. The same with the calendars they offer – calendars with my photographs, that is.

Zazzle provides the template but the whole system is not very intuitive – It takes a good while to get used to it. But they also have a very active forum – for info, advice, help, etc. There are a few FAA members also active at Zazzle.

Here is a link to my Assateague Pony Calendar: https://www.zazzle.com/z/301dowpa

Here is a link to the much of what I currently have at Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238675969062853179/stores

Try a search for – Assateague Pony Calendar – on google and see if you can understand why I sell a lot at Zazzle. The wild horses of Assateague Island are quite popular.

Regards,

Bill

BTW – here is the text of the original email inquiry. I actually receive frequent questions similar to this…

Hi Bill,
I read your response to the discussion thread on calendars. Wondering if you would please share the company you used to do this with? And if they supplied a template or if you had to create with a particular software or app, which one?
Thanks & Happy New Year!