"Getting the big picture sometimes requires helium and a digital camera"

<p>

Ah, now this is a story I can enjoy!

</p><p>

You really have to check this linked story out. The simplest idea - putting a

digital camera on the floaty bit of a balloon, and up-up-and-away with it. Now,

what I wonder - how does he trigger the shutter? Remote control, he says.

Surely not infrared? He says he 'turns the camera' but how? Now I'll be up all

night trying to figure this out. And what about when the wind blows? I used to

live in Albuquerque, they have high winds there sometimes. Hmmm. Surprising

the paparazzi haven't take a run at this concept. Seems like they could make

good use of it, presuming one can control where the camera points with some

precision. Hmmm. All thoughts on this are welcome. There are some photos on

the linked webpage.

</p><p>

<a

href="http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/mar/22/getting-big-picture-sometimes-requires-helium-and-/">The

Albuquerque Tribune</a>

</p><p>

<blockquote><i>

Getting the big picture sometimes requires helium and a digital camera<br />

<br /></p><p>

By Erik Siemers (Contact)<br />

Thursday, March 22, 2007 <br />

<br /></p><p>

David Balstad is a guy who isn't satisfied with the limits of a conventional

photograph.

<br /></p><p>

The images captured within the single, severe frame of a snapshot never tell the

whole story, never give the whole experience.

<br /></p><p>

"You take this wonderful picture, you've got this tiny little frame," says

Balstad. "You totally lose the sense of the scenery you're in."

</i></blockquote>

<p>

(some stuff deleted)

<p>

[Moderator - Please don't post the full text of coyrighted articles. You can link and abstract, but posting the full text probably violates copryight and isn't "fair use"]

You might like kite photography. Check out this fellows portfolio...

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=186617

 

and his website

 

http://www.arch.ced.berkeley.edu/kap/kaptoc.html

 

- Randy

Several model plane enthusiasts do something similar - at one time the camera of choice was the Optio because of its small size/quality. They got amazing results.

<em>Remote control, he says. Surely not infrared? He says he 'turns the camera' but how?</em>

<p>

The caption on a picture for that article says "he can trigger and rotate remotely with a radio controller".

<p>

A quick trip to any decent hobby shop (and a healthy credit card) will load you up with radio transmitters, tiny receivers, ultralight batteries, and any number of stepper motors. These are probably all housed on that little triangular platform under the tethered balloon. Just splice the camera remote control cord to the relay output of the receiver and you are good to go.

<p>

<a href= "http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/07/how_to_wireless_camera_remote.html" > Make </a>

<p>

<a href= "http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/DisplayComments.php?file=Digital%20Camera/Canon/Canon_EOS300d_radio_remote.html" > CameraHacker:<img src= "http://www.camerahacker.com/Forums/Digital%20Camera/Canon/Canon_EOS300d_radio_remote.files.hidden/small_CanonLivewire.jpg"> </a>

 

</p>

I know somebody who attached 2 wide-angle digitals (1 vertical, one oblique) to one of those remote-controlled blimps and triggered them via infrared. Got some great shots, I'll have too see if he's still got them.

 

Cost a pretty penny though. Must be fun to be rich gadget freak...

I take back what I said. I just looked at the larger images at the The Albuquerque Trib site. The triangular thing is actually more like a weather vane or rudder. The top vertex goes to the ballon, the tether is attached to one of the bottom vertices. This keeps the triangle always pointing back at the "pilot" (compensating for those mighty Albuquerque winds).

 

The camera housing is suspended by four lines so it stays oriented with the triangle. The plexiglass housing is in two pieces - the upper is attached to these suspension lines - the lower is connected to the upper with a stepper motor. The camera and other electronics are housed in the lower housing. You can even see an antenna wire dangling form the housing.