Do you use digital cameras?

I use high-resolution Canon professional digital cameras for about 90 percent of my assignment work. I do have several specialized panoramic cameras that use film.  And there are a few unique lighting conditions where I feel that film still works better than digital capture.

Do you make color prints in your studio?

Yes, we custom print color (and black & white) photographic prints for our clients in sizes up to 44x120 inches right here in our studio. We print using archival grade pigmented inks on photo paper and artist canvas. We also print custom graphics and images for trade show displays, corporate artwork and special projects.

What kind of digital cameras do you use?

I use Canon professional SLR digital cameras.  The digital sensors are the same size as 35mm film.  So all of our Canon lenses behave just like they would on a film camera body.  This means that I can use a full range of Canon lenses on the cameras (from 15mm to 600mm). 

I have a question. How can I contact you?

The best way to reach me is by sending an on-line form. Just fill in your name and email address along with your question. I will get back to you as soon as I can with an answer. Or you can telephone our studio at 727-734-3884 or 1-888-569-7741 (toll free).

 Can you provide us Jpg digital files of the assignment?

Yes, We provide Jpg and Tif files.  I start out with  “raw” files from the camera.  From these raw files we make “digital negative” master files adjusting the color balance and shadow details for the best quality.  We then make Jpg and Tif files from the master files.

What happens after an assignment?  How and when do we see the images?

After an assignment has been photographed, we will send an email to you with a web link to a selection of images from the assignment. (This normally happens within two business days).  You can then review the images and forward the web link to anyone else in your company that might like to see the images. (We keep this link active on our sever for one year as a client service).   The final high rez digital files are provided to you on a CD or DVD disk.  We can also send a high resolution digital file using our FTP server if you have a tight deadline.

Which is better a Jpg file or a Tif file?

It really depends on how you are using the image files.  Jpg files compress down to a smaller file size when they are saved.  (See the next question for more on this).  The smaller file size is a good thing if you are going to send them as email attachments or upload or download them to a FTP server.  More images will fit on a CD disk.  They will take up less space on your hard drive. Our high rez Tif files are 32 MB open or closed.  Our high rez Jpg files are 32 MB when open and compress down to 4 or 5 MB when closed. If you are working with a lot of images. this can make quite a difference in storage and transmission.  We use minimal compression when saving our Jpg files (an 11 or 12 setting).  We find very little difference in printing sizes under 12x18 inches.  If you are going to reproduce an image large (like for a trade show graphic) you may find it better to work from a Tif file with no compression.

We have a digital camera that produces Jpg files.  Are they the same as yours?

Not really.  We capture images in a full 14 bit raw format.  Our files are custom adjusted by hand and then saved as 8 bit Jpg files with minimal compression.  Many digital cameras only capture in  8 bits and then save the files with an aggressive compression to make the files smaller.  (14 bits translates to more colors and more levels of shadow detail)

Our camera produces ten megapixel images, isn't that large enough?

Not all "megapixels" are alike. The term "megapixel" refers to the total number of picture elements (or pixels) that make up a digital image. Professional level cameras have larger digital sensors than less expensive cameras. So even though two cameras may each produce a ten megapixel image (an image made up of approximately ten million pixels) ... each individual pixel is larger on a camera that has a larger sensor size. Think of it like a sheet of graph paper that is divided into 1000 squares. A three inch sheet of graph paper and a twelve inch sheet of graph paper could each contain the same total number of squares. However, the squares on the twelve inch sheet of paper would be larger than the squares on the three inch sheet of paper if both sheets were divided into 1000 squares. Larger pixels are more efficient at recording light and color than smaller pixels.

Do you photograph from an airplane or a helicopter for aerial photography?

In most cases I prefer to work from a helicopter. We can photograph at lower altitudes, which means we are shooting through less haze and atmosphere.  We can hover very slowly over a project and wait for the right moment to photograph.  Airplanes are in constant motion and it seems that I am not where I want to be about 90% of the time. In controlled airspace (like near an airport) a helicopter is almost a necessity for the type of aerial images that I create.

When do you photograph from an airplane?

When we need to photograph from a higher altitude for a “larger subject”.  I like to photograph buildings from a helicopter.. And neighborhoods from an airplane. Or when a project is in a remote location with no nearby helicopters available.

Does it cost more to charter a helicopter than an airplane?

Yes.  A small plane can usually be chartered for $80.00 to $200.00 an hour.  A helicopter ranges from $350.00 to $1500.00 per hour. (These prices vary due to the type of aircraft and the location) No question, a helicopter is more expensive. But I feel in most cases we can create better images for you from a helicopter.

How do you photograph aerial panoramics?

We use a Hasselblad XPan panoramic camera.  This camera produces a color transparency that is twice the size of a normal 35mm image. This transparency can be scanned to a 80MB digital file.

Can I pay by credit card?

Yes, we accept most major credit cards for payment.  We also accept PayPal. If you are not comfortable with online payments, we can take your credit card information by telephone or fax.

How much do you charge?

It really depends on the individual project and how you are planning on using the images. Each photography project is unique.  Let us know about your particular photography project and we will be happy to provide a free estimate or quote.

When do I need to pay for an assignment?

We require fifty percent upon acceptance of the estimate (before we schedule the project) and the balance is due at the time final images are delivered.

Do you license stock photography images?

Yes. You will find a collection of stock photography images on our searchable web site at www.transportation-photography.com