Drones – or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are aircraft which can be flown remotely using “Remote Pilot Skills”.
As technology has developed, so have the capabilities and sophistication of UAVs.
I have been flying drones since 2014 and have built up considerable experience in using these platforms for aerial photography in general and 360° panoramic photography in particular.
Similar to the capture of terrestrial 360° panoramas, there is a well defined workflow which sits behind the production of aerial panoramas and virtual tours. As the functionality has developed considerably during the last five years, this has allowed the development of immersive and interactive imagery, all from unique perspectives and viewpoints.
Setting out from Applecross, the plan was to head for the Crowlin Islands and follow the classic sea kayaking journey through the north / south channel, also known as the "eye of the needle" from the Gaelic translation.
With my drone in the back hatch, a short stop at the northern end of the channel allowed for an aerial panorama down the channel, taking in the view towards Skye.
Pan left to Uags Bay in Applecross, then towards Plockton in the far distance. Eilean Mor, the Crowlin Harbour in the channel and Eilean Meadhanach comprise the view over the Crowlins with Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg Mor, on Skye, visible in the far distance.
Read the blog post for this trip and enjoy the sea kayaking photography.
A frozen Loch Glascarnoch and winter hills in full snow cover - a rare combination of perfect conditions, no wind and good light!
Frozen Loch Glascarnoch
An aerial panorama looking westwards towards Am Faochagach, with An Teallach in the far distance.
Am Faochagach
Viewed from above Loch Glascarnoch, Am Faochagach takes centre stage, with Cona Mheall and Beinn Dearg to the left. Zoom in to see distant An Teallach and the far western end of the Fannichs.
The remains of the original road which ran through Glen Glascarnoch, before the loch was created, can be seen from the aerial viewpoint.
Beinn Dearg and Cona Mheall
Hovering above the frozen loch, Beinn Dearg and Cona Mheall sit in the far distance. The south ridge up to Cona Mheall provides an alternative ascent to the summit and provides airy views to Choire Ghranda far below.
Frozen Loch
With a temperature of -10°C as I left the car at the roadside, Loch Glascarnoch was completely frozen. Whilst it's very possible that the ice was thick enough to stand on, today wasn't the day for testing that theory! Sending the drone out low ver the ice allowed this low level shot looking back towards Beinn Dearg, Cona Mheall and Am Faochagach.
Snowy Am Faochagach
An aerial panorama, again low over the frozen surface of Loch Glascarnoch.
Loch Glascarnoch
The low level aerial vista across Loch Glascarnoch.
180° Panorama
This full 180° panorama takes in the old road on both sides of the photograph and provides some idea of the scale of this huge, man made loch. Opened in 1957, the dam and reservoir were created by the then North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board as part of the Conon Valley Hydro Electric Scheme. This scheme was one of many similar developments to bring power to remote north highland communities.
To see more images of Loch Glascarnoch and the surrounding area, take a trip over to my Landscape Galleries
Cromarty Bridge from the Black Isle..
An aerial panorama looking across the Cromarty Bridge from the Black Isle.
To see more aerial perspectives of the Black Isle, head over to my Black Isle Aerial Virtual Tour and explore the Black Isle from the air. Pan, zoom and enjoy the views, using the interactive hot spots to navigate your way around the Black Isle from a unique and different perspective.
The panoramic view across the Red Cuillin towards Sgurr nan Gillean and Am Basteir.
A lone Scots pine tree on Ormond Hill on the Black Isle, standing guard over Avoch Bay and the view towards Chanonry Point.
Nigg bay and the view northwards from Gallow Hill above the village of Cromarty.
