Oct. 15 was a magnificent fall day to go flying.
It has been a while. Aerial photography, like much to do with my work, has gone through major changes. Costs, drones, all-knowing cameras, smartphones and more people photographing have taken a toll. So I was excited to be back in the air with a camera drifting around, being a seagull.
The temperature was on the cool side, which is good for lift — tighter molecules. There was all but no wind, providing a nice smooth ride. Off the end of the runway, on a westerly exit from Wiscasset airport, Mt. Washington, 100 miles as the crow flies, sparkled with snow at its peak.
Over the years, pollution has interfered with that view, but not this day.
With a slow turn to the north and east, over Wiscasset, beyond the Camden Hills, offshore to Monhegan and out to sea — perfect visibility.
Below us, the changing trees looked like handwoven cloth. It was time to make the donuts.
The window on the Cessna 172 opened and flipped up carefully against the under side of the wing, air pressure holding it in place, mostly. Sometimes a change in the plane's altitude or speed can cause the window to flop back down — not good action when concentrating on a nice view along the shore. It happens.
Boothbay Harbor appeared under the right wing. With autumn comes more space on the water, which glowed deep blue as it reflected the sky.
Midday October light, now at a lower angle, poured into the Harbor.
These are rare days when the sun illuminates everything. From the air it seems almost surreal — a view never acknowledged from the water or at the shore. Hard to imagine such a scene can be properly captured.
Welcome aboard.