F4LUFTBILDER
Gran Canaria from coastal rock to illuminated city
On Gran Canaria, the open Atlantic coast meets built-up stretches of shore. The series shows both surf on the rocks and traffic routes at night. The change is suitable for telling the story of the island from different distances and carefully distinguishing individual places.
Two views of the island
On Gran Canaria, the undeveloped coastal rock and illuminated city views can form two chapters of the same series of images. The course of the bank holds the very different bright motifs together.
From land the first thing you notice is the open water. In an aerial view, the process can be reversed and the coast can be seen from the sea. Wherever it changes direction, small protected spaces are created. Other sections extend almost straight to the edge of the picture. When selecting a motif, it is worth comparing these transitions with each other. A single, striking rocky outcrop can identify a location more clearly than a much larger expanse of water with only light and waves visible.
The different light of the city
At night, light and dark surfaces tell a different story than during the day. Streets remain visible as lines, while green spaces and unlit facades recede. A bright spot easily attracts more attention than the intended subject. When it comes to publishing, it helps to take a look at the small preview. If the location is also recognizable at this scale, the recording works as an introduction. When viewed larger, the transitions between the warm light of the streets and the darker buildings can be seen.
The shape of the rock in the light
Rock surfaces are often harder to read in an aerial photograph than their sharp outline suggests. A dark area can be a deep crevice or just in shadow. The connection of several visible edges provides information. Where they converge and cover a surface, a spatial jump is understandable. A location with clear rock contours is suitable for publication with smaller images. In a larger format, the eye can wander more over the finer differences in the surface.
The distribution of blue tones
Among the 262 photos in the gallery, shot 43 and shot 152 provide a good starting point for the comparison. In the first excerpt, shades of blue play a smaller role. In the second shot, blue areas take up more space. Blue can extend over a large contiguous area or only appear in individual parts. What also counts for the effect is whether these areas extend to the edge of the picture or surround the main subject.
The camera data for shot 1 is November 16th, 2017, and that for shot 262 is November 19th, 2017. This gallery therefore contains more than one recording time. Anyone who compares the landscape or the building condition can incorporate this data into the image description. The exposure time for the first of the images mentioned was 47/7361 seconds and for the second 72/9179 seconds.
The Aerial Videos section supplements the photos with 7 clips. The aerial photographer's photographs linked there include “Gran Canaria from the air”. The relevant video page on Adobe Stock can be opened using the respective preview.
Select the coastal view for a photo series
When telling a story about a coast, the order of the images counts. A further look first explains the course of the bank. A closer view can then show the transition from land to water. If an image series begins with a narrow section, readers usually need an additional location reference. The planned size is also important for the aerial photographer. A small indentation can be a clear reference point on a double page spread and almost disappear completely in a narrow column. The caption should match the actual section used.
More aerial photos for comparison
Two further articles invite comparison. In the first, Azores – Portugal, a different detail is in the foreground. In the Azores photos of São Miguel, structured pastures, steep coasts and colorful water basins can be seen. Then Malta is a good option. In the Malta shots, the coast changes from wave-washed rocks to quieter bays.