Frequently Asked
Questions
The 20x30 inch print, custom
framed under glass makes a very impressive presentation.
This print was mounted and
framed by The Great Frame Up, Munster, IN.
They will give our local
clients 15% off materials. Ask for Adele. 219-836-0007
1. How are you different from
other aerial photographers?
Traditionally, professional photographers
sell you prints only, or sell you the right to use or reproduce
the images. That's not the way we do
it. When
you purchase images from us you receive the original digital files which include all rights to reproduce
the image.
You receive all rights to reproduce
your images in any media. Once your own the originals you
can buy prints in any size or quantity at low cost. You
can put the images in your advertising, company
publications, annual corporate reports, use them for training
new employees, trade show presentations,
etc. The bottom line is you can use the images any way you want
at very low cost forever.
2. I just want a few prints,
and I don't have a computer. How can you help me?
When you purchase images from us
you receive a data disk with your photographs
on it. If you don't have a computer you can go to any public library
that has computers and insert your photo
DVD into the computer. In this way you can see your photos on
a computer monitor.
For a small fee most libraries will
allow you to print your photos. If there is not a library nearby
or you want photo prints most Walgreen drug stores in the USA
have a machine called the "Kodak picture machine". You
can insert your photo DVD into the machine
and make color prints while you wait. Easy and inexpensive. You
have many choices and all commercial photofinishers can make prints
from the digital files you purchase from us.
Easy and inexpensive! If you want
the very best display prints to frame and hang on your wall order
our custom enlargements.
You have many options when you buy
from Artist in
the Sky LLC
3. Where can I get prints made?
Thousands of photofinishers can
make prints from your digital films. Walmart, Sam's Club, Ritz
Photo, hundreds of different mail order
places. Digital files are the film of the 21st century.
4. What computer software is
best for modifying my digital files?
To simply view your photographs you don't need special software.
Simply insert your DVD into your computer and click on the "jpg"
files. They can be viewed immediately on your monitor. (We include
some jpg files on your DVD specifically designed for easy viewing
on your computer monitor.) For highest quality prints we also
include higher quality "tiff" files. If you have a color
printer hooked to your computer just
hit "print" and you can start printing your photos immediately.
If you want to modify the images
you've purchased any photo manipulation software can be used.
There are many photo manipulation softwares available. Go to google.com
and do a search on "Digital Photography Software".
Many programs are "freeware"
and can be used free of charge. We recommend Adobe Photoshop if
you want to do retouching, or add text
to your photos --- You
can download the free trial version of Photoshop here.
You can probably do everything you
need with the free trial version of Photoshop which is good for
30 days.
5. How often do you photograph
an area?
We won't be back for at least 5 years. If you want aerial photos
now, and you want the very best quality available, submit
your request right now
6. Can you photograph another
business we own in New Jersey?
Perhaps, if we have a team working in New Jersey. Contact
us with your request.
7. Can you fly lower, to get
a different view?
We must fly at safe altitudes when using either airplanes or helicopters.
There are certain FAA regulations that our
pilots must adhere to. FAA regulations
permit helicopters to fly lower than airplanes. Our pricing is
for airplane work.
Helicopter work will approximately
quadruple the price. If you need lower than a helicopter then
we probably can't
help you. There is some work that
we will refuse due to safety considerations, and the pilot will
make that decision.
8. There is some debris in our back lot that I don't
want in the shot. How can I retouch the photograph?
No problem, use Adobe photoshop or equivalent to clean it up.
This is the beauty of working with high quality digital files.
Clean up the stains on your roof,
crop the image a certain way, make your brown grass greener, etc.
9. I don't want my neighbor's
property in my photograph. How do I remove it?
Simply crop it out...easy as pie.
10. Do you sell framed prints?
No. Big framed prints are difficult to ship without damage, and
usually you will want to get your images matted and
framed to suit the decor of your
office, lobby, or home. mounting and
framing tips click here
11. How do I mount the photos?
mounting and framing tips click here
12. I want to hang the framed
picture on my lobby wall. What's the best way?
mounting and framing tips click here
13. Why are your photos so much
clearer than other aerial photos we've seen?
Well, we are image quality nuts, and this requires a complicated
answer, so I'll just give you the gist of it. For years we used
Pentax 67 camera systems attached to
a Ken Lab gyro stabilizer and Fuji NHG color negative film (60x70cm
film originals.) This was state-of-the-art for high
quality oblique aerial photography (medium format film). For large
format we used the Linhof aero technica. In late 2003 very high
quality digital equipment was finally available that gave the
quality of medium format film but with more lens choices so we
could more efficiently capture different views (Kodak 14n series
camera bodies with Nikon lenses). In late 2005 we switched to
Canon bodies and image stabilized Canon lenses and currently we
shoot with the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II camera body which is a 16.7
megapixal camera and the Canon EOS-5D when we need higher ISO.
These are the cameras the photographer holds that make YOUR pictures.
This is not amateur equipment. This hardware is simply the best
currently available for the type of work we do, and when there
is something better we will have it.
No job done without
it --- the Ken-Lab
ks-6 gyro stabilizer is attached to the digital camera, a must-have
for quality aerials.
14. I'm a pretty good photographer,
and I know a pilot and I can get all the pictures I want for nothing.
Why should I buy from you?
Give it a try. Then buy one of ours,
and compare the results. At the prices we charge for this quality
level, you
will see with your own eyes that
we are a bargain. Our enlargements are not just good. They
are the very best that you will see in your lifetime.
15. Our buildings don't seem
to be exactly straight coming out of the ground. Can that be fixed?
Sure. Most image manipulation programs (notably Adobe Photoshop)
allow arbitrary rotation. Usually
1 to 2 degrees
either clockwise or counter clockwise will correct
verticals, align horizons, etc. Easy to do.
16. I see part of your aircraft
in the shot. Can it be removed?
Sure crop it out. Easy with your image manipulation software (Adobe
Photoshop, etc.)
17. Every few years someone bangs
on our door and shows us an aerial photograph of this place. Why
should I buy from
you?
Well, maybe a few years ago speculation aerial photography was
more commonplace, but today it is not. Most of these
guys are now out of business. The
cost of pilots, fuel, keeping aircraft airworthy, photo technology
is all going
up. Think back now. How long ago
did someone actually bring a print to your door and ask you to
buy it? Five years
ago, ten years ago? If you see an
aerial that you like (from any source) buy it right now when you
have the chance.
It is a moment in time that can
never be recreated exactly this way,
and it will not be available forever.
Many times the best use for the
photography is not apparent right now.
Buy it. You won't regret it. These
images become more valuable over time.
Think of owning the original digital
files as a business investment, not an expense.
We make a complete image portfolio
of your location.
That's one thing the
traveling salesman won't be offering you. This is a unique opportunity
for you.
18. Can I save my photos to my
hard drive?
Yes, we recommend that you save all of the digital images you
purchase from us to your hard drive, and then put your photo DVD
away in a safe place. This makes modifying your photos faster
and easier.
19. What's this digital file
stuff? I want a photograph, not a digital file.
Digital files are analogous to film. When you buy from us you
receive the original digital files, plus some additional
files for various uses. Usually the same photo processor
that processes your camera film can process
the digital files you purchase from
us. In this way you can get all the
small printed photographs you want at low cost or get
high quality enlargements to hang on your wall directly from us.
Think of owning the digital file as
being the same as you owning the negative.
20. How long do digital files
last? How long will the photo disk last?
The digital files will last forever, without degrading. You can
make a million copies of your photograph and
the last one will look identical to the first one. We suggest
immediately making a backup copy of the photo DVD you purchase from us, and use that backup copy to
send to your photo finishers to make prints, or design a brochure,
or put the images on your website, etc. Store
your photo DVDs in a cool dark place and handle them carefully.
Do not drop or scratch them. They should
last many years, but to be safe I would backup all data disks
at least every two years. Easy to do with your computer.
21. Can we use the photos on
our website, and in our brochures? Can we use the photographs
in our advertising?
Yes! One of the main advantages of purchasing from us is that
we give you the original files and all rights to reproduce
your images any way you want in any media...FOREVER!
No usage fees. Buy from us one time, and your image costs are
basically at wholesale or lower, FOREVER!
22. Exactly when was my photograph
taken?
Once you receive your digital files you can look at the EXIF info
on the file. It will tell you the exact date and minute your photo was taken.
23. How can you fly a plane and
take pictures at the same time?
We don't do this. A commercial pilot flies the plane (usually
a certified flight instructor or CFI) and we take the photographs.
24. Do you use helicopters?
Yes, but only if the job requires it. (When shooting at very low
altitude is required, that's usually the reason.) Pricing on helicopter
work is by quotation, and is higher
than normal pricing.
25. After I order, how fast can
I get my pictures?
Once your photography is completed we usually ship overnight if
you are ordering digital files only. Your custom enlargement order
ships in 7-10 working days.
26. What states do you work in?
Since 1993 we have photographed most every state east of the Mississippi
except West Virginia. In the west we have photographed in California.
27. What camera do you use to
take these photos?
Artist in
the Sky LLC is proud to use
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and Canon EOS-5d camera bodies and
Canon L professional series lenses.
Currently we use the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and Canon EOS-5d bodies
with image stabilized lenses. These are the very best high resolution
digital cameras money can buy (presently). We upgrade cameras
approx every 12-18 months. The Canon has 16.7 megapixal and superb
color quality. The Canon 5D is used when we need higher ISO capability.
When something better comes along we will use it.
But there's more to it than just
the camera. Special high quality lenses
and gyro stabilization play a big part in giving your photographs
unusual clarity and detail. And there's some other secrets that
are hard to explain, little techniques like flying into the prevailing
wind to lower ground movement, panning
the target to lower ground movement, shooting either "forward"
or "back" to minimize ground movement,
polarizing and haze filters, slipping the aircraft...tricky stuff
that's part science, and lots of art.
The goal is to give you sharp, highly
detailed photographs that can be made into very big prints and
still retain clarity and sharpness.
Getting this type of photograph from an aircraft with an open
window that is being tossed around by
some turbulence is very challenging work. Not so easy. Wait until
you see your photographs enlarged. You've never seen an aerial
photograph of your location at this quality level until now.
Enlarge it to 40 x 60 and hang it
in your business lobby...it will stop people in their tracks...a
very impressive presentation that will
be an asset to your business. A big photograph on your wall is
not just beautiful.
When the trucker walks in and wants
to know which dock he's supposed to unload at you point it out
on the picture. Time saved, money made.
You will use the big photo every
single day. When the customer walks into the junkyard office and
wants to know if you have a front fender for a '96 Caprice you
point to the big photo on the wall and tell him to walk out and
dismantle it.
Unlike
lesser aerials, our photos are sharp enough, with enough detail
that you can do that.
Time saved, money made.
Not just pretty, this is one of
the few photographs that you need to help your business make money.
See it, and believe it!
28. Can you take a photo looking
straight down like a vertical shot?
Almost, but not quite. That's called
vertical photography and is usually used for precise mapping.
It's not really what we do. We shoot what's called oblique aerial
photography, or "glamour" aerial photography.
29. How big of an area can you
photograph?
We've photographed small towns (maybe
population 6000 or so) from about 5000 feet up. Much higher than
that and you are better off using a photographer who specializes
in doing verticals or mapping photography.
30. How small of an area can
you photograph?
Maybe about one acre or so.
31. Can you tell us exactly when
you'll be here so I can get all of our trucks arranged in the
parking lot?
Maybe, but we need to have the weather cooperate. We check weather
daily. We need really good weather for
the best aerial photography. We can generally tell the day
before if the following day will be good for aerial photography,
but that's about all the notice we can give.
32. Our company president just
turned 70 and we want to surprise him with a 40x60 inch photo
of the manufacturing
plant. Can we do this discretely,
and how fast can you do it?
This is a very common request. Usually 7-10 days after you order
you can have your big prints and data disk in hand.
Remember, to get your big print
custom framed for the boss. Lots of
brownie points are in store for you.
33. Can we go up with you in
the plane when you take the pictures?
Sorry no. With two people in the aircraft the entire backseat
is filled with our equipment.
34. Can we print our own photos
with our in-house inkjet printer?
Sure, use a "best" or highest quality setting on your
printer and photo quality paper. They'll look great.
35. Do you offer a money back
guarantee?
Yes, to this extent: We sell you the original digital files of
your location as our standard order. From these files you can
correct,
crop, add lettering, diagrams, retouch,
etc. (Images you purchase from us have no lettering or markings
on them.)
We will replace the images if we
send you a data disk and it does not load correctly for you. We
will replace a color print
if it is damaged in shipping, etc.
We will issue you a refund if we shoot the wrong location (yes
it does happen very rarely.) We will issue you a refund if for
any reason (usually due to unfavorable weather) we cannot photograph
your location.
We will not issue a refund if you
buy an image file and then say you don't want it.
Your photograph is what it is. It
is "one of a kind". If your storage yard has debris
in it, or your roof is stained, just retouch it out using photoshop,
or we can do that for you for a small production fee.
No surprises.
Buy with confidence, or don't buy
with confidence.
36. We have a big construction
project going. Can you photograph our location every two weeks?
Maybe. We are traveling photographers. If it is in the greater
Chicagoland area maybe we can do
it. Tell
us where it is and we'll quote it.
37. You told me my photos should
be done by a certain date, but I don't have my pictures yet. What
gives?
Weather, weather, weather. We check
the weather several times a day, and the most important factor
in the quality of your aerial photographs is the weather. For
the best photos the atmosphere must be fairly clear and the air
must be fairly smooth. We are always waiting for good weather,
and we always have people waiting for their photos. That's the
nature of the business. Sorry. (We give you a two week "window"
of time when we will be in your area photographing. Usually we
can get your job accomplished.)
38. I would like brighter colors
in my pictures, what can I do?
Easy, with your image manipulation software you can adjust many
things---color balance, hue, color saturation (to make colors
appear richer), brightness and contrast, sharpness, etc. You can
turn the color photograph into a black and white photograph if
you want. This
is a benefit of owning the original digital file.
The big "tiff" file that
your prints are created from is corrected for you. Usually it
will simulate reality. You can further modify the original camera
file to create an additional "tiff" file cropped, retouched,
and corrected to your liking. Since you own the original digital
files you may create many different printing files, each
optimized exactly the way you want. Maybe you
want your company logo or some lettering on some photos, but not
on others. Maybe you want some of your photos cropped, but not
others. The choice is yours. Maybe you want to make 5000 handouts
for a trade show with your photo. The choice is yours.
39. Can you do the image manipulation
for me?
Sure. We charge a flat $70 for anything we can do in an hour or
less per image. This might include adding your company
logo or lettering to the photograph in the font you desire, correcting
verticals and cropping, minor digital retouching such as correcting
stains on a roof, etc. It is rare that a project requires more
than an hour's work, but if so, we will recommend that you have
a digital retouching service do it.
40. I've never bought something
like this online, do you have references?
click
here
41. Sounds good. What's this
going to cost me?
click
here
42. What is your contact info?
Artist in
the Sky LLC
PO Box 248
Lake Village, IN 46349
email
phone/fax: (219) 979-9422