KAP 2013-13 – Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia – April 22, 2013

Aerial view of the town of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia alongside the Waugh River.

Tatamagouche is a small town where the Waugh River and the French River empty into Tatamagouche Bay on the Northumberland Strait shore of Nova Scotia. For this session I was in a small rest area alongside highway 6 just to the east of town with a hillside cemetery with trees obstructing the view of the village from my location. I knew the town was there; it was just a question of having the camera pointing in the right direction and lifting it higher than tree level.

One of the things that I’ve appreciated about Atlantic Canada in the spring is the colourful glow of new growth on the trees. In some parts the appearance is almost patchwork in nature with groupings of trees of the same species making colour blotches over the countryside. You can see this when driving on the Trans-Canada highway through parts of Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is not unique to this region, but it has made a big impression on me in the maritimes. Some of the images in this gallery give a mere hint of what I’m talking about. With it being a long winter I think I was about a week or two early for good colour. Also, I haven’t quite figured out how to best capture this type of abstract view from a kite-lifted camera. Once you have spotted an interesting effect from afar, when you try to drive there you can no longer see the effect to know if you are in the right place because you are in among the trees. Also, most of the time the trees themselves make it difficult to find a place to fly a kite and most country roads have telephone lines on one side of the road which is another kiting hazard. I purposely try to chase aerial tree patterns later on this trip (KAP 2013-19 – to follow) and fail miserably. Anyway, no-one said this should be easy.

Aerial view of a road through the countryside near Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia.

Red asphalt on Highway 6 heading east from Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia.

Aerial photograph of a barn in the countryside near Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. The Waugh River is in the background.

These photographs were taken using a remote-controlled camera suspended below a kite line (Kite Aerial Photography – KAP).

Visit my website gallery Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia – KAP 2013-13 – April 22, 2013 to see more images from this session.

Images from this session are available for licensing through Latitude Image, a stock photography agency specializing in aerial stock images. Click the website gallery link above for more information.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /

KAP 2013-9 – Prospect, Nova Scotia – April 1, 2013

Aerial photograph of Prospect, Nova Scotia

I love the setting of this village. Winter has just left the area making the much of the terrain look dead. I’m sure a much different picture can be obtained in the summer and the winter. I hope to return at other times of year.

A big thank-you goes out to Bill Wilson, a Halifax area Flickr contact, for helping me resolve equipment issues in order to get this session done. Two days earlier I had been to Peggy’s Cove and here to Prospect. The winds were very strong that day but with the attitude “You don’t get if you don’t try” I boldly set up to fly at both places. At Peggy’s Cove I regretted the move in having a major fight to bring the kite back down. Later, at Prospect, thinking the wind had dropped a bit, I proceeded to snap the horizontal spar of my FLED while in the process of setting up when a gust set the kite out of control with only a metre of line out. I almost always carry spare spars when travelling, but not on this occasion when I was only in Halifax for a few days. Bill responded to my pleas and helped me out with what I needed. Thus, here I was back at Prospect with a repaired kite and ideal KAP conditions.

Aerial photograph of a lobster fisherman checking traps at Prospect, Nova Scotia.

Aerial view of a lobster boat at Prospect, Nova Scotia

Aerial photographh of the rocky shoreline at Prospect, Nova Scotia

These photographs were taken using a remote-controlled camera suspended below a kite line (Kite Aerial Photography – KAP).

Visit my website gallery Prospect, Nova Scotia – KAP 2013-9 – April 1, 2013 to see more images from this session.

Images from this session are available for licensing through Latitude Image, a stock photography agency specializing in aerial stock images. Click the website gallery link above for more information.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /

Seven of my Pinhey’s Point photographs selected by Getty Images

Over a 2 year period I was preparing a series of aerial images of Pinhey’s Point (near Ottawa) for an exhibit in the Pinhey’s Point museum last summer. One morning last spring I arrived and the wind was flat and the sky was overcast. I waited but a predicted change in weather didn’t happen. So much for believing the weather forecast. It was so still that the reflections in the Ottawa River were amazing. Fortunately I usually travel with both aerial gear and tripod gear so I switched mental gears. Seven of the images I took that morning were selected by Getty Images for exclusive licensing and they are now included in their catalogue. Here are a few of them.

Four rocks and river reflections at Pinhey’s Point Heritage Property and Park.

Looking towards the Quebec shoreline from the base of the point. The Gatineau Hills can be seen in the distance. Pinhey’s Point Heritage Property and Park.

Reflection of the Ottawa River shoreline at Pinhey’s Point Heritage Property and Park.

Click on image to go to the same image in my Getty Images portfolio. The other four images of Pinhey’s Point can be seen alongside them.

© Rob Huntley Photography / Like My Facebook / About.Me

KAP 2013-12 – Hector Heritage Quay, Pictou, Nova Scotia

The Hector at Hector Heritage Quay, Pictou, Nova Scotia

The Hector is the tall ship at Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou, Nova Scotia. The body of water is the convergence of the West River of Pictou, the Middle River of Pictou and the East River of Pictou as they join at Pictou Harbour and dump into the Northumberland Strait, between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

This and other photographs from this session were taken using a remote-controlled camera suspended below a kite line (Kite Aerial Photography – KAP).

Visit my website gallery KAP 2013-12 – Hector Heritage Quay to see more images from this session.

Images from this session are available for licensing through Latitude Image, a stock photography agency specializing in aerial stock images. Click the website gallery link above for more information.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /

Snow geese migration – Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec

It’s my father’s birthday – April 25th. My father passed away almost 3 years ago and I was inspired to mention all this on account of running into a few geese today.

Thousands of snow geese momentarily took to the air and then settled down again quickly to continue feeding. Migration stopover at Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec on the St. Lawrence River.

I’ve been touring Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec and I have many images to sift through; most are kite aerial photographs. But I’m jumping ahead to these shots that I took today because of the link between geese and my father. Dad was repeatedly amazed by the semiannual migration of Canada geese, thousands of which flew over Ottawa each fall and spring. We were frequently the beneficiaries of updates in the numbers he’d seen on a given day. Dad liked to talk …. and geese were one of his favourite topics.

Well today, on the anniversary of his birth, it was my last day on the road after a 2 week road trip. I had ample time and as is my habit, I chose to avoid the express trans-canada highway and I drove along #132 which goes along the Saint Lawrence River. There was a horrendous wind so I tuned myself out from the habitual search for Kite Aerial Photography prospects and leisurely decided to take the day as it comes. As I passed by the smallest of the smallest of city parks in the village of Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, a major flash of white took my attention out towards the river. I stopped immediately when I realized it was the largest flock of geese I had seen in my life. They were snow geese and although not the Canada geese which preoccupied much of my Dad’s attention, they were nevertheless migrating geese. It seemed appropriate that on April 25th I should spend time photographing them.

Snow geese migration stopover at Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec on the St. Lawrence River

There was a smaller group of geese downstream (maybe 1000) and they were coming in groups of a few to 25 at a time to join the larger flock. There was a major headwind which slowed them down enough to improve the odds of getting a good shot of geese in flight.

Flying into a headwind, snow geese migration stopover at Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Quebec on the St. Lawrence River

Click on the image if you would like to view a larger version on my website.

More images can be found in the Chaudière-Appalaches Region of Quebec gallery on my website.

© Rob Huntley Photography / Like My Facebook / About.Me

Kite Aerial Photography of Alma, New Brunswick – KAP 2013-10

The village of Alma, New Brunswick at the eastern end of Fundy National Park. It is located at the delta of the Upper Salmon River which runs into the Bay of Fundy.

Alma, New Brunswick is a small village at the mouth of the Upper Salmon River which empties into the Bay of Fundy in the Atlantic Ocean. Alma is found at the eastern entrance to the Fundy National Park. This session took place on April 13, 2010 as I passed through New Brunswick en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

I discovered at the outset of this trip that the video component of my aerial transmitter was broken. Consequently I had to shoot this session blind, just estimating the angle and direction of the camera and taking additional shots to increase the likelihood of getting the compositions I aim for. This is how I KAPped for the first two years (2008 – 2009) but now I have grown accustomed to the luxury of video feedback. Video feedback gives you the ability to adjust your aim and thus increase the likelihood of success. With this in mind, I consider this one of those sessions where things went rather well and I was happy with the images. Of course it is early spring (with a late winter storm behind my back as I travel east towards Halifax, Nova Scotia). Consequently the grass is brown and drab looking. It might be nice to return when things are greener, but when you KAP while travelling you do the best with what you’ve got. Besides, from a documentary standpoint there’s merit in seeing what a place looks like from the air in mid-April; like it or not. It would also be interesting to return at low tide as the tides in the Bay of Fundy are very significant and the views of the river and coastline from the air should be quite different.

These photographs were taken using a remote-controlled camera suspended below a kite line (Kite Aerial Photography – KAP).

An aerial view into the Bay of Fundy National Park from high over Alma, New Brunswick. The village is at the eastern end of Fundy National Park. It is located at the delta of the Upper Salmon River which runs into the Bay of Fundy.

Aerial photograph of the Upper Salmon River as it enters the Bay of Fundy between the village of Alma, New Brunswick on the right and Fundy National Park on the left.

Visit my website gallery Alma, New Brunswick – KAP2013-10 Gallery to see more images from this session.

Images from this session are available for licensing through Latitude Image, a stock photography agency specializing in aerial stock images. Click the website gallery link above for more information.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /

Three of my Utah landscape images added to my Getty Images portfolio

New in my Getty Images portfolio:

Arches National Park, Utah.

Arches National Park, Utah.

View of Canyonlands National Park in Utah.

Click on image to go to the same image in my Getty Images portfolio.

© Rob Huntley Photography / Like My Facebook / About.Me

ArtScene Spencerville Juried Photography Show – April 4 to 28, 2013

I have three images entered in this competition which are on display from April 4 to 28, 2013. Spencerville, Ontario is just off Hwy 416, between Kemptville and Prescott, Ontario.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /

KAP 2013-6 – Hervey Bay Boat Club, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Aerial photograph, Hervey Bay Boat Club, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia.

A recent four week trip to Australia provided several opportunities for kite aerial photography. Hervey Bay was the town where we stayed to enable a day trip to Fraser Island. Hervey Bay itself is quite a nice place and would have merited a longer stay. I did get time to have a KAP session at the Hervey Bay Boat Club before leaving. The boat club is in Urangan Harbour. This was my 5th kite aerial photography session of this trip to Australia.

These photographs were taken using a remote-controlled camera suspended below a kite line (Kite Aerial Photography – KAP).

Aerial photograph, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia.

Aerial photograph, Hervey Bay Boat Club, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia.

Visit my website gallery KAP 2013-6 – Hervey Bay Boat Club, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia to see more images from this session.

Images from this session are available for licensing through Latitude Image, a stock photography agency specializing in aerial stock images. Click the website gallery link above for more information.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /

KAP 2013-5 – Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Tallow Beach near Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

A recent four week trip to Australia provided several opportunities for kite aerial photography. Byron Bay is one place we stayed for a few days. It is a community that seems to attract hippie wannabees, both young and old. It’s a nice place to visit but for us the weather was, shall we say, mixed.

My fourth Australian KAP session was at Tallow Beach, not far from Byron Bay but on the opposite side of Cape Byron and the Byron Lighthouse. Cape Byron, by the way, is the easternmost point in Australia. I went to Tallow Beach with the hope of getting beach landscapes as well as views of the cape and lighthouse. With weather continuing to be “iffy” I spent a fair amount of time with the kite on the ground. The rain stayed away but I was sensing that I might be allergic to lightning so I was being cautious. I didn’t see any lightning but there were some pretty dark clouds and you are only allowed one chance of getting it wrong. The worst clouds were nearest the cape so I didn’t venture close for very long and I didn’t fly too high. Consequently I didn’t get the type of lighthouse shots I had been planning for. Distant shots of the cape suffered from the poor lighting under the grey conditions. I spent much time trying to capture beach aerials of people walking and jogging by. It was easier to judge the lighting conditions in the area immediate around me and I was keeping the gear low.

These photographs were taken using a remote-controlled camera suspended below a kite line (Kite Aerial Photography – KAP).

Couple and shadows on beach viewed from directly above. Tallow Beach near Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Straight down aerial image of the beach and surf. Tallow Beach near Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia.

Visit my website gallery KAP 2013-5 – Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia to see more images from this session.

© Rob Huntley Photography / STOCK Photography / Like My Facebook /