Airplane--The Cessna 182E is our choice of airplanes.  The plane is equipped with a belly mount camera port, which allows us to create vertical (preliminary engineering) images from directly overhead. The images are not intended to be engineering grade used for mapping and or rectification. However, scales can be applied to the image. (Soon we will provide digital verticals.) All oblique images are produced viewing through an open window. In order to provide custom images, the camera's are hand-held to compensate for vibration and or weather conditions which are encountered at the site being photographed.   The Cessna is a great, stable platform to shoot from and is reasonably economical, which helps to control the cost of the creation of our visual data services.

Helicopters-- For any photo assignment which requires being lower than 1000' we utilize and contract out an independent helicopter service. This expense is added on top of our photographic service and usually will be paid up front for the estimated time required. This cost can range from 495.00 per hour and up, depending on the type of helicopter that is used. In 25 years of providing aerial photographic service, we find usually the fixed wing airplane works best for the majority of assignments. This helps us control the cost of the photographic images we create.

Film--Professional cameras are used to create professional images.  From 1978 until 2002, all images were created on medium format film, or so-called 120.  This size film allowed us to print sharp, clear, crisp images for each project.  The use of this type of film allowed us to provide a number of different products, including enlargements, halftones, transparencies or high quality digital scans.

Cameras

----FUJI 690, another fine, professional, medium format camera we use to create our images, produces a 6x9 cm negative.  The images produced are 8 times larger than a 35mm negative, allowing us to produce super high-quality color enlargements or film scans.  Both of the cameras utilize a leaf shutter, thus preventing film smear, a problem that occurs when taking photographic images from a moving object.

--FUJI 617 - A Panoramic, medium format camera - creates a unique photographic image.  The negative produced is 2.25"x6.5", or in a 1 to 3 ration, which produces magnificent enlargements. For example: 10"x30".

During the past five years, we have made an effort to keep up with and provide digital images.

As technology has rapidly changed from film files to digital files, we receive more and more requests to provide digital images, and more clients have in-house capabilities to manipulate digital files and print them on ink jet printers. We have selected the following equipment to create our digital images.

--Cannon 300 - This exceptional digital camera creates a 6.3 mega-pixel file. This camera allows us to provide excellent color enlargements us to 24x36. The major advantage to the client in using our electronic service, is the quick turn-around, especially when coupled with our photographic laser printer and in house digital lab. The file size created allows us to make many different file sizes to suit each individaul need, from low resolution web images to high definition, continous tone, glossy 8.5x11 custom color prints.

This camera allows us to create and provide a digital file the cleint can easily work with, when this service is needed.

--Digital Photo Printer - When print quality and cost is an issue, this $100,000.00 printer, provides us the tool to make photographic, high quality, 8.5x11 color glossy prints up to 30"x40". Digital images are converted from an RGB file into a continous tone photographic print. This equipment allows us to combine photographic images with custom designed color graphics, telling a more complete story and offers high impact.

We are aware that many clients now have their own in-house production capabilities. Therefore we offer a Reproduction License program to be purchased for making 8.5x11 ink jet prints. Even though ink jet prints are still slow and not real inexpensive, considering the cost of ink and a high quality, glossy, special ink jet paper, the digitial file still allows the client to do their own production work in house.
......however.....When print quantity, speed, cost, digital enhancement and customs graphics are of concern, we have in-house, the.

--HP 4550 Photographic HiQ Laser Printer - This printer offers effective, fast, clear, sharp digital image, made on a high quality 8.5x11, brilliant white, 60LB cover stock paper. This is an excellent choice for making color flyers and or brochures. When it is necessary to fold an image for mailing, a slightly thinner paper can be used.

EACH client then, only has to invest in the image capture or creation, management (color correction), and the necessary Reproduction License, depending on the use and number of copies that need to be made. (See fee schedule for complete explanation of reproduction license)

Ground Platform--We use a Chevrolet Astro van equipped with a custom-made roof platform which allows us to quickly elevate ourselves about 15 feet up in the air.  This perspective allows us to create an image above cars in a parking lot, which is a typical problem when photographing real estate from the ground level.  It is important to be able to show the building as the main focal point, and not the cars in the foreground.  For examples of this elevated photography and of different ways to photograph a subject, see our Types of Photography page.

Photo Lab Equipment--Our professional photo lab has two Super Chromega D - 4x5 and one Super Chromega E - 5x7 color head enlargers.  We have the capability to produce contact images and print color enlargements up to 26"x40."  The photographic images are processed in a kreonite 26" color RA4 processor.  By having our own in-house photo lab, we are able to control cost, confidentiality, turn-around time and quality.

Computer Lab--We also maintain a full-service digital lab, allowing us to scan film, prints and or manipulate digital camera files.  The lab consists of three terminals, each dedicated to a different task, scanning, printing and graphics.  Once we scan and digitize film photo images, or import digital images from compact flash, we can manipulate (remove or add images) and correct or change image quality using Photoshop 6.0, to creat a multiple of effects. We can then add color graphics, using Corel 10 to create a more complete story for the client. Results are only limited by imagination. All images that have been altered, other than color balance, are imprinted with a Delta D, indicating that the original image has been altered from its original form. This is done from a legal standpoint, so a person is aware of the fact that the image is not a factual representation of the are shown.

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eagleseyephoto@qwest.net