Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why does the site cover primarily the northwest part of the state?
The photos shown on the site have been taken opportunistically while systematically driving as many roads as possible in areas visited by the website owner. More counties will be added over time.
2. How are the 360° panoramas made?
The 360° images are digitally composed of collections of 22-to-26 (depending on the app used) aerial images, usually taken by drone at about a 300'elevation, and stitched together by PTGUI software. The resulting panoramas can be manipulated to view them in a full circle and up and down by turning a phone or tablet, swiping a screen, or using a mouse. Click on a panorama image to link to the full, movable, interactive image; navigate by swiping left/right or up/down; also zoom in and out.
3, How are sites chosen to photograph or video?
The Willamette River sites are chosen in places where it is permissible by local ordinance to fly drones or it is possible to reach the river without going on private property, with the goal to photograph sites from the headwaters of the three main river tributaries to the mouth of the river as it reaches the Columbia. Land sites are typically chosen in places where it is possible to photograph or video from the side of the road without violating privacy. The website owner has a Canon camera 100mm-500mm zoom lens, allowing for closeups from a distance and thus fortunately reducing the need to fly the drone.
4. What kind of drone is used?
A DJI Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 3 Classic are used for the aerial work. (The owner is an FAA-certified unmanned aerial system pilot.)
5. What do you use to identify the photo locations shown in the photo titles?
All the locations shown in the photo titles are from Google Maps.
6. Are the photos available to purchase?
I've used a few of the photos shown on this site to make greeting cards. I donate 100% of the gross sales to local environmental organizations. See Cards For Sale.
The photos shown on the site have been taken opportunistically while systematically driving as many roads as possible in areas visited by the website owner. More counties will be added over time.
2. How are the 360° panoramas made?
The 360° images are digitally composed of collections of 22-to-26 (depending on the app used) aerial images, usually taken by drone at about a 300'elevation, and stitched together by PTGUI software. The resulting panoramas can be manipulated to view them in a full circle and up and down by turning a phone or tablet, swiping a screen, or using a mouse. Click on a panorama image to link to the full, movable, interactive image; navigate by swiping left/right or up/down; also zoom in and out.
3, How are sites chosen to photograph or video?
The Willamette River sites are chosen in places where it is permissible by local ordinance to fly drones or it is possible to reach the river without going on private property, with the goal to photograph sites from the headwaters of the three main river tributaries to the mouth of the river as it reaches the Columbia. Land sites are typically chosen in places where it is possible to photograph or video from the side of the road without violating privacy. The website owner has a Canon camera 100mm-500mm zoom lens, allowing for closeups from a distance and thus fortunately reducing the need to fly the drone.
4. What kind of drone is used?
A DJI Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 3 Classic are used for the aerial work. (The owner is an FAA-certified unmanned aerial system pilot.)
5. What do you use to identify the photo locations shown in the photo titles?
All the locations shown in the photo titles are from Google Maps.
6. Are the photos available to purchase?
I've used a few of the photos shown on this site to make greeting cards. I donate 100% of the gross sales to local environmental organizations. See Cards For Sale.