I was doing a run around this lake (it’s about 8 km and a little bit hilly as you can see there on the right), and I noticed how still everything was. It’s not always like this… so halfway through the run, I decided to call my assistant and have them bring out my quadcopter to grab this shot. Drones are so good nowadays; I almost prefer to use them over my regular camera. When it comes to shooting landscape photos, the f-stop isn’t especially important since you want everything in focus anyway. Also, it has around the same number of megapixels as my high-end Sony, so there is not a lot of difference. And, if you are making panoramas, you can still make prints at least 10ft across, which is more than big enough for major installations.

A Serene Lake Hayes

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-06-27 04:05:00
• CameraFC6310
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/400
• Aperture5.6
• ISO100
• Focal Length8.8 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

You are not really supposed to use your drone here, but I am also the kind of person that likes to break the rules if I don’t really feel like it’s that big of a deal. I know… that’s the mind of an artist. Also, what’s the downside? There is no prison in Cinque Terre! I think…

Over Manarola

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-05-02 18:30:40
• CameraFC6310
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/100
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length8.8 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

I got my quad up super high over this area of Hong Kong and planned on making sort of a panorama while looking straight down. It’s not an easy technique because all the buildings come off at different angles. Anyway, I tried to piece them together in Photoshop, but it kept going all funky. I decided to choose the funkiest one because I think it looks quite cool!

Hong Kong Confusion

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-03-15 17:22:54
• CameraFC220
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/300
• Aperture2.2
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias-0.344

I feel so out-of-touch sometimes! I had not been to London for about 4 or 5 years, and then when I got there I saw this huge building! I had never heard of it being built and I didn’t even know the name. I asked my British friend, “What the hell is THAT!?!” and he said, “It’s The Shard you moron.” Haha man… it was such a surprise, and every time I see it, I still feel that sense of surprise. I really love taking photos of it too… reminds me of the surprise of the first time I saw it.

The Shard

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2015-02-18 04:38:53
• CameraFC350
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/2800
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length3.6 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramUnknown (58655)
• Exposure Bias

This is another quadcopter shot over scenic Waiheke Island. Just seeing these photos makes me want to return! One kind of scary thing happened when I launched the quad here… we were all riding horses, and it spooked one of them. It jumped and shook off my friend David Maxwell. Luckily, he landed on his voluminous hair and all was fine!

There was a Horse Incident

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-05-26 12:00:44
• CameraFC330
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/1500
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramUnknown (58655)
• Exposure Bias-0.656

Here’s one of the many amazing villas that are scattered around the resort at Laucala Island in Fiji. It’s one of those situations where you never see your neighbors and you feel incredibly private. So private, in fact, that I spent most of my time inside and outside completely nude. I don’t know why I needed an adverb in front of nude. The word itself is already complete.

Over Laucala Island

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2019-01-26 18:46:26
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/400
• Aperture3.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length8.6 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

Here’s another one of the images from my 1000 Stories from 1000 Places NFT drop. It sold out in minutes, but they are now available to trade on OpenSea and X2Y2, etc so be sure to check them out.

I was in Venice for about a month, out taking photos every morning at sunrise all the way through the sunset. Then there was always lots of heavy Italian food and bridge-wine on the way home with my friends. I’m not quite sure how I survived it or how I got up at every sunrise. I’m a trooper! But I guess we don’t want to miss any sunrises like this, do we?

I also made a video with this same scene in a meditative Alan Watts video that went viral and got over a million views. It’s one of my favorite videos I have ever made and I hope you enjoy it too. I actually made two Alan Watts videos and you can enjoy them if you jump on YouTube and search for “Trey Ratcliff Alan Watts.”

Ponte Dell ’Accademia at Sunrise

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2016-02-05 07:44:13
• CameraFC300X
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/400
• Aperture2.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length3.6 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramUnknown (58655)
• Exposure Bias

One of my favorite things about having a quadcopter is that I can very quickly get a photo when the light gets interesting! This is the view from where I live here in Queenstown, and every night has a new set of light and clouds. I keep the quadcopter fully fueled and ready for action, just in case something like this presents itself!

A Moody Storm in Queenstown

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-11-27 21:17:04
• CameraFC6310
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/30
• Aperture2.8
• ISO160
• Focal Length8.8 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

The North Island of New Zealand has such a varied coastline, and this area was particularly interesting, especially from above.

The North Island Coast

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-07-20 12:51:06
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/80
• Aperture3.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length8.6 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias+1.3

Continuing on from yesterday, another little chunk of Laucala. The residents of this bit must start the day with the impossible task of choosing between sitting on the amazing ocean view deck, chilling out in the pool or taking a hop, skip and jump down onto that lovely sand.

Options

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2019-01-26 18:41:38
• CameraFC2204
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/320
• Aperture3.8
• ISO100
• Focal Length8.6 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias