Unleashing the Benefits of Drone-Powered Aerial Photography.

Aerial photography is a powerful tool for capturing stunning images of the world from above. In the past, aerial photography was typically done using a helicopter, which was a relatively expensive and time-consuming process. However, with the advent of drones, aerial photography has become much more accessible and affordable. Here are some of the advantages of using a drone for aerial photography over a helicopter:

  1. Cost: One of the biggest advantages of using a drone for aerial photography is the cost. Drones are significantly less expensive than helicopters, and they are also much easier to operate and maintain. This makes them an ideal choice for photographers and videographers who want to capture aerial footage without breaking the bank.

  2. Flexibility: Drones are much more flexible than helicopters when it comes to aerial photography. They can fly at lower altitudes and maneuver more easily in tight spaces, allowing photographers to capture aerial footage in ways that were previously not possible with a helicopter.

  3. Speed: Another advantage of using a drone for aerial photography is speed. Drones can be take off quickly and easily, and they can get up into the air and start capturing images in a matter of seconds. This makes them a great choice for photographers who need to capture aerial footage in a timely manner.

  4. Safety: Safety is always a concern when it comes to aerial photography, and drones are generally safer than helicopters. Drones are much smaller and lighter, and they are equipped with multiple safety features such as obstacle avoidance and automatic return-to-home functions.

  5. Accessibility: Drones are much more accessible to the general public than helicopters. With a relatively low cost of entry and easy-to-use software, anyone can get into aerial photography using a drone, you just need a lot of practice and get uso to compose images from high up, which is completely different from the ground, and that takes time to master.

In conclusion, the use of drones for aerial photography has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason, it made aerial photography more democratic as I say all the time. They are way more cost-effective, flexible, and safe than helicopters, and they offer photographers a range of advantages that were previously not possible. Whether you're a professional photographer or just someone who loves to capture images of the world from above, using a drone for aerial photography is definitely worth considering.

One this to consider is that a camera mounted in a drone sometime might not deliver an image quality that a pro dslr/mirrorless camera can archive, and the maximum altitude you can fly in most of the cases is only 400ft (120m), which depending the size of the area you need to photograph, might be too low, that’s when the helicopter comes in action, and I love it!

Innovative Modular Housing Project: YMCA Thames Gateway by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

In recent months, I've had the pleasure of photographing an exciting new project, the YMCA Thames Gateway, conceived by world-renowned architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP). This was more than just an architectural shoot – it was an opportunity to document a groundbreaking project reshaping the future of affordable, sustainable housing in the heart of Romford, Essex.

YMCA Thames Gateway, an initiative under the umbrella of the YMCA Thames Gateway Group, is an inventive housing development addressing the long-standing issue of affordable move-on accommodation. Its design, execution, and purpose represent a monumental leap forward for the organization and those it serves.

The heart of this project is Park View, a development comprising 39 modular residential units. This innovative design allows the YMCA to offer high-quality, affordable housing to single individuals transitioning from the main hostel towards independence. With each unit constructed off-site in Derbyshire, they were then transported and assembled on the site in Essex. From the start of installation in July 2020, it took just half a year to complete the final home assembly in January 2021.

The compact, self-contained homes within Park View bring a sense of community, offering generous, high-quality spaces featuring exceptional insulation, daylight, and acoustics. Leveraging rapid, cost-effective volumetric technology, this method of construction introduces a sustainable, equitable approach to house building – an innovation we're likely to see more frequently in the future.

The project's success wouldn't have been possible without a diligent team working tirelessly behind the scenes. Their collective efforts resulted in a collection of images that truly embody the spirit of the project and a captivating short video detailing the project and its residents.

One such resident, Paul Oshodin, has expressed the transformative impact of moving into Park View. The stability provided by the YMCA and the sense of autonomy in his new home have been invaluable. Projects like the YMCA Thames Gateway demonstrate the power of innovative architecture in shaping and improving lives.

Documenting the YMCA Thames Gateway project was a rewarding experience. The fusion of architecture, community, and transformation is truly inspiring. I look forward to continuing to share stories of innovation and resilience through my lens. Stay tuned for more projects that are reshaping our urban landscape.

Please watch video below.

To see the images in full screen please click here.

Westbury Road for Cortizo

Got a commission from Cortizo (Spain), one of the leading manufacturer and distributor of aluminum and PVC systems for the architecture and industry sectors, they asked some photos of a nice property in New Malden, where they supplied the all the windows. Loved the project. The weather wasn’t that good, but enough to get some nice images out of it.

Westbury Road - Residential Project

When QR Architects (qrarchitects.co.uk) and WL Contractors (wlcontractors.co.uk) come together to renovate a house, the results are always breath taking. Clean, white and modern spaces, which I'm always delighted to photograph.  Thank you guys for anothet great opportunity. Westbury Road, London.

Riverlight by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

Riverlight will transform a triangular, five-acre industrial estate – close to Battersea Power Station on the south bank of the River Thames – into a residential-led mixed use development, creating a transition between the large footprints of the power station and the smaller residential developments to the east.

The scheme includes 806 homes, underground parking, crèche, restaurants, bars, a food store and other retail spaces. It incorporates a river walk and landscaping to take full advantage of its location and create attractive public spaces for the local community. The development will be delivered via six buildings, arranged in a rising-form composition, ranging in height from 12 to 20 storeys and giving the development a varied skyline. Around 60 per cent of the scheme will be designated as public open space.

The architectural expression takes its cue from the former industrial warehouse buildings that lined the river. The language is of simple robust structures which emphasise their construction. Buildings are divided into three distinct zones: top, middle, and base. Top levels are lightweight, two-storey structures with gull-wing roofs; mid levels are represented as concrete floors expressed every two storeys, with intermediate floors expressed as lightweight steel balconies.

In landscape terms, each area of the development is conceived as having its own distinct character. The newly created river walk – slightly raised to allow views over the river wall to the Thames – brings a 17m-wide boulevard to a previously underused part of the waterfront. Commercial and community uses at street level – including restaurants, bars and cafés arranged around the dock inlet, as well as a food store, crèche and business suite – will help to attract visitors onto the site and animate the public areas of the scheme.

http://www.rsh-p.com/projects/riverlight/

Brent Civic Centre by Hopkins Architects

"Located on a prominent site next to two well-known civic icons, Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena, the new Civic Centre streamlines all aspects of the Council's activities and has become a new hub and heart for the community where residents can meet, shop and eat. It houses Brent's civic, public and administrative functions under one unified roof, providing office space for 2000 staff.

The building's spaces are arranged around a soaring, naturally-lit foyer and atrium which houses a large public amphitheatre and staircase that host a programme of high-quality arts and cultural experiences that further enhance the building. A circular Drum clad in timber fins features prominently in this space and houses a multi-purpose community hall, library, one-stop shop and civic chamber.

Behind this, glazed office wings are open-plan and flexible to provide a future-proofed solution to the diverse community's administrative needs. The building also includes space for retail outlets and a landscaped garden to help it to connect further with the surrounding Wembley Regeneration Area.

The project has been awarded the coveted BREEAM 'Outstanding' rating, the highest possible, and is the first project in its category to have achieved this. As such, it features a 33% reduction in carbon emissions thanks to a combination of solar shading, natural ventilation, high-performance façade, and combined cooling, heating and power which utilises waste fish oil. It is the most sustainable local authority building to be completed in the UK."

Font: http://www.hopkins.co.uk/projects/5/145/

The Shed at the National Theather by Haworth Tompkins

I was passing by, on my way to a job in South Bank when I spotted a nice angle of The Shed, recently build, a bright red auditorium amongst the brutalist concrete of London's National Theatre. Need to come back to get it from all angles that I already have on my mind.