Afraid of heights?
- Thread starter toughb
- Start date
True it won't be long before some one jumps from it but for 25 bucks to walk on a glass over the grand canyon. it has never been on my to see list.
Along with Connery As father Bond ( only if it is offered and big bucks)toughb said:***********************
Good idea. Probably in the next Bond film.
The helicopter flight is a real rush, its great. The pilot flew fast and very low over the scrub telling us not to look ahead but straight down. really odd feeling when you instantly go from looking at desert scrub 20 or so feet below the chopper to a huge amount of open air with nothing for over a thousand feet.
Was expensive but worth it.
YMMV.
Was expensive but worth it.
YMMV.
I remember seeing an IMAX film documentary on the Grand Canyon. Much of the filming was done from ultralights and was spectacular. I still remember the opening scene which was much like the copter flight described above. The ultra light was running close to the ground as it approached the canyon edge and as it cleared the edge the pilot panned the camera down. It felt just like you had taken a running leap off the edge.
Especially around sunset. Brillant colours. The plane ride isn't bad either. Not as noisy as the chopper.Amazon_woman said:
In terms of heights, try looking down when there's nothing to support your feet.
I've done more than a few helicopter shoots and it can be quite scary what these ex vietnam pilots can do!
I'm hanging by a harness in a open door with nothing there and I stand on the struts...The pilot banks the helo at about 70 degrees so I can get a straight down shot. I'm shooting but thinking..its all straight down from here, and I'm over a volcano. None of this is a good ending.
Helicopter rides are a lot of fun...it's much better when they harness you up and you hang out the door to take pictures. The dry cleaning bill is somewhat large but it is truly invigorating.
Note- You have to sign a waver with all companies to take the door off and be in the harness. Bottom line is..if you die..they laugh!
It will not be available on a tourist trip. But you can get some great shots if you can get the front seat by the pilot. Usually you'll have a plexiglass floor so you can shoot directly down but your vista shots will be out the side window. The age and glass condition can affect your shots. You really have to watch your auto focus and if you can bracket your shots. Always meter off the sky as a reference. Use evaluative if you have that ability.
What you find is the odd shape of the helo cockpit gives you a reflection of yourself taking the picture no matter where you point your camera. It will always be there. It might be subtle but it's there.
So you have to watch for that. If you find yourself in a helicopter..meter off the sky to make your exposures come out ok.
It is truly a blast to hang on the struts! I went back to the hotel and drank like crazy the first time. It's very unsettling once you land...reality sets in! lol
I'm hanging by a harness in a open door with nothing there and I stand on the struts...The pilot banks the helo at about 70 degrees so I can get a straight down shot. I'm shooting but thinking..its all straight down from here, and I'm over a volcano. None of this is a good ending.
Helicopter rides are a lot of fun...it's much better when they harness you up and you hang out the door to take pictures. The dry cleaning bill is somewhat large but it is truly invigorating.
Note- You have to sign a waver with all companies to take the door off and be in the harness. Bottom line is..if you die..they laugh!
It will not be available on a tourist trip. But you can get some great shots if you can get the front seat by the pilot. Usually you'll have a plexiglass floor so you can shoot directly down but your vista shots will be out the side window. The age and glass condition can affect your shots. You really have to watch your auto focus and if you can bracket your shots. Always meter off the sky as a reference. Use evaluative if you have that ability.
What you find is the odd shape of the helo cockpit gives you a reflection of yourself taking the picture no matter where you point your camera. It will always be there. It might be subtle but it's there.
So you have to watch for that. If you find yourself in a helicopter..meter off the sky to make your exposures come out ok.
It is truly a blast to hang on the struts! I went back to the hotel and drank like crazy the first time. It's very unsettling once you land...reality sets in! lol
hmmmmm I don't think I would like the idea of it being clear beneath my feet. What will they do if someone thinks cool I will try it and then gets to the middle and becomes shocked and cannot move?
You are a brave man. I once flew from Newark to JFK in aMarkII said:
small helicopter with 2 seats behind the pilot, during pretty
high winds. Going over and through Manhattan was scary
enough for me. I left my fingerprints on the steel bar in front of me.
With so much air traffic over Manhattan air space & skyscrappers, it's amazing there aren't more incidents.danmand said:
Another tricky airspace is the old HK T-K airport. It's such a steep climb & decent with the short runway & surround buildings. You can end up in the water on a windy day. From certain angles, you can literally look into people's home see what TV programs they're watching.
