Yes indeed, no doubt of that whatsoever. Let us tell you more.
By using kites as the motive force in many of our pictures we are effectively lifting the camera with no use of fossil
or other fuels.
That's a zero carbon footprint.
Now, that isn't a strictly accurate claim. First of all, we have to get to the site, using petrol, and of course a fair
amount of fuel has been used in the manufacture of the materials in our kites and balloons.
But as a comparison, if you use a plane or helicopter, you have the aircraft engineer, co-pilot and pilot all driving to
the airport and home again afterwards. Not to mention the many people involved in running the air traffic control and
other safety systems and of course the photographer as well. And that's before you take into account any of the fuel
used by the plane.
On any sensible basis of comparison we're way ahead of any opposition in terms of fossil fuel use, energy saving and
conservation.
Good question. If we may we'll illustrate the answer by telling you a short story.
We were flying the hot air balloon, taking pictures of a ruined castle in Ayrshire. While we were doing the work a passing
lorry driver noticed us and stopped to look, as did the drivers of two cars and a van. This is a fairly common event and
not usually worth mentioning.
However, the lorry driver came and had a chat to us and we found out that he was carrying a 30 ton load on the back of his
artic. When a car or lorry brakes to a halt the kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted to heat by friction in the
brakes. You may have seen racing car brakes glowing red hot.
A quick back-of-an-envelope calculation revealed that he had emitted more heat into the atmosphere by braking to a halt
to watch us than we had in making the entire 20-minute flight.
Every time an articulated lorry comes to a halt from a speed of 60 mph it pumps out enough heat into the atmosphere, via
the brakes, to keep our balloon flying for 30 minutes.
It's all relative. When taking aerial photographs with a 197 aerial photography hot air balloon we are using less than
0.1% of the fossil fuel involved in doing the same work with an aircraft. In words, less than one tenth of one percent.
That's just one of the reasons why we have a perfectly clear conscience when we say that 197's system is the most
environmentally friendly form of aerial photography there has ever been.
Every time someone stops a car or van and looks at our kites or balloons flying they are pumping heat out of their brakes
and damaging the environment.
So please, don't stop, don't look and whatever you do please don't come over and say hello.*
(*delete the word "don't" as appropriate)
Well, there is some. The kite can tend to flap a little when near the ground, causing a rustling sound, but it's no worse than a flag flying. The
balloon's burner, when heating the balloon on the ground initially, can be a little intrusive for those standing right next to it,
but the sound doesn't carry and people more than a few feet away often don't even notice it.
Another brief tale. We were taking photos on a blustery day, using the kite. As we wandered round the village checking out
angles and heights before launching the system, we were barked at by several bad-tempered dogs, locked behind a gate and
making a dreadful noise in the quiet village street.
Twenty minutes later, with the kite flying above, we were approached by the local busy-body who told us to "get that kite
down, the noise is disturbing the peace". We politely ignored him.
Yes, you've guessed it. He was the owner of the loud dogs.
Again, it's all relative but very often people simply don't know we're there and anyone inside a house would never hear
a thing.
Compare that to the teeth-jarring thumping sound from the rotor of a hovering helicopter or the sound and vibration from a plane buzzing to and fro. We win hands down in any argument about noise
and disturbance.
None. Not a one. So far...
It's been suggested that we should apply for "green" certification and sign up to "save the planet" organisations and
take part in the Great Global Warming Debate, pushing 197 aerial photography's methods and systems as an example for
the future.
That's not really our style. We prefer to just quietly get on with it, taking top class photos.
On the other hand, if you have access to a large cash award for environmentally friendly businesses, please feel free
to send it to us. We'd be most receptive.
If you don't see the picture you want, email or fax us - we may have it in stock
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