The northern terminus of the TPLEX as of April 28, 2019

This massive panorama was assembled from four 20-MP RAW (DNG) frames taken by the Mavic 2 Pro's Hasselblad L1D-20 camera. While this drone's lens is not as sharp in the corners as my Canon EF 16-35 f4 IS, it's quite competent in the central portion of the frame, yielding very good detail.

The wide image shows the progress of the construction of the northern terminus of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) as of April 28, 2019. The interchange at the right side is the junction of the Manila North Road (going up) and the Rosario-Pugo Road (going right) which leads to Baguio City via Marcos Highway.

When completed, the TPLEX should drastically reduce my travel time on the rare occasions that I can brave the traffic and visit toxic, almost unbearable Metro Manila. :)

Shooting  info -  Rosario, La Union, April 28, 2019 @ 6:51 am, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, 10.30 mm (28 mm equiv.), f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/40 sec., panorama from four DNG frames.

   10,000 x 3,000 version

After shooting the above "plan view,"  I repositioned the  drone to capture a vertical panorama using three DNG images, each one at an oblique angle to the TPLEX and framed on top of one another (with some overlap), using the vertical gimbal adjustment of the camera. The resulting composite gives a more 3D appearance to the elements of the image.

Shooting  info -  Rosario, La Union, April 28, 2019 @ 6:53 am, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, 10.30 mm (28 mm equiv.), f/6.3, ISO 100, 1/120 sec., vertical panorama from three DNG frames.

5,000 x 6,400 version

How Premium Aggregates Are Made

A short feature on the quarrying and crushing of river rock into premium aggregates for use in high-performance concrete. 

All footage were filmed on location at the quarry and aggregates plant of Ten-Four Readymix Concrete, Inc. along Bued River, Northern Philippines. 

Shot in available natural light, using a Mavic 2 Pro, 4k/29.97p capture processed into 1080/29.97p.

The goat shed on top of the hill

An 800-foot high hill with steep slopes towers over the Bued River, overlooking the town of Rosario, La Union. On top of this hill, seemingly oblivious to the rapid development of things below, goats graze in the middle of a mango orchard. 

One of the goats managed to get out of the enclosure, while the rest are staying within the fence near their shed.

I've long been wondering what is on top of this hill. Thanks to the power of drone photography, I now have an idea of what's happening there.

Shooting  info - Bued River, Sison, Pangasinan, April 24, 2019, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, 10.30 mm (28 mm equiv.), f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/1600 sec., frame grab from a 4K footage resized to 800 x 450.

 

 

 

  1920 x 1080 version

First still photos with the Mavic 2 Pro

With its larger sensor, higher MP, AF and adjustable aperture, the Mavic 2 Pro's still image quality is very impressive to me. It's not quite as sharp at the corners as my EF 16-35 f4 IS, but it's way up there in the central portion of the frame.

Here's a couple of still shots taken this morning, as I was familiarizing myself with the drone's controls and features.

Shooting  info - Bued River Bridge, Rosario, La Union, April 22, 2019, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, 10.30 mm (28 mm equiv.), f/4, ISO 100, 1/200 sec., single frame cropped into a 2:1 panorama.

 2400 x 1200 version

Shooting  info - Bued River, Rosario, La Union, April 22, 2019, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, 10.30 mm (28 mm equiv.), f/4, ISO 100, 1/500 sec., two frames merged into a 2:1 panorama.

  3000 x 1500 version

From River Rock To Concrete

A short feature on the aggregates crushing and readymix concrete production of Ten-Four Readymix Concrete, Inc. - the premier producer of premium aggregates and high-performance concrete in Northern Luzon, Philippines. 

 All footage were captured with a DJI Mavic Air drone at 4K/29.97p, then processed to a 1920 x 800 / 29.97p video (cinematic 2.4:1 aspect ratio). 

 Filmed on location at Bued River, La Union, in available natural light. 

Music - "Willow and the Light" by Kevin McLeod, www.incompetech.com (RF)

Kennon Junction before the traffic rush

This triangular junction at Brgy. Camp I (Rosario, La Union) is where the Kennon Road coming from Baguio City meets with the Manila North Road (MNR). The MNR snakes to the left towards the direction of San Fernando and Laoag cities. 

Traffic is still very light at around 7:00 am when this photo was captured, but this is expected to turn into a virtual carmageddon as soon as vehicles coming from the north and Baguio City start to trek back to Metro Manila in the afternoon, after a four-day long weekend.

Shooting  info - Brgy. Camp I, Rosario, La Union, April 9, 2019, DJI Mavic Air, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/230 sec.

1600 x 1200 version

Brgy. Taboc from the air

This aerial view of Brgy. Taboc (San Juan) was taken this Sunday morning from an altitude of 105.60 m. ASL, with the camera pointed towards the southwest. In the far distance near the center, the twin radar domes at Poro Point are barely visible.

The mansion on top of the hill at the left is reportedly owned by a showbiz personality (a popular comedian). The house in the foreground with a multi-gabled roof sits on top of the leveled hillside near the pottery stalls. The MNR and the shoreline along Taboc form a photogenic double S-curve, while the placid China Sea to the right awaits eager surfers to ride its waves.

Shooting  info - Brgy. Taboc, San Juan, La Union, April 7, 2019, DJI Mavic Air, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec, altitude 105.60 m ASL.

1800 x 1200 version