Aerial photos

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Thu May 05, 2005 11:56 am

I really must urge all visitors to the site to browse the wonderful aerial photographs that Steve has placed in the Miscellaneous section (click on that word at the top of this page and then click on Aerial Photographs).

Having seen these before they were placed on the site, I'd like to congratulate Steve on the way that he has created these fascinating birds-eye views and the ease of navigation of this section.

Thanks for sharing these with us Steve.

Cheers
Steve Pitts

Jill M · Post by **Jill M** » Thu May 05, 2005 4:34 pm

These are fantastic. Fascinating to look at, but I still can't work out where No Man's Land is?

Jill

Steve Fifield · Post by **Steve Fifield** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:38 pm

It's the little pointy bit just to the right of the number '2' on the map on Steves Aerial Photo's page below:

http://www.mytobago.info/aerial.php

Steve F.

Roger D. · Post by **Roger D.** » Fri May 06, 2005 5:07 am

Everytime you think that this site can't possibly get any better, Steve always manages to pull something out of his creative and thoughful mind.
Keep it up Steve!
Roger.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Fri May 06, 2005 7:58 am

Hi Jill

I've just seen your post and Steve's reply. He is quite right of course. Here's an enlargements of the spit of land that Steve referred to:

I'm sorry that I don't have a better shot. To be honest, there was cloud cover over the area and I thought we'd have time to return and do the Pigeon Point/Buccoo Reef area in more detail at the end of the trip. However, we ran out of time.

This was an amazing experience for me. I've flown light aircraft, been in an airship, paraglided and even had an emergency landing in Concorde (no hydraulics, so no steering or brakes), but confess that I'd never been up in a helicopter before. And, certainly not one without a door. Those lovely people at Tobago Helicopters/Hummingbird Helicopters took the door off so that I would have uninterrupted views for photography. Scary or what! I was strapped in my seat, of course, but the moment I turned sideways my arms and camera were effectively out of the aircraft and a thousand feet above the ocean. Mind you, that was nothing compared to the experience when we circled so I could get more/better shots. When the helicopter banked, I was on the ‘inside’ seat. It felt as if I was being tipped into the sea. Wow! Mind you, the pilot was brilliant and did it so smoothly that even the spare lenses and other bits and bobs on my knees never tipped out.

The only down-side to the trip is that I suffer from very severe motion sickness. Travelling in boats or as a passenger in a car are a major problem for me. Strangely, I have no problem in aircraft – but I didn’t know about helicopters, so had dosed myself up on travel sickness tablets. They, unfortunately, made me feel very lethargic and like I’d been up for 48 hours. I suspect that I wouldn’t have had a problem and wish I hadn’t taken them. A fuzzy head was the last thing I needed for my first attempt at aerial photography. Frankly, I’m very, very disappointed with the results. Not bad as a first attempt, I guess, but with the benefit of the experience, I know I could do very much better if I had the opportunity again. Mind you, if every one of the 1700-2000 reader who will visit myTobago in the next 24 hours contributes a dollar, we’d have a big enough pot to do a full 2-hour photographic survey of the entire island. Then everyone could benefit from a real bird's eye view of Tobago. Let's be honest, there can't be a better way to see what the island is really like. I'd love to do the north end of the island.

Mind you, given the £32 I’ve received in donations to the site over the last four months, its not going to happen, is it.

V Fabry · Post by **V Fabry** » Sat May 07, 2005 8:52 am

hi Steve,
is the money the reason you didn't include pictures of the North east? Or didn't you have the time? I'm just so curious about the landshapes there...
keep on your marvelous work

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Sat May 07, 2005 8:57 am

Hi V

Both - I didn't have time within the 30 minutes of flying time generously provided by Tobago Helicopters. It was literally a quick wizz up the Caribbean coast to Castara, across the island to Mount Saint George and then back down the Atlantic coastline. I would LOVE to do the northern half of the island. As far as I'm aware, there's never been a proper aerial survey of Tobago. Even all the maps of the island are years out of date.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue May 10, 2005 7:25 pm

Oh my God!! These photos are fantastic!! Wish to fly too!

Dave

Julia C. · Post by **Julia C.** » Tue May 10, 2005 10:41 pm

Fantastic - views of Tobago most will never see, I for one am even (2 trips) sitting on the wrong side of the plane, going and leaving, for any view of the Island.
Thanks.

Mind you, given the £32 I’ve received in donations to the site over the last four months, its not going to happen, is it.

I've paid money for a book travel guide to Tobago, a map of Tobago and in a donation to this site "mytobago". For value for money my vote goes to "mytobago". My personal feeling is that just because we can read this site for free doesn't mean to say we should.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Wed May 11, 2005 7:01 am

Dave - don't take the piss! When I see your work, I feel I ought to dump my camera in the wastebin.

Julia - Thanks! Yours was the very first donation (thank you) and one of only two from British readers, who represent the overwhelming majority of readers. To be honest, it makes me wonder why I bother - but then I simply go back and re-read my home page and try to remember that I'm doing this for Tobagonians, not for the readers.

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Wed May 11, 2005 12:30 pm

Right you lot!

I wholeheartedly agree with Julia - we should support this site and its selfless editors with more than just our contributions to the forum.

We all take free access to myTobago for granted and this is one way that we can give something back to myTobago and benefit by having access to more aerial photos, if Steve will complete the Northern half of the island on his next visit.

Based on the likely charter cost of approx. £300, to do the job properly, could I respectfully suggest that anyone who wishes to see the continued development of the site could send a donation to the editor whose address appears in the Contact section of the homepage.

Looking forward to seeing those pics next year Steve.

Regards to all fellow Tobagophiles

Steve Pitts

Louise I · Post by **Louise I** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:19 pm

Excellent point - I've made my donation. If we all make a donation perhaps Steve can afford a bottle of Stag for after his full helicopter tour!

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:24 pm

Thanks Louise - I was just hunting for an email address on the PayPal record in order to thank you. Your contribution is REALLY appreciated and all helps to make the effort both worthwhile and possible without having to resort to plastering the whole site with ugly advertising banners.

Kayla Aspinall · Post by **Kayla Aspinall** » Wed May 11, 2005 5:32 pm

Made my donation too, was truly horrified at the prospect of not being able to have my daily Tobago fix

I think the site is fantastic and Steve you do a wonderful and very professional job. I hope you get enough money to "do" the north of the island next time.

Regards,
Kayla

Steve Fifield · Post by **Steve Fifield** » Wed May 11, 2005 7:48 pm

See, just needed a target to aim for!

Remember the 'Blue Peter Appeal'? What we need now is an Aerial-Photo-o-Meter progress bar to show how far we've reached (or how far the Helicopter would get) updated every Tuesday and Thursday.

I suppose you won't take milk bottle tops Steve?

Glad to see that things have started moving.

Steve F.

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » Fri May 13, 2005 4:30 pm

Love the site, love the photo's. I will do my part to keep this great site up and visit PayPal later to help support it.

Scott

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Mon May 16, 2005 1:14 pm

There has already been a good deal of support for the idea of a full aerial survey of Tobago to provide myTobago readers with more wonderful panoramic views of the island.

I've had an off-forum chat with Steve and we have come up with a proposal to offer myTobago readers the chance to participate in a specific fund-raising event, to ensure that the helicopter aerial photography project gets off the ground (pun intended).

Within the next week or two, I'll be contacting Tobago businesses and asking if they will sponsor a raffle by donating their services to forum readers.

Briefly, if we can get enough support in the form of prizes of free meals, car hire, tours, trips, accommodation etc. we will run a raffle, with proceeds going towards the ‘Spirt of Andrew Harries’ aerial recognisance project. Rachael has readily agreed that this will be a fitting way to remember Andy and his association with myTobago.

Participants will be able to buy raffle tickets by credit card, over a period of four weeks. The draw will then be held and the winner will have the choice of one of any of the prizes on offer – full details will be available on the forum and hopefully by offering a wide range of Tobago related goodies we will ensure that participation levels are high and Steve will be able to engage Hummingbird Helicopters to complete the round-island photo shoot, sometime next year.

More details as things progress

Regards
Steve Pitts

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Mon May 16, 2005 4:09 pm

Wow Steve,
Great idea count me in for some tickets.

A free dive with some of the dive operators could be another prize option

Regards
Kevin

Steve Pitts · Post by **Steve Pitts** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:35 am

Kevin

Great idea!

Anyone any suggestions for their perfect prize?

Horse riding?
A birding trip?
Off-road adventure?
Snorkelling or sailing?

On the other hand, if you can assist by offering a prize - don't be shy - why not make us an offer. You'll get tons of publicity and someone will win a fabulous addition to their next holiday on Tobago.

Cheers
Steve

David Watkins · Post by **David Watkins** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:20 am

Steve,fantastic idea,stick me down for some tickets.
Starting to countdown,David