Big bunkers

The Big Bunker on the rocky slope

At the Big Bunker in Albania, the opening in the slope can be seen from above. Paths and paved areas lead to them. Only a larger section with the coast and rising terrain makes it clear how closely the visible part of the complex is connected to the mountain.

A building in the mountain

When it comes to the Big Bunker, it helps to compare the rock and the structure. Both appear massive at first, but only the built surfaces show the regularly recurring edges and openings.

When it comes to documentation, what matters most is which condition was recorded from which direction. Visible construction areas, paths already in use and open floor areas can be related to one another in the overview image. For later comparison, the chosen perspective should contain a fixed point that can be found even after the work has been completed. A neighboring street is usually better suited for this than a variable stack of materials. An exact statement of the time of recording, if known, is included in every published comparison.

The shape of the rock in the light

Rock surfaces are often harder to read in an aerial photograph than their sharp outline suggests. A dark area can be a deep crevice or just in shadow. The connection of several visible edges provides information. Where they converge and cover a surface, a spatial jump is understandable. A location with clear rock contours is suitable for publication with smaller images. In a larger format, the eye can wander more over the finer differences in the surface.

The coastline as orientation

From land the first thing you notice is the open water. In an aerial view, the process can be reversed and the coast can be seen from the sea. Wherever it changes direction, small protected spaces are created. Other sections extend almost straight to the edge of the picture. When selecting a motif, it is worth comparing these transitions with each other. A single, striking rocky outcrop can identify a location more clearly than a much larger expanse of water with only light and waves visible.

The distribution of blue tones

For a direct image comparison, use shot 2 and shot 5 from the gallery with 9 aerial photos. In the first excerpt, shades of blue play a smaller role. In the second shot, blue areas take up more space. Blue can extend over a large contiguous area or only appear in individual parts. What also counts for the effect is whether these areas extend to the edge of the picture or surround the main subject.

According to camera data, Shot 1 and Shot 9 were taken on September 19, 2021. There is a gap of around 10 minutes between the two images. The exposure time was 1/640 second for the first of the images mentioned and 1/500 second for the second.

A moving view is also available. The clip “Big Bunker in Albania from the air” can be found under Aerial videos. The linked preview leads to inclusion in the aerial photographer's portfolio on Adobe Stock.

An image for spatial documentation

In the case of a technical system, the direction of view determines which relationships can be explained. The course is clear along a traffic axis, and across it often the connection to the neighborhood. Both questions are valid for a project portrait. The aerial photographer can treat them in separate views. When publishing later, it will help to organize the selection according to these questions. Two visually different images can otherwise repeat the same information, while an entrance, a crossing or the connection to a neighboring property remains incomprehensible.

Related motifs in the aerial photo archive

The article Ali Pasha Fortress offers another perspective. The dark surface of water traces the contour of the Ali Pasha Fortress in Albania. In the gallery The Castle of Borsh there is a different focus. At Borsh Castle, the surviving walls follow the irregular bedrock.