F4LUFTBILDER
The pyramids of Stob on the eroded slope
Near Stob, narrow, reddish earth pillars emerge from the Bulgarian slope. There are deep shadows between them. The wide aerial shots show how small the striking formation is within the forested landscape, while closer views reveal its individual ribs.
Erosion forms in sidelight
At the pyramids of Stob, the compact slope merges into individual peaks. The shadows between the shapes in particular make it clear how far erosion has already separated them from each other.
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.
Shadow as an indication of height
In the aerial photo, a shadow lies next to the object that casts it. This makes it possible to perceive the approximate height of a shape in relation to its surroundings, even if its side surface is barely visible. The effect depends heavily on sunlight. When selecting a shot, you can therefore check whether the shadow explains a detail or obscures an important area. A second view from a different direction complements the image where the dark area has little detail.
What the treetops reveal
A forest changes the view of every structure and every path that lies on its edge. From one side the treetops cover the lower area, from another a small gap opens. Photos in which the boundary between open space and vegetation can be clearly seen are particularly interesting. They explain which parts of a motif are visible. In a description, it is possible to distinguish precisely between the section depicted and the terrain hidden by the foliage.
Warm tones within the series
Among the 11 photos in the gallery, shot 11 and shot 6 provide a good starting point for the comparison. In the second view, warm reds and browns have more weight than in the first. Red-brown and yellowish areas are particularly noticeable next to cooler surfaces. What is interesting when comparing is whether they are concentrated on a single object or appear spread out across the entire view.
The camera captured November 12, 2020 for shot 1 and shot 11. The time interval between these two views is approximately 7 minutes. The exposure time was 1/640 second for the first of the images mentioned and 1/1000 second for the second.
The Aerial Videos section supplements the photos with 5 clips. The aerial photographer's photographs linked there include “Pyramids of Stob in Bulgaria”. The relevant video page on Adobe Stock can be opened using the respective preview.
Show the proportions of the landscape
It is easy to overestimate the size of a shape in a landscape painting. A bright spot may be a small open area or show an extensive portion of the terrain. When selecting images, a comprehensible reference point is therefore more important than the most dramatic perspective possible. If present in the motif, a path or a clearly recognizable shoreline can take on this task. An aerial photographer can also relate an overview and a single view. Readers are then given an idea of the location before viewing the surface up close.
More aerial photos for comparison
Two further articles invite comparison. In the first, Đavolja Varoš, another detail is in the foreground. At Đavolja Varoš, a brightly eroded flank interrupts the closed Serbian mountain forest. Then you can go to Bulgaria – Rila Mountains. In Bulgaria's Rila Mountains, forested ridges extend to more open, rocky heights.