Valentia Island

Valentia Island in the backlight

Around Valentia Island in Ireland, the shine on the water changes the legibility of the coast. Where the sun traces a bright path, the land outcroppings become dark contours. On the far side, fields, paths and the transition to the bank remain visible.

An Irish island in changing light

On Valentia Island, the backlight changes the weight. Water surfaces can appear bright, while on land only the outlines remain legible. The coastline in particular connects both.

On an island, the distance from the shore determines the message of the photograph. If water is visible all around, its shape can be seen at a glance. If there is a piece of land in the picture, the situation in the larger body of water becomes understandable. Both options complement each other for a photo series. The first glance explains what belongs to the island. The second shows from which direction you approach it and which visible reference points connect the narrow piece of land with its surroundings.

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.

Shapes in the side light

Deep light places a bright side and a shadow side on the same shape. In this way, even small elevations gain a clear profile. However, a particularly bright area can also distract from the main subject. When selecting an image, it is helpful to briefly look at the photo in a reduced size. What first catches the eye will often be the introduction to a publication. Another crop can take advantage of the light accent while still showing enough surroundings to see the location.

The distribution of blue tones

To switch between two of the 76 aerial photos, shot 37 and shot 54 can be called up directly in the gallery. 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.

The camera data for shot 1 is September 16th, 2022, the camera data for shot 76 is September 17th, 2022. This gallery therefore contains more than one recording time. Anyone who compares the landscape or the building condition can incorporate this data into the image description. The exposure time was 1/1250 second for the first of the images mentioned and 1/320 second for the second.

The Aerial Videos section supplements the photos with 9 clips. The aerial photographer's photographs linked there include “Valentia Island in Ireland from Above”. The relevant video page on Adobe Stock can be opened using the respective preview.

Select the coastal view for a photo series

In a coastal view, water is both a motif and an open space. Whether a large piece of sea remains in the picture depends on the story. When reporting on the shoreline, it holds different landforms together. For a portrait of a coastal town, the development may need more space. An aerial photographer can take this difference into account when choosing the angle of the image. When publishing, it's worth taking a final look at the final format so that a headland or riverside path at the edge isn't accidentally cut off.

Related motifs in the aerial photo archive

Two additional views can be used in the archive for comparison. The first can be found under Fortress Spinalonga – Crete. Spinalonga can be seen as an entire island from the air. The second belongs to the article Azores – Portugal. In the Azores photos of São Miguel, structured pastures, steep coasts and colorful water basins can be seen.