Give props to these photographers
By Peter Vince
It was a lofty idea — invite drone pilots to re-capture images of areas that were first photographed when the only option for aerial photography was from an actual airplane.
Check out the results at Newport’s Pacific Maritime Heritage Center during the “Lincoln County 400'” exhibition, featuring the work of five drone photographers and a selection of historic aerial photographs from the museum’s archives. The exhibit opens with a public reception from 4 to 7 pm this Friday, March 10.
According to Susan Tissot, executive director of the Lincoln County Historical Society, the exhibit was the idea of retired Toledo educator and Lincoln County School District board member Peter Vince.
“He approached me about six months ago and I agreed that it was a great idea,” Tissot said. “He has five drone panoramic images in the exhibit.”
The modern photographers joining Vince are Casey Felton, Nevin Sjostrom, Colin Park and Jon Zagel.
“Historically, from about the 1930s to the 1990s, you had to go up in a plane to get those high overhead images,” Tissot said. “What we are doing in this exhibit is blowing up five of them so you will really be able to see the details. We are also going to have a map that shows the spots where the photos were taken.”
Areas in the spotlight include the Taft area in Lincoln City, the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, Yachats, Depoe Bay and Toledo.
“It’s a very different show but we are trying to show the perspective of these places from airplanes and drones,” Tissot said. “Our thinking is that we want to provide our viewers with a sense of how expansive the Lincoln County landscape is and also a glimpse of how it has changed through time using images from our archives.”
Not all of the images will be staying still.
“Casey Felton produced a short video as a promo piece that includes interviews with four of the photographers,” Tissot said. “It is posted on our website. A longer version of the video will be featured in the exhibit.”
The only parameters given to the drone photographers was that the images needed to be taken somewhere in Lincoln County and flown under 400 feet as per FAA rules.
On Saturday, April 9, Vince will be in the Doerfler Family Theater to do a drone demonstration.
The museum is also partnering with the Lincoln County School District to work with three teachers who will produce lesson plans in conjunction with the exhibit.
“Students will use the coordinates to do different activities that the teachers come up with,” Tissot said. “We’re really trying to have fun with this.”
The Pacific Maritime Heritage Center is located at 333 SE Bay Blvd. in Newport and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. For more information, go to oregoncoasthistory.org or call 541-265-7509.