Michael Layefsky's photostream  

View Large

This dramatic structure opened to the public back in 1879.

www.conservatoryofflowers.org

Taken by a camera lofted by a helium balloon.

© All rights reserved

One of my aerial photographs of rice terraces in Bali was used on the cover of this technical report.

Inoculant biofertilisers are preparations that contain beneficial micro-organisms and are applied to crops with the aim of reducing or replacing more costly and environmentally damaging chemical fertilisers.

I was especially happy to see this use, as I worked in a lab studying biological control and integrated pest management during my undergraduate years at the University of California, Berkeley.

View Large

Just a few of the many hundreds of Greater Sandhill Cranes which return at sunset to the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve outside Lodi, California.

These are huge birds, with a wingspan of 5 to 7 feet. Their loud trumpeting is amazing, especially in the large numbers we observed.

© All rights reserved

View Large

The patterns seen in this photo were created by large mechanical rice harvesting machines. This area, situated between Sacramento and Davis, is part of the Pacific Flyway, and the farmers flood their fields at this time of year for use by the migratory waterfowl. It's been a very dry fall and winter, which explains why the fields are not totally flooded.

The winds were quite strong during this kite photography session. Thanks very much to Jamie Lent, for his assistance in managing the gear during the outing.

Thanks also to Bruce Barnett, a biologist who lives near this area and a talented aerial photographer (powered paraglider), for explaining what's going on in this image.

Taken by a camera lofted by a kite.

© All rights reserved

View Large

Golden Gate Park is a large, wonderful oasis in densely-populated San Francisco.

It was one of those generally overcast afternoons where the sun dips into a clearing under the clouds a few minutes before sunset, bathing everything in a rich golden light. A few minutes after this photo was taken, there was an absolutely incredible red sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

This photo was taken from high above Ocean Beach. I was hoping to get the camera up to at least 500 ft. in order to be able to capture the urban density on the far side of the park, but either the air got moister and heavier, or there was some sort of inversion layer preventing the balloon from climbing higher than about 300 ft.

I'm sure I'll be back here at some point for another attempt at a higher view, with some extra helium in the balloon for additional loft.

© All rights reserved