The Pilot, a photo from Sankt Gallen, East

Photographer's Note

Paragliding is a big thing in Switzerland and if the wind allows, the air is filled with these pilots on sunny weekends, summer or winter. I know a good spot to watch them taking off and I tell you it scares me a lot and I am always kind of relieved to see them in the air at last. It is a lot of judging, trusting your own instincts, discussing with other pilots when to go but once you are up in the air, I am sure it is an incredible experience. Nevertheless, I rather have a box around me and I trust a Cessna a little more than sitting outside with these tiny strings in your hands. I was standing there for a while watching these girls and guys trying to take off when an Austrian girl came over to me if I would mind taking some shots of her boyfriend and she gave me her email address. So I was pretty busy for a while and I emailed her the shots … of course. She said that most of the time she never received any photos and that she was very happy with my pictures (maybe she was not … LOL … but was too polite to say so …). This photo was taken just before he took off, running fast and trying to be in the air before the terrain ended. SCARY!!!!

Location: Go to Unterwasser, take the funicular railway to Illtios, change to the cable car to Chaeserrugg and hike to Hinterrugg (20 minutes walking).

Another view

or this view ... with some mountains in the back

Sistercosmo, Waylim, avene, Wanda1, gunbud, Cretense, jwmunro ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

Buin (42580) 2009-12-06 3:30

Hallo Barbara!
Da krieg ich je eine Gänsehaut, wenn ich daran denke, was kurz danach losgeht ...
Das entschlossene Gesicht des Herrn scheint aber auf Sicherheit hinzudeuten. Schön, wie Du ihn vor den Himmel gestellt hast. Na dann - guten Flug! Eine sehr schöne Bilderserie!
Schöne Adventsgrüße aus dem nass-grau-kühlen Westfalen! Glühwein- und Kerzen-Wetter ;-))
Frank

bema (26591) 2009-12-06 3:45

Hallo Barabra,

eine schöne Auswahl an Motiven, die Du hier präsentierst.. habe das mal im Allgäu live mitvefolgen können, sowohl oben am Start als auch unten am Landeplatz.. faszinierende Bilder..

wünsch Dir einen schönen Sonntag , Gruß Bernd

albertojr (738) 2009-12-06 3:55

a flying sport that i would love to try. I'm pretty sure she is happy with this shot. Thanks for sharing.

Dyerco (10185) 2009-12-06 8:42

Hi Barbara
We have some paragliding around here too but then I guess it will be found anywhere there are decent size mountains. You caught them an interesting moment. He is checking the wind and she is sending what may be her last text message Ha! Ha!
Phil

AKITA (15125) 2009-12-06 18:55

dear Barbara,
a wonderful portrait shot of the beautiful scene of paragliding people.
their figures and wears are very interesting, those look like black birds in the blue sky.
thank you for your beautiful picture,
Akihisa

delpeoples (60342) 2009-12-07 2:50

Hi Barbara, I love the way you;ve composed this shot, with all that big sky and the short FG. Your subjects (particularly the male) are gorgeous, you must have felt like running off too...possibly with him in tow :) Excellent sharpness, luminosity and exposure. Great job, TFS and enjoy your week, Lisa.

Nicou (193806) 2009-12-07 6:51

Hello Barbara,

alors prêt pour le départ, pour le grand saut cette jeune fille, mangigique image avec toujour cette façon de mettre en valeur le ciel dont tu as le secret, superbe double portrait et attitude.

merci et amitié

Nicou

Sistercosmo (242) 2009-12-07 13:41

Hallo Barbara,

auf dem Tegelberg gibt es auch jede Menge dieser mutigen Zeitgenossen. Leider kommen auch jährlich einige davon um - es ist und bleibt gefährlich! Nix für mich, aber du hast es gut eingefangen. Ich gehe mal davon aus, dass das Mädchen nur am zusehen ist.... (oder eher texten...)

Schönen Abend und liebe Grüße
Linda

Waylim (25436) 2009-12-07 15:37

Hi Barbara,
It looks like she is texting her last words to the love ones, I would if I were to do this. :) I get scare just sitting inside an air plane. But giving the oppotunity, I would do it, but I won't go looking for it.

Any way, that was nice of you to send her the photo. That reminded me I need to send someone photos that I took for him in Patagonia. He lost in camera on the trip and he's been asking people to take some photos of him to send him later. I guess it is very easy now with e-mail and digital files.

She must be very happy with these photos. No LOL here. It is a wonderful shot. She knows who to ask to photograph them. Smart girl. Have a wonderful week.

Way

plimrn (21344) 2009-12-07 16:47

Hi Barbara,
Great composition, you captured the pilot in such a hero-like stance!! I've taken lots of photos of para-sailors but I always included the chute; I'm very impressed with the power of this closeup.
HLJ, Pat

hardyuno (4652) 2009-12-08 0:18

Hallo Barbara,
schöne Bildgestaltung mit dem tiefblauen Himmel. Auch die workshop Bilder sind gut geworden. Bei uns gibt es auch ein paar Berge wo es an schönen Tagen nur so wuselt vor lauter Schirmen. Bei meiner Höhenangst würde ich wahrscheinlich halb dabei sterben, brr.

Ich wünsch dir noch eine schöne Woche
Hartmut

ciakgiak (30) 2009-12-08 8:00

Ciao Barbara,
grande spazio al cielo e POV basso per esaltare la fierezza dello sguardo del paracadutista, mentre la ragazza sembra poco interessata :-))!
Bel contrasto di colori e scena piacevolissima. Un abbraccio.
Giorgio

avene (12675) 2009-12-08 20:06

lol, love Lisa's comment, and I agree with her that the way you have composed the photo - almost solitary figure of the man against the wast expanse of the blue sky - has something heroic about it, something of "living on the edge of adventure", I'm sure the girl was very happy with this photo :)

best,
Kristine

Wanda1 (15142) 2009-12-09 8:50

Hi Barbara,
I think that it must be a great feeling to be gliding so high above everything and it is probably quite peaceful up there. Nice that you got them in preperation for take off. It might be my screen but the colours look slightly dull (?)
Regards
Wanda

PixelTerror (0) 2009-12-09 10:29

Hoi Barbara
Ich weiss nicht, was er gerade anschaut, aber er scheint schon hoch konzentriert zu sein, anders als die Begleiterin die noch am SMS schreiben ist... Auf meinem Bildschirm ercheint das Bild ein wenig flach, ich habe im WS etwas Red Bull spendiert...
In Indien war ich immer noch lost in translation, weiter ging's...
Liebe Grüsse, JY

[workshop] [compare] +

gunbud (34066) 2009-12-10 18:16

Hi Barbara,
The clear blue sky makes and excellent backdrop for the hang gliders to stand out agains.
The yellow & Black colors really work well in this scene.
For me I'll stay on terra firma whenever possible.
Regards, Tom

gneufeld (15890) 2009-12-11 19:27

Hi Barbara,
Nice capture - crisp clarity and color with the low perspective very effect. Nice light and colors. Well done and TFS. Gerald

Cretense (68709) 2009-12-12 3:31

Hello Barbara!

Excellent "action" shot (although the "action" has either finished, or not started yet), great double portrait! The pilot looks huge compared to the "passenger"! Simple but great framing and composition, flawless light management and colours!

Hercules

burraburra (1219) 2009-12-23 1:44

Hi Barbara,
Nice verticle, sharp focus with great colours.
I bet that guy could easly slip into a movie role playing 'The Phantom'. Brave man - not for me.
Good photograph - they would have loved getting it in the email.
Cheers,
Graham.

jwmunro (286) 2010-01-31 8:03

Hello Barbara -

Some of these guys are just plan wacko! This is a nice image and it looks like he is posing for you. My only comment is that it looks like there is a little too much headroom in this scene and would look better without so much sky. Just my 2-cents worth.

Thank you for sharing.

John