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Eagle Eye Services
1519 Elliot Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
952.882.8570
steves@blimpguy.com
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Q1. What is a Blimpographer?
A1. A Blimpographer is a highly trained aerial photographer with
specialized equipment
capable of taking photos at a previously nearly impossible
altitude of 10 to 200 feet.
Q2. What equipment does a Blimpographer use?
A2. A Blimpographer uses a helium filled blimp, usually 18 to 21 feet
long and 6 to 7 feet
thick. Attached to the blimp is a high tech camera (35mm or
medium format) and control
system.
Q3. Do you give rides in the blimp?
A3. (Blimpographer chuckles) No, the blimp can only lift the weight of
the camera and
tether.
Q4. Oh, so you don’t really go up in the blimp, right?
A5. Correct, the Blimpographer stays safely on the ground and acts
like the anchor for
the blimp.
Q5. COOL! But you don’t go higher than 200 feet?
A5. We can go higher with longer tethers. Some of the larger blimps
can go upwards
of 1000 feet. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO. As a matter of fact, most of
our work is around
100 feet.
Q6. Only 100 feet? Why is that?
A6. That’s the beauty of this system. A Blimpographer can get a lot
closer and have
a better perspective than an airplane or helicopter. No haze or
vibration problems, and
a lot more detail to the photo. Our only concerns are
wind, trees and power lines.
Q7. How can you see where the camera on the blimp is pointed if you’re
on
the ground?
A7. The system controller that fits around our neck has a small TV
screen. The tether
attached to the blimp is actually an electronic cable that
gives us a live video feed from
the camera.
Q8. Are you the only Blimpographer?
A8. No, there are approximately 300 of us around the world using this
unique type of
system and yes, I belong to an International Association of Blimp
Operators.
Q9. Has your Blimp ever gotten away and soared up into the clouds?
A9. Yes, but that’s a story I have to tell in person . . . . . .
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