Lynner takes photography to new heights

By Cyrus MoultonItem StaffLYNN – He’s taken shots of all the familiar subjects: sunrises over the water, High Rock Tower, and a neighbor and friends going off to the prom.But after a ride last summer on the Hood Blimp, retired Lynn firefighter Mike Barry is taking his pictures from a different point of view.”I wanted to start looking at the city from up above,” Barry said Sunday. “I love taking pictures, photography, love shooting video, and this was just the next thing – especially after getting out of the blimp,”Sunday at Lynn Beach, Barry demonstrated how he has accomplished photography at this angle, taking out his drone “Norbert” for a fly to photograph the shoreline (and onlookers) below.”I’ve been photographing as a hobby for many, many years, and I always tried to get up-to-date equipment,” Barry said.Barry named the drone “Norbert” after the dragon Hagrid hatched in Harry Potter, but the drone looks more likely to appear in Star Wars than around Hogwarts. The drone measures just more than a foot across and is basically shaped like an “X” with a small upright propeller at the terminus of each axis. A 14 Megapixel / 1080 pixel digital camera for still photo and video, respectively, hangs below its the origin of its axis. Weighing about three pounds with camera attached and accessories, the unit is controlled by a large remote control using wireless technology.A phone or iPad app provides a real-time video and GPS monitoring and allows one to take photos.Including a wireless extender, the device has an average range of about 500 meters or 1,640 feet, although is capable of traveling 2,296 feet, Barry said. Federal Aviation Administration regulations limit drones used for recreational purposes to 400 feet in height. Before taking off, the unit takes GPS coordinates of its location, to which it will return if it reaches the extent of its range.A charged battery allows the unit to fly for up to 25 minutes in perfect conditions (generally with winds below 12 miles per hour and temperature above freezing. The drone cost about $1,600, Barry said.It is surprisingly receptive and easy to maneuver, but Barry got appreciably more nervous the closer the drone came to the seawall. He also only handed over the controls when the drone was far over the beach.”I told my friend I would let you fly it, and she said I better bring my bathing suit,” Barry joked.Of course, Barry took over after about 30 seconds…after all, he had a lot of practice.Barry said he started his flying with a “Rolling Spider” unit, a little black drone about four-inches across that he brought to the beach for comparison.”As you can see from the dents in the propeller, it took some getting used to.”Barry’s hound dog also wasn’t too fond of a drone buzzing around the house, and used to lie in wait to try and snatch it out of the air.So later this winter, Barry graduated to Norbert; taking him out on sunny days while sitting on his porch in the Highlands.Barry said the drone has so far caused more curiosity than concern among neighbors. He took aerial photos for a neighbor’s son in California who wanted to see the record snowfall. He went up to High Rock Tower and entertained a group of tourists.And now the weather’s getting nicer, he’s looking around the city to photograph unique views of notable landmarks and geologic features.”I have ideas, I have plans,” Barry said. “There are so many things that I want to take, that I want to look at from this angle and that angle.”