Worldview 3 Launch Event Coverage

Last week I got to work at my company’s (DigitalGlobe) Worldview-3 satellite launch event at Vandenberg AFB in California as an Event Photographer. This was my third launch event for them and the most exciting one yet.

This was shot as Nikon D90, 80-200mm, 2x Doubler (effectively 600mm), f/4, ISO 400, 1/160s from about 4 miles away:

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WV3 20140813 1723 (Edit)

One of the VIP events this time was a visit to the Atlas-V Launch Pad on the afternoon before launch…

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WV3 20140812 987



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WV3 20140812 965



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WV3 20140812 801

While I wasn’t shooting for work, I was out shooting for pleasure. The countryside in and around Solvang, Los Olivos, and Santa Ynez is a lot like the foothills below Mariposa where I grew up. And with that beautiful setting sun for lighting, it was spectacular to photograph. Here are a few shots from that area….

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WV3 20140810 010 (Edit)



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WV3 20140811 152



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WV3 20140811 171



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WV3 20140811 189

I was also out looking for Michael Jackson’s old Neverland Ranch entrance that happens to be near Santa Ynez. With the help of DigitalGlobe’s tools and satellite imagery, I was able to locate the entrance on mydigitalglobe.com and send those coordinates to my iPhone which opened it in Maps and led me right to it. What a very solemn and spiritual moment I had, standing at the front of this place, thinking about Michael and his tragic end, but this place must have been a magical retreat for the King of Pop. All the rides, animals and trains are gone now (The Jackson’s sold the place several years ago I believe) but the front is still intact and the new owners have been kind enough to even leave the stones intact where fans have written their goodbyes to Michael. Very touching and surreal for me.

Neverland Ranch Entrance

Neverland Ranch Entrance



Neverland Ranch Entrance

Neverland Ranch Entrance



Neverland Ranch Entrance

Neverland Ranch Entrance



Neverland Ranch Entrance

Neverland Ranch Entrance



Neverland Ranch Entrance

Neverland Ranch Entrance


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