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The DJI Mini SE Drone Has Arrived

Now to begin the learning curve to fly safely and legally – with my TRUST Certificate in hand.

DJI Mini SE Drone Box

So the package arrived mid afternoon on the day before a predicted few inches of snow. Of course, the batteries wouldn’t be charged fully until after dark. LOL

I opened it immediately, checked all the parts, looked at the (basically) useless papers that came with it. I’m glad I had already downloaded the .PDF User Manual file, which is very useful. And, of course, I’ve been watching some training/familiarization videos on Youtube.

Meanwhile – yesterday I did study the online course for Recreational Flyers and received my “TRUST” Certificate so I can fly legally (when it stops snowing).

TRUST Certificate Obverse

And the info on the back of the certificate…

TRUST Certificate Reverse

Transcription of the Certificate Information…

For Recreational Flyers operating under the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft (Title 49 of the united States Code (49 U.S.C) S 44809), this document is evidence that the holder has passed the aeronautical knowledge and safety test as required by 49 U.S.C S 44809 (a)(7).

  • Register your drone if it weights more than 0.55 pounds.
  • Fly only for recreational purposes.
  • Operate in accordance with or within a Community-Based Organizations (CBO’s) safety guidelines
  • Always fly within visual line of sight.
  • Do not interfere and give way to any manned aircraft.
  • Obtain authorization before flying in controlled airspace.
  • Do not fly higher than 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace.

Recreational Flyers must make this certificate available to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or Law Enforcement officials upon request. For more information visit faa.gov/uas.

I studied for the TRUST Certificate with the free course at the Pilot Institute. It was easy to understand and was not difficult at all to pass and obtain the certificate.

PART 107 Certificate

Once I obtain my Part 107 Certificate, which permits the drone pilot certificate holder to use a drone for commercial purposes. I will then be able to use the Drone as a camera platform, enabling me to add a new perspective to my landscape and seascape photography.

Let the Games Begin!

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I Use Zazzle for Calendars

My photographs appear on Calendars, Jigsaw Puzzles, Ornaments, Prints and more at Zazzle.

Yes, people still buy and use calendars and the first day of a new year is an appropriate time to bring this up. Just this morning, New Years Day, I received an email inquiry from a fellow artist at Fine Art America (FAA) inquiring about where I have my calendars produced. There have been quite a few discussions on the FAA Forum about the possibility of offering calendars there. For a number of reasons I doubt that will happen. Below is the gist of my answer…

My 2022 Assateague Pony Calendar Offering

I am certainly willing to share information with fellow artists about calendars. I use Zazzle, another quality POD (Print On Demand company) that make about a gazillion products. I sell calendars, ornaments, jigsaw puzzles, calendars and (yes) even some prints there. I no longer promote the puzzles at Zazzle because I prefer the ones offered at FAA. However, I had started offering puzzles and calendars with Zazzle six years ago and they still sell – a lot. I suppose that is because they have been in their internal search for so long and, because of that, Zazzle actually promotes them with Google ads. The same with the calendars they offer – calendars with my photographs, that is.

Zazzle provides the template but the whole system is not very intuitive – It takes a good while to get used to it. But they also have a very active forum – for info, advice, help, etc. There are a few FAA members also active at Zazzle.

Here is a link to my Assateague Pony Calendar: https://www.zazzle.com/z/301dowpa

Here is a link to the much of what I currently have at Zazzle: https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238675969062853179/stores

Try a search for – Assateague Pony Calendar – on google and see if you can understand why I sell a lot at Zazzle. The wild horses of Assateague Island are quite popular.

Regards,

Bill

BTW – here is the text of the original email inquiry. I actually receive frequent questions similar to this…

Hi Bill,
I read your response to the discussion thread on calendars. Wondering if you would please share the company you used to do this with? And if they supplied a template or if you had to create with a particular software or app, which one?
Thanks & Happy New Year!

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Rebranding and an Art Challenge

Welcoming the New Year with a few changes.

Not really changes – let’s just call it a few adjustments for 2022. The main adjustment is the “rebranding” of my vanity domain name, USPictures.com. For the last few years I have simply pointed that domain to my Fine Art America/Pixels Premium Gallery at https://bill.pixels.com. I have decided to develop the U.S. Pictures domain as a unique website where my current and future art buyers will have more choices.

US Pictures Business Card Preview

Now for the 2022 Art Challenge. Lofty goal but will it be reality?

The goal is to create and post a new article EVERY DAY for the entirety of 2022 on one of my photography related sites (blogs or what ever moniker you choose). I had participated in several create-a-new-piece-of-art-per day (for a given number of days) challenges in the Fine Art America Forum throughout 2021. I completed several and felt I was learning and growing with each one. Now, Abbie, the dear forum moderator, set up a major challenge of one new piece of art per day for all of 2022 (with the ability to “skip” 30 days).

I initially thought yeah, I can do that. Even with our hopeful set of road trips this year I should be able to shoot or edit a new photograph and upload it every day. Sure. Yup. Yes.

I realized, however, that if I could do that on my own sites, instead of FineArtAmerica/Pixels, that I would be adding SEO value to my own work and potentially attract more buyers to me and my own art – rather than to the main site(s) at FAA and the art of thousands of other artists. I believe if I focus on this practical solution – it provide more exposure for my photography. (Catch the intended puns there?)

The caveat is that I will allow myself to miss two days per week – but hope to accomplish 300+ new articles, with images, during the course of the year. Please wish me luck and please follow along if/when you get the chance.

Put MY photographs on YOUR walls. Thank you for supporting my art.

My art-photography related sites that will be growing this year are…

The site I plan to grow the most is U.S. Pictures. Much of my photography is a sharing of places to which we have traveled through parts of the USA.