June 30 - July 6, 2008

As the price of oil rises, the demand for alternative fuels also rises. Ethanol, made from corn and other types of grain, is one such renewable energy source. As more and more ethanol plants are built around the country, trains like the one visible in this photo may become more common. At least 53 cars are being loaded at this grain elevator in Metamora, Ohio, just west of Toledo.

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June 23-29, 2008

The Northern Ohio Railway Museum - or "NORM" as it is known - is located near Chippewa Lake, OH, and the intersection of Interstates 71 and 76 in Medina County. This non-profit organization specializes in restoring streetcars and other railway equipment from the trolley era. If you are looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon, the friendly and knowledgeable staff would be happy to give you a guided tour of the museum. Admission to the museum is free, but as with any not for profit company, donations of any size are always welcome!

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June 16-22, 2008

This photo shows one new bridge and one bridge under construction. This is Interstate 80, near the intersection of I-80 and I-76 (the Ohio Turnpike) west of Youngstown, Ohio. The existing bridge was completed last fall and currently serves both directions of traffic. It will become eastbound only when the new bridge is done. (This area was also the subject of a Stock Photo of the Week last fall.)

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June 9-15, 2008

These unusual patterns really catch the eye when flying. Farmers often plant crops in alternating bands like these when the fields are not nice and flat. The patterns follow the contour of the ground. Strip farming, as it is known, is one of many simple and environmentally friendly techniques used by farmers. By alternating seasonal crops in bands, the entire field is never bare so water can not run freely down the slopes. This helps stop erosion of the valuable and fertile top soil.

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June 2-8, 2008

Sometimes, a verbal description just doesn't cut it. Aerial photos quickly and effectively communicate the location, the relative size, the nearby amenities the accessibility, and many more selling points of a property for sale or lease. When marketing a warehouse or industrial property, savvy real estate professionals know that an aerial photo is worth much more than a thousand words. This particular industrial park is located just north of Rickenbacker International Airport in Groveport, Ohio. Click here to see more views on an interactive map.

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May 26 - June 1, 2008

The Flats in downtown Cleveland is undergoing some changes. New environmentally friendly development work has started here - the Flats East Bank will be an up-scale, mixed use development close to downtown. Be sure to check out GreenCityBlueLake's planning and development pages for more information and an architect's illustration of the area.

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May 19-25, 2008

This photo shows about half of the University Circle community in Cleveland. In the center of the photo is the Cleveland Art Museum. Towards the upper right is the Cleveland Botanical Garden and to the lower right is Severance Hall (home of the Cleveland Orchestra). If you can stand just one more link, here is one to an interactive map based on the geocoded information embedded into the photo.

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May 12-18, 2008

Aerial photographs can be invaluable tools in the courtroom. This is a very low resolution image and does not show the true amount of detail that we are capable of capturing - the full size image clearly shows manhole covers, pavement markings, and even the pavement condition. This particular image was used as the background for an animation depicting a serious (but non-fatal) accident. While not graphic, the movie is realistic enough to be a bit unsettling - click here under advisement if you wish to view the animation. If you would like more information on the company that created the animation, please contact us.

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May 5-11, 2008

Most people would say that spring is in the air. From our perspective, it is decidely on the ground! Farmers all around are planting thier crops. The patterns visible in this photo were not created by visiting aliens (as far as we know...), but rather by drainage tile lines burried in the fields. The tile helps the fields dry out quickly in the spring, allowing the farmers to start working the ground earlier. (They also allow water to drain away quickly after those summer downpours...)

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April 28 - May 4, 2008

Here's an aerial view of a quiet neighborhood - if you are lucky enough to move in here, you'll never have to worry about noisy neighbors - guaranteed! A professional aerial photo of your residential property is something that will be talked about and admired for years by friends and family (and even your neighbors - if applicable!!)

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April 21-27, 2008

Ok, the title is cheesey, we know... This photo is of the Big Dipper - an old wooden roller coaster at the abandoned amusement park of Chippewa Lake. This photo was taken in late spring - just before the trees fill out and block the view again for the summer. An interesting write up on (and more photos of...) Chippewa Lake can be found on forgottenoh.com.

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April 14-20, 2008

There has been a lot of news lately about cancellations of flights involving this aircraft - the MD-80 - but we were lucky enough to catch one that is still flying! All joking aside, despite it's recent bad press, the MD-80 has an excellent safety record since first going into service in 1980. The thorough inspections currently being done on these planes may be inconvenient, but they are a necessary safety precaution.

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April 7-13, 2008

Downtown Toledo, Ohio, is located along the Maumee River where it empties into Lake Erie. In this low level aerial photograph taken from a helicopter, we can see the architecturally diverse landscape. The modern Fifth Third Bank building stands in contrast to the classic turn of the century (last century!) Lucas County Courthouse, visible on the left edge of the photo. The newest addition to the skyline is the distinctive Veteran's Glass City Skyway suspension bridge in the background.

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March 31 - April 6, 2008

Because of the calm winds, early morning is often the best time of day for floating above the world in a hot air balloon. This is one of four that we spotted over north eastern Ohio on an early spring day. The trees and grass are still waking up from their winter sleep and the balloons added some nice color to the landscape.

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March 24-30, 2008

Spring is here - and robins aren't the only ones who will be busy building things! Unfortuantely for robins, we can't help them "stay on top" of their projects. However, more and more general contractors, construction managers, project managers, and building owners are discovering that aerial photographs provide a wealth of information. Construction progress photos are just another tool of the trade - a great way to document the progression of work, show who was working where and when, and keep a visual record of what the site conditions were throughout the project.

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March 17-23, 2008

We think you'll agree that this photo feels a little more like baseball season than than last week's shot of Canal Park! Jacobs' Field - er, we mean Progressive Field - is in the foreground of this shot of downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Stadium, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are all visible in the top center of the photo.

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March 10-16, 2008

Hard to believe that baseball season is less than a month away when the stadiums all look like this! This photo shows Canal Park, home of the Akron Aeros minor league team (AA), a day after 12" to 15" of snow pummelled Ohio. The pitcher's mound is a barely visible bump in the snow.

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March 3-9, 2008

This picture looks straight down runway 10R at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. The passenger terminal lies between the two parallel runways as do acres of parking spaces for passengers and rental cars.

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February 25 - March 2, 2008

The top photo shows North Bass Island in Lake Erie in late summer. An airport, a marina, and several farms are about all there is on this quiet island between the United States and Canada. The beautiful greens and blues in this picture are in stark contrast to what the area looks like this time of year...

In this photo, Port Clinton, Ohio, is in the foreground. Across 3 miles of cold and icy Lake Erie, off of the northernmost point of Catawba Island (which is not really an island), lies South Bass Island. At the extreme top of the photo is North Bass Island. Appropriately, in between the two lies Middle Bass Island.

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February 18-24, 2008

This colorful scene is a nice break from the nearly black and white scenery that is common during winter in the midwest. This is an intermodal yard where large ocean containers are transferred from rail cars to specially designed semi-truck trailers (and vice versa) for distribution throughout North America.

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February 11-17, 2008

Norwalk is the county seat of Huron County, Ohio. Because of its prime location near the Ohio Turnpike, U.S. 250, and several other major U.S. and state higways, many trucks pass through here on their way to various locations in the heart of north central Ohio. The Norwalk high school recognizes the importance of the trucking industry and has adopted the Truckers as their mascot.

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February 4-10, 2008

Downtown Columbus is the site of a couple of important construction projects. In the bottom center of this photo, the new Huntington Park baseball stadium is taking shape (just down the road from Nationwide Arena). In the extreme upper right corner, the patch of brown dirt that is visible is where the new Franklin County Courthouse will soon be taking shape.

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January 28 - February 3, 2008

Ski resorts in NE Ohio (and elsewhere!) are having a busy season. Although it is difficult to see in this very low-resolution image of Boston Mills Ski Resort, there are a surprising number of skiers on the various runs for the middle of the day in the middle of the week.

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January 21-27, 2008

Fresh snow on a golf course makes a nice, smooth canvas which allows us to see incredible detail in the shadows of the bare trees. (Using the right camera and lens helps, too!)

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January 14-20, 2008

The Medina Library celebrated with the grand opening of this new building on Saturday, January 12, 2008. The new library sits on the SE corner of Medina's Public Square. Both can be seen in this picture from late last fall.

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January 7-13, 2008

Lakes around Ohio are at unusually low levels thanks to drought conditions. The old route across Berlin Lake, near Alliance, OH, is clearly visible due to the leafless winter trees and the low water level. On the right is State Route 225. Photos such as these may be useful to civil engineers, water conservation district officials, and/or natural resource departments.

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December 31, 2007 - January 6, 2008

We arrived after the explosion that caused this dramatic fire and billowing smoke (thankfully!) but the evidence is clear that it was a powerful one. A crumpled green storage tank can be seen in the upper left corner of the photo across the road and several hundred feet away from where it once stood... Luckily, there were no reports of any injuries.

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December 24-30, 2007

The Ohio State University has begun construction on a new student union. The Ohio Union will face High Street on the east edge of campus. "The Oval" is visible in the upper right of the photo. At the top of The Oval (the west end...) sits the library - which appears to be undergoing some remodeling itself.

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December 17-23, 2007

The wide white snow bands around this lake are due to the low water levels brought on by the drought in the midwest this past summer. There is no vegetation for the snow to "hide" in, making it appear smooth and bright.

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December 10-16, 2007

The boats have been pulled out and the marina has closed for the winter. It's time to think about ice skating and hot chocolate - not water skiing and frozen drinks! Don't worry though, the days are going to start getting longer again soon!

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December 3-9, 2007

Retailers are keeping busy this time of year. Parking lots are full and checkout lines are long. Get in early and often for the best selection and the best sales!

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November 26 - December 2, 2007

The days are getting shorter and the weather is turning cold. Maybe this view of a nice green golf course is in more of your dreams than sugar plums?

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November 19-25, 2007

The long shadows of late fall and a very still river gave us a rare view of this bridge in triplicate.

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November 12-18, 2007

Generally, we don't like to take pictures into the sun, but in this case, it gives the picture a whole bunch of interesting texture. The light bounces off the ripples of a calm Lake Erie and the wake of the freighter "John G Munson" of the Great Lakes Fleet as it passes near South Bass Island to give us the effect.

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November 5-11, 2007

If only you could reserve your parking place now! With the holiday season just around the corner, the parking lots at retail shopping centers and restaurants like these near Pittsburgh are going to be much more full. "Black Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving) is less than 3 weeks away...

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