Surfs up, a little preview of what I plan to post next!

Surfing tremendously cool and this guy is ripping it up all time!

More to come!

What A Week It's Been

Hi There and welcome to my blog.

The events of the last week has served as a reminder to me as to how lucky I am to have the life I am living. My heart goes out to all those people who have had the great misfortune of being in Japan when that massive earthquake struck. The images of the angry ocean which swept through the coastal cities as a tsunami are nothing short of horrifying. As each day goes by it appears that the situation is only going to get worse. I hope, as so many no doubt do , that the people of Japan will gather the strength to rise up from the devastation that has so profoundly changed their beloved country.

I have been working hard this week, so much flying to be done and so many images captured. The weather has been outstanding, mind you it tends to be hazy here as result of the lack of rain. Even with the haze though I have been able to get some great shots to post. Some , I hope you will agree, are spectacular! This place is truly a photographers dream, especially with the access I have!

As we round the island of Male' we often see the jets going to position on the runway. This British Airways aircraft was just about to turn around and take off runway 36. I hope everyone aboard enjoyed there stay. See you next time!

Just a short distance from the threshold of the runway is out float base. The blue and yellow aircraft are operated by TMA. The good old red planes in the back Maldivian Air Taxi , the company I work for.
I just love my new telephoto lens!

Here is Captain Ron taxiing by my position on his way to the dock.

Siyan, Ron's hard working cabin attendant, is at the ready on the float.Just a few moments after I snapped this one Captain Ron swung the Twin Otter around to have Siyan tie the heel of the float to the dock.

One after another the planes return to Male' for the next trip. Chris Tuttle guiding this one in with his soon to be Captain, Hassan, in the right seat. Now for those of you not familiar right and left are always considered as if you were sitting in them airplane looking forward.

Not to be outdone Captain Rob puts her on the dock as well! If you are curious to see how this is done check out a video I took some years ago.
Video Clip

I think some of the hardest working guys at MAT are the baggage loaders. Here is a picture of my friend Steven waiting patiently for Rons passengers deplane so he can load up the airplane and get it on its way again!

Love this one. I took this one while sitting on the float of the aircraft I was flying.The Chief pilot Yoosuf and his copilot Hishan are just about to touch down at Palm Beach.

On the way back we were able to team up a little and I was able to get this one. Perhaps my favorite of this post. Only a privileged few can get a shot like this and I am so pleased to have had the chance!


Nice shot overhead a resort in the North Ari Atoll. The island resort called Madoogali.

As we flew over head of the laggon just west of Madoogali I got the camera out to get this unique view of one of our planes on a floating platform transferring passengers to the Madoogali dhoni. Because the landing conditions outside of the lagoon are not suitable for landing most of the time
we do the transfer in lagoon and Dhoni takes them the rest of the way.


I know I have published photo's like this one before but as I have said so many times I love the way these lagoons along the eastern edge of the Ari Atoll!

Now how inviting is this water! Kanuhura, in the Lhaviyani Atoll.

My Twin Otter of the day tied to the dock at Kanuhura for an hour.

As I said I love my new lens! How cool is this , shot from 500 feet above just south of the resort of Velidhu in the North Ari Atoll. My copilot, nicknamed Beybe which means brother in the local language, did a fine job getting me a good look at the Mantas. In fact he first introduced me to this particular location 3 years ago. It seems there are always huge Mantas in this lagoon. Thanks brother!

As I close out this weeks post I leave you with a sunset at Grand Centara Maldives in the South Ari Atoll.

This was my first time to spend the night here. It was a lovely, if only short, stay. The staff were so nice to us and i look forward to the next over night visit.

Well thanks for stopping by my blog. I hoped you have enjoyed the images I presented here. If you like please comment. If you see me walking around Male' feel free to stop and say hello!

Till the next post ciao for now!

Rob

One of the barefoot pilots!

Welcome Back

Well I am back in the Maldives camera in hand, keen to seek out new and stimulating images to share with everyone who follows my blog.

My latest project, the book "From the pages of Barefootpilot.blogspot.com" has given me a whole new avenue to distribute my collection go photographs. I have to say I am very pleased with the response I have had and I thank you all for your kind comments!

In fact it seems that my little book as drawn the attention of an up and coming Travel Journal based here in the Maldives. As I understand it they are very close to launching it live to the web so I will be sure to post a link once I have it. In the meantime I must tell you I had one of the reporters contact me to discuss my blog and my book. Wow, so cool! So as luck would have it I was able sit down yesterday with Donna Richardson for a lunch and pool side chat! So much fun to be connecting and networking! I can't wait to share the article here!

Life is a grand adventure and I feel so lucky to have this ongoing adventure as result of my aviation background along with passion for photography. I thank you all for your warm wishes and comments keep them coming!

Well on to some pictures! I had a couple of days at work and was able to get these.....

8QMAH taxiing in at Palm Beach just as the sun sets.

After catching that image of MAH I still had just enough time to get this one as well. Sun going down, guest's basking in the warm glow bet you wish you were here!

The runway back in Male' 36/18 of course this kind of landing area requires shoes, no thanks! : )

I love these opportunities along with a Co-Pilot who knows how to get me the best angle! Thanks Mauroof!

As you get of the Jetty at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru you are greeted with a path lined with majestic Palm trees.


I like to think I have keen sense for adventure but as I was taking this picture I couldn't help thinking that this ship crossing the Indian Ocean is a little more adventure than I would appreciate!

This is more like it! Emirate's 777 taxiing to position on RWY 36 in Male'. In fact this is the flight number that will take me home at the end of this tour!


Well that it for now. I know I usually get a few more pictures up and I hope that will be the case next week!

If you are a coming to the Maldives and are traveling on MAT keep an eye out on the dock for me! I always enjoy meeting new people especially ones who have seen the blog!

All the best....

Rob
one of the many barefoot pilots!!!

Hey Maldives I am on my way soon!

Wow!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased or has made such nice comments about my book!

As the title of this post suggests I am on my way back to the Maldives. I can't wait to get back and see my friends and to fly that Twin Otter! Oh yeah and to take more pictures!

Sorry this is such a short post but I promise to get some new pics up here soon along with some musings about my adventures as a photographer who happens to be a seaplane pilot or is it a seaplane pilot who happens to be a photographer. That line is a little blurry! So happy to be both!

All time!

Rob
One of the many barefootpilots!