Eric Crossan

An Amish father and son and there dog work the fields west of Dover DE. Cut by hand the corn shocked and collected for feed during the winter

Amish Farmers near Dover DE

After taking off on an aerial assignment last week the helicopter was over the Odessa National golf course before I knew it(it’s only 1/2 mile from Our Studio.  I saw a view interesting views and captured them while flying over.

Odessa National Golf Course Aerial photograph

With temps. in the 70’s and a clear sky all day my guess was we were going to have a killer sunset.  I decided to pack my new(used) 100-400 Canon zoom lens up and give it a workout at Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge

Reflecting on a beautiful autumn day

Canada Geese head to feed against a fiery autumn sky

near Smyrna,DE.  I didn’t arrive until 4:30 and was one of probably 25 others there to experience and photograph the sometimes thousands of ducks and geese that stop to take refuge at the refuge.  By 5pm the action was starting and the sun was going down. By 5:15 it was almost dark but the colors in the sky were awesome as the birds moved about. Then it was dark and the mosquitoes were tearing me up. So it was time to head home.

The first time I traveled out to Point Udall from our USVI   St Croix rental  condo the Seabreeze it was a bright,hot day. Upon arriving at the high wind swept point I saw a hugh storm brewing in the Caribbean out toward the British Virgin Islands. As a photographer in the US Virgin Islands I grabbed my Canon 5D Mark II and started shooting the developing scene. Then I stopped and slowly turned around 360 degrees and what a view.Of course it changes with each passing hour and I can;t wait to get back for a sunrise. This image was created from 2 separate images stitched together to make one.You can see more St Croix images at  www.photograpstcroix.com

There are some who think making an  is as simple as sticking a camera out the window of a plane and you will get great results.  Far from the truth. First to get  the best quality in many situations the use of a helicopter is a must. Yes they are more expensive to charter but worth every cent. Second , shooting through the glass is a terrible mistake.  One should take the door off or if in the winter ask for a photo door  which is the second best cenerio. Knowing the altitude ,light direction and lens selection also contribute to the final result. Once you download your and process your RAW files how they are handled and worked on will also determine your final results.  Take for example this image.  It was actually 2 images stitched together to make one. At Eric Crossan Studios aerial photography has been a specialty for many years and we continue to search for ways to make more interesting images everyday

The Middletown DE area chamber of commerce had called to ask if I would make a few candid photographs at there  annual fall luncheon at the MOT Birch Senior center today. I was available and said I would be glad to. After making a few images of  attendee’s and of the events speaker , Wilmington University Pres. Dr Jack Varsalona, I sat back down and waited for the next presentation. When the special recognition award was announced , I heard my name and for a moment did not know what to think. The chamber was recognizing me for my 30 plus years of photography in the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend area and more recently to the chamber. Totally surprised I accepted the award from chamber Treasurer Ron Vascik and sputtered a few words of thanks. What a nice honor to be rewarded for something you love to do and for working with people you love to be around.

A special  thank you to Michael and Kerri for allowing me to make there official engagement portraits on the beautiful Island of St Croix in the US Virgin Islands.  Even after waiting for the sun to set the temp. was a warm 88 degrees they both held up great.  We started at the  historic 1750’s Rum factory ruins at the former  Butler Bay Plantation and ended up at Sprat Hall Beach, home of  the Sunset Grill, where we  completed the photo shoot as the sun disappeared into the Caribbean. St Croix offers a great mix of historic properties and white sand beaches lining the warm  Caribbean waters in which to stage photography sessions and weddings. Come down and check us out…. Mon….

There is something special about October sunsets and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  When you combine the 2 and a great couple and a photographer(Eric Crossan) that loves to make photographs, here’s what you get. Some stunning images that were already being talked about before the wedding was over.  The Kitty Knight House in Georgetown,Maryland on the Sassafras River was the setting, just up the hill from the Granary another well known wedding location. Kaitlin and Bobbie had watched cloudy skies all day and then just before the ceremony some sun came out and by sunset the clouds added a dramatic backdrop for their photographs

With only a month to go news reports say that the University of Delaware is the lone bidder for the former Chrysler assembly plant / site which site across South College Ave. from the Univ.’s sports complex  in Newark,DE. It will be interesting to see if the UD can snag the site  and what will become of it in years to come.  I made this aerial view to show the plants proximity to the UD complex.

Liz Ernst and Matt Kelly found a small piece of paradise for their wedding and reception in the Farm House , located just off the Kirkwood Highway  between Newark and Wilmington.  For weddings up to 150 people this site offers a variety of outdoor backdrops for the ceremony and  photographs and a nice interior space for the reception .  For this funky gazebo photograph I exposed with flash and zoomed over a 2 second exposure to achieve the look.