Thomas Heaton

ecoleman said:
I Never mentioned keeping clear of people or buildings. I only referred to height and that is 400ft
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You asked "What is the pilots responsibility?" ... which I naturally took to mean an aircraft pilot (rather than a drone operator).

Why is it that people ask for info and then pick a fight? Must just be the internet ....
 
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Patrick Dixon said:
You asked "What is the pilots responsibility?" ... which I naturally took to mean an aircraft pilot (rather than a drone operator).

Why is it that people ask for info and then pick a fight? Must just be the internet ....
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Hang on a minute. I said

As you can legally fly a drone up to 400ft we could also ask, who was actually in the way of who?
What is the pilots responsibility?
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What does that question have to do with the proximity to buildings or people. This was a question of height and who is in the way of who.

Why is it that people misread a post and then post some drivel in reply, then winge when it’s pointed out that their post is off point?
 
Let's stop talking about drones and keep it on topic because half the info being spoke about drone regulations is largely incorrect.
 
Bythesea said:
He probably drinks coffee as well, What sort do you think he likes? :rolleyes:
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Actually I think most frequently refers to a 'cuppa' or 'brew' or tea..... [emoji12]
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Thomas Heaton uses drones, so it is relevant.
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Thomas Heaton does many things but we don't talk about them. Him using a drone might be relevant but the tangents from others providing incorrect information about drone piloting in a general context isn't anything to do with Heaton. It's ruining the thread for others so those arguing in here might want to be more considerate to others who actually might want to talk about proper stuff to do with Heaton.
 
ecoleman said:
Hang on a minute. I said

"As you can legally fly a drone up to 400ft we could also ask, who was actually in the way of who?
What is the pilots responsibility?"

What does that question have to do with the proximity to buildings or people.
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You said "What is the pilots responsibility?" As a PPL(H) I told you. There is no absolute minimum height.

Anyway, I won't be sharing with you again. If you want to know, I suggest you google.
 
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Patrick Dixon said:
You said "What is the pilots responsibility?" As a PPL(H) I told you. It's not just about height.

Anyway, I won't be sharing with you again. If you want to know, I suggest you google.
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You are correct, I that was my question and yes I was referring to the pilot of the aircraft and not the drone operator.
So what does your reply have to do with my perfectly legitimate question? Your reply below just in case you forgot.

You are supposed to keep 500ft clear of (not 500ft above) buildings and people, and more over built-up areas. The military have their own rules though, and their own radio frequencies.
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Just to clarify in case you have not bothered to read all the posts prior to mine and have not put my question into context.

A drone operator can legally fly a drone up to 400ft. We were discussing aircraft that fly lower than 400ft and who would be in the way of who if that were the case.

Now forget about people and buildings because this is a Thomas Heaton thread so we are more than likely in the middle of nowhere out in the countryside okay? There are NO buildings.
 
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I think it's Tetley Tea.
 
I wonder if anyone at VW has realised the lost marketing opportunity at not giving (or financially assisting) Thomas to drive a nice T5 or T6 rather than the Transit he purchased.

PS I’m not saying they are better or worse as I currently don’t own any but I am currently researching and at some point will be in the market for a vehicle to convert.
 
They certainly have. I called them saying I was Thomas Heaton if they would sponsor a vehicle. They did and now I have a right hand drive VW California OCEAN, British registered that I can't drive in Denmark  :sulk::crying::ROFLMAO::exit:
 
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tonybassplayer said:
I wonder if anyone at VW has realised the lost marketing opportunity at not giving (or financially assisting) Thomas to drive a nice T5 or T6 rather than the Transit he purchased.

PS I’m not saying they are better or worse as I currently don’t own any but I am currently researching and at some point will be in the market for a vehicle to convert.
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I think the VW marketing machine is powerful enough without Mr Heaton promoting it.

Toyota UK should however give me a new Lexus RCF so I can chase reflections faster than I do in my current car.
 
tonybassplayer said:
I wonder if anyone at VW has realised the lost marketing opportunity at not giving (or financially assisting) Thomas to drive a nice T5 or T6 rather than the Transit he purchased.

PS I’m not saying they are better or worse as I currently don’t own any but I am currently researching and at some point will be in the market for a vehicle to convert.
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They did give him one.....a loan of one.....which he pimped out in one of his videos around Scotland. They used and abused him and got the marketing they needed from him for little cost to them. In the grand scheme of things, giving him one probably wouldn't be worth the £50,000+ compared to the equivalent money spent in a proper campaign as he doesn't have that many followers.
 
tonybassplayer said:
I wonder if anyone at VW has realised the lost marketing opportunity at not giving (or financially assisting) Thomas to drive a nice T5 or T6 rather than the Transit he purchased.

PS I’m not saying they are better or worse as I currently don’t own any but I am currently researching and at some point will be in the market for a vehicle to convert.
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I had the same dilemma and went for the VW, mainly because of the much better resale value. I like the Transit Custom but having owned two Transits previously I vowed never again. They both had significant issues. Hopefully the Custom is better.
 
YoshiK1 said:
They did give him one.....a loan of one.....which he pimped out in one of his videos around Scotland. They used and abused him and got the marketing they needed from him for little cost to them. In the grand scheme of things, giving him one probably wouldn't be worth the £50,000+ compared to the equivalent money spent in a proper campaign as he doesn't have that many followers.
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£50k for a 4 clyinder van :O

I don't see that as VFM
 
Yes, I saw the one he had on loan but I don’t think think he would have wanted a full blown factory California at £50k plus.

I may be wrong but I am pretty sure if they had made an effort to “even up” the difference between the transit he bought and a T5/6 he may have gone for the VW

Whilst I acknowledge the VW marketing machine is huge, product placement at very specific target audiences is a very cost effective route to both sales and “brand enhancement” due to what they call the “halo” effect (the same reason they build high performance versions of Polo’s, Golfs etc)
 
Value For Money
 
SFTPhotography said:
Exactly. £50k buys a newish Porsche 911, really nice X5, newish Range Rover, nice estate car which are perfectly ok to sleep in the back of and the 911 you can sleep in the front with the seat reclined.
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How small are you? I;'m 6'3" and can't sleep in most cars haha! VW at 50k+ is VFM if it's your home. It's a social status more than anything. Although I'd love one as I could use it as an everyday car, I would prefer a proper motorhome for that cost.
 
I’m thinking something in the £8 to £12k range and using it as my main car too.
 
YoshiK1 said:
How small are you? I;'m 6'3" and can't sleep in most cars haha! VW at 50k+ is VFM if it's your home. It's a social status more than anything. Although I'd love one as I could use it as an everyday car, I would prefer a proper motorhome for that cost.
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I am 5ft11/6ft ish and sleep comfortable in the passanger seat of my Lexus GS (as I did in my prior E class Mercedes and Volvo S80). I am sure as long as the seat can recline far, you can sleep comofrtably. I have 9.5 duck down dovuet and pillow. I slept so well in it I nearly missed a sunrise :(

As an everyday car I'd find it too cumbersome to drive and unrefined.
 
We lease our cars and have decided that when my lease runs out in a couple of years I'm not going to get another car. Instead we've decided to buy a Van (probably converted already) and use my wife's car for day to day trips. I work from home and to be honest my £300/month car sits in the driveway 90% of the time.

As I run a home business, It's difficult to get away for holidays so a Van would at least allow us to go further afield over a weekend and even further over a bank holiday weekend. We did get away a couple of years ago to Scotland for Christmas but a small shed on the side of a Loch cost us £500 for a week and we had to buy a blow up mattress as the bed was so s***.

Definitely can't stump up £50k+ on a new VW but hopefully will get something fairly decent for around £16k'ish
 
I bought a 1998 VW T4 van and have built a bed in the back myself. It's a long L shaped bench seat that goes along the side and behind the bulk head, which is great for days out. Then at night I have two panels which fit in the gap on the other side and turn the L shape into a full sized double bed. The bed is made from 4 inch thick memory foam and is honestly as comfy as my bed at home once once you've got a couple of decent pillows and a duvet. It's really great for quick weekends away or overnight photography trips. I didn't pout a sink, fridge or cooker in there as I'm never usually away more than a couple of days so a small camp cooker and cool box does me fine.

Never going to be as refined or as nice as a much newer van that's been professionally converted, but it's like a tenth of the price and I'm happy!
 
SFTPhotography said:
I don't see that as VFM
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It's all relative.

If you were using it all the time then having a vehicle that was comfortable and offered decent sleeping arrangements and a decent work area has value. (If it can be treated as a business asset then even better!)

But how many people does that apply to? If I had one it might get used properly for 20 nights a year max -n and even then not taht many every year. Realistically there is no way even at half the price that it would be justifiable. Hotels and B&Bs or occasioanlly hiring a motorhome work out as cheaper options that a depreciating underutlised asset. The only way these things work non-professionally is if you have the time (retired?) or you share it with family who increase the overall utilisation level with their own trips.
 
I'm a bit surprised that both tours for Patagonia in 2019 sold out in 15 minutes. I was just curious to see what kind of itinerary and prices were like. I'm a bit surprised because of the price, they say it's competitively priced which I'm sure it is but that's a lot of money to spend on a photography tour.

Is it not easy enough to just book a flight to Patagonia and trek alone taking photos? Or is not as simple as that?
 
Bebop said:
Presumably they have done the hard work of finding suitable places to photograph.
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Plus you'd be getting the guidance and experience of Brendan van Son and Greg Snell as well as Thomas Heaton.

GC
 
smr said:
Is it not easy enough to just book a flight to Patagonia and trek alone taking photos? Or is not as simple as that?
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I reckon you could DIY it in the same way you can DIY the Alps/Dolomites etc. Drive, explore, shoot.

Book a flight, rental car, head to the national parks and work it as you go and you'd have the joy of experiencing it on your own rather than with a group of strangers. A workshop client of mine went on one of the "big name" Patagonian tours - loved the landscape but didn't rate the tuition or guidance that much but he still liked it. He said my Glencoe sessions were better from a tutition PoV. Torres del Paine seems the popular to go spot with a few lakes and rivers looking to Mount Fitzroy and I reckon with a pair of boots, car and backpack you'll manage fine on your own.

Said client is off on a Dolomites workshop despite me sending him detailed list of locations, how to get there etc. He just wants to be shown and guided into place despite being capable of using a camera and getting places. I reckon it is more a confidence thing - and people know where they want to go and see, but don't have the confidence to do it themselves.
 
SFTPhotography said:
Said client is off on a Dolomites workshop despite me sending him detailed list of locations, how to get there etc. He just wants to be shown and guided into place despite being capable of using a camera and getting places. I reckon it is more a confidence thing - and people know where they want to go and see, but don't have the confidence to do it themselves.
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There is also the camaraderie on a group trip. It’s social.
 
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