This page is a collection of upper Midwest, Western Wisconsin, Minnesota, Minneapolis, St Paul, Stillwater, Mississippi River, St Croix River Valley and other floods flooding content.
Stock Images Video B Roll for Press Media News Producers
We have stock photo still images along with video B roll footage available for licensed use by Press Media News Producers Editors Writers. Our imagery has appeared in various online, on air, and print venues. Contact us at info at picturesoverstillwater.com to let us know what you need, or visit our gallery for self service shopping needs.
NOAA Weather Service St. Croix River Stillwater Forecast
Stillwater Zephyr Theatre Opening Night Mama Mia Outdoors
Need an still photograph digital image or video B Roll for your upcoming bulk mailing (physical or email), website, social media, event, marketing or other content and creative services needs?
In addition to our SmugMug online store, we also have a FineArtAmerica site where you can shop, buy prints, puzzles, wall art and other items.
What if you don’t see what you are looking for? Give a call or send an email telling us what you are looking for as we may have it in our archives, or discuss other options including custom services.
Looking for some new image content for your site, blog, office or other venue?
How about dressing up your business cards and other collateral with images from around Stillwater, Hudson, and greater St. Croix River Valley along with Twin Cities metro area? Click here to visit our online store, or give us a call to discuss your specific needs.
We also can produce custom content to meet your specific requirements. Give us a call or email to discuss your specific needs.
Our images are via FAA Part 107 certified and MnDOT aerial photography and UAV / Drone licensed pilots thus are safe for commercial including non-profit, as well as print or electronic media use.
Pictures Over Stillwater is involved with Community Education presenting UAV UAS Drone classes at various venues around the greater Minneapolis St Paul Twin Cities metro area as well as online. Classes for 2023 have been added for Minneapolis in March and Richfield/Bloomington in June. Click on the following to learn more as well as links for registrations, times and locations.
Got a Drone for Christmas or know somebody who did? Did you or somebody you known get a drone for Christmas or as another gift? Here’s a link to a great information video from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about knowing what to do before you fly your new drone. Step one is registering it, then knowing the rules of the road and airspace among other tips.
FAA Holiday Drone Messaging, Know Before You Fly
Pictures Over Stillwater Back To School Fall 2020 Drones For Non Dummies Community Education Classes
Pictures Over Stillwater Back To School Fall 2020 schedule includes additional school districts, times, online and in-person, as well as new classes along with updated content. In addition to Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education, earlier this year Pictures Over Stillwater added Anoka Hennepin Community Education to our schedule.
For fall 2020 we are excited to welcome additional districts including St Anthony and St Louis Park Minnesota community education to our schedule. Besides additional districts, Pictures Over Stillwater is also adding a new FAA Part 107 Commercial operator test prep class to the schedule as part of Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education.
In addition, existing class content has also been updated to reflect new and emerging drone regulations for recreational and commercial drone operators among other topics. Note that Stillwater Area Public Schools community education are currently planned for in-person and may be subject to change or onclude online. All other Pictures Over Stillwater fall 2020 classes will be held online.
In-person Stillwater Area Public Schools fall 2020 classes
Drones – Recreational Use for Beginners (click here to register) Tuesday, September 29, 2020 – 6:00 to 8:00PM
Note: This is an in person class, may change to online Stillwater Area High School : PAC – G115 (Health)
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) “drones” are growing in popularity and capabilities. Drones are used by recreational hobbyists, commercial, non-profit, government, and public safety agencies. If you or somebody you know have a drone, want one or need to learn more about them, this course is for you. You will learn about basic drone safety, rules of the road and air, registration, certification, license, drone types, when, how and where to fly (or avoid). Bring your drone as a guest to participate in the discussions. Students ages 12-17 are welcome to attend with an adult. Don’t be a dummy, learn to fly drones safely.
Drones – Beyond the Basics (click here to register) Tuesday, October 6, 2020 – 6:00 to 8:00PM
Note: This is an in person class, may change to online Stillwater Area High School : PAC – G115 (Health)
This course moves beyond the basics looking at drone decision making, flight planning, how to prepare for your FAA Part 107 among other certifications. Also covered are basic tools, simulators, apps, cameras, commercial considerations, new and emerging regulations, insurance, practical tips, techniques, trends to be aware of. Weather permitting drone demonstration flights may be held. Students ages 12-17 are welcome to attend with an adult. Don’t be a dummy, learn to fly drones safely.
Drone Aerial Photography and Video (click here to register) Tuesday, October 13, 2020 – 6:00 to 8:00PM
Note: This is an in person class, may change to online Stillwater Area High School : PAC – G115 (Health)
This course is for those who want to learn more about drone-based aerial photography and video (recreational and commercial). Topics covered include rules of the road for aerial photography and video, license and registration, where to fly (and not fly), flight planning and weather, autonomous and manual modes, equipment, hardware, software and other tools. Additional topics include what type of drone and camera equipment are best, as well as accessories and post processing tools. Students aged 12-17 may attend with an adult. Weather permitting a demonstration flight will be flown. Prerequisites: Drones Beyond the Basics or related experience.
Drones – FAA Part 107 Commercial Operator Prep (click here to register)
Monday, October 12, 2020 – 6:00 to 8:00PM
Note: This is an in person class, may change to online Stillwater Area High School : PAC – G113
This class provides insight and preparation tips for those planning on taking the FAA Part 107 Commercial UAS / UAV / Drone Operator certification test for the first time, or taking the two-year renewal. This is also a good for those who want to learn more advanced drone topics. Class will discuss what is in the test, along with tips on how to study, practice and prepare. Topics include rules, safety, operations, airspace, charts and weather considerations. It is strongly encouraged that students have the ASA Remote Pilot 2020 Test Prep book to follow along during class.
Prerequisites include either Drones Beyond the Basics course or hands on drone operation experience beyond the basics. Part 107 test prep book is available via Amazon (here).
Pictures Over Stillwater Online courses for fall 2020
Oct 10, 2020 Sat 10AM – 1PM – Drone Recreational Use for Beginners (Part I)
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) “drones” are growing in popularity and capabilities. Drones are used by recreational hobbyists, commercial, non-profit, government, and public safety agencies. If you or somebody you know have a drone, want one or need to learn more about them, this course is for you. You will learn about basic drone safety, rules of the road and air, registration, certification, license, drone types, when, how and where to fly (or avoid). Bring your drone as a guest to participate in the discussions. Students ages 12-17 are welcome to attend with an adult.bb
Oct 24, 2020 Sat 10AM – 1PM – Drone Recreational Use (Part II – Beyond basics)
This course moves beyond the basics looking at drone decision making, flight planning, how to prepare for your FAA Part 107 among other certifications. Also covered are basic tools, simulators, apps, cameras, commercial considerations, new and emerging regulations, insurance, practical tips, techniques, trends to be aware of. Weather permitting drone demonstration flights may be held. Students ages 12-17 are welcome to attend with an adult. Don’t be a dummy, learn to fly drones safely.
Congratulations Stillwater Area High School Class of 2020
Learning Links and Resources
The following are some additional resources for learning more about UAS, UAV aka Drones including where and how to fly, equipment, software, tools and more that are covered in our Drones for Non Dummies classes.
Pictures Over Stillwater Back To School Spring Summer 2020 Drones For Non Dummies Community Education Classes are being presented online during the month of May.
Drones – Recreational Use for Beginners (online via Zoom) Saturday 10AM-1PM October 10th and 24th. Watch for registration information soon.
Watch for upcoming updates on possible future summer online classes, as well as fall 2020 class options.
Join Greg Schulz, FAA Part 107 (with daylight waiver) and MnDOT Aeronautics licensed UAV / Drone operator and aerial photographer to learn more about Drones in these community education classes.
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) “drones” are growing in popularity and capabilities. Drones are used by recreational hobbyist, commercial, non-profit, government, and public safety agencies. In addition to more options for drones to meet different budgets, there are also new rules and regulations that apply to recreational hobbyist as well as commercial use. If you or somebody you know have a drone, want one or need to learn more about them, these course are for you (or them).
Summer 2020 School Year Community Education Courses
For the summer 2020 school year, the following Community Education courses are being offered.
Drones for Non Dummies
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) “drones” are growing in popularity and capabilities. Drones are used by recreational hobbyist, commercial, non-profit, government, and public safety agencies. If you or somebody you know have a drone, want one or need to learn more about them, this course is for you. You will learn about basic drone safety, rules of the road and air, registration, certification, license, drone types, when, how and where to fly (or avoid). Bring your drone as a guest to participate in the discussions. Students ages 12-17 are welcome to attend with an adult. Don’t be a dummy, learn to fly drones safely.
Stillwater (On-line), Tuesday May 19, 2020, 6-8PM, Register here
Drones for Non Dummies – Beyond the basics
This course moves beyond the basics looking at drone decision making, flight planning, how to prepare for your FAA Part 107 among other certifications. Also covered are basic tools, simulators, apps, cameras, commercial considerations, new and emerging regulations, insurance, practical tips, techniques, trends to be aware of. Weather permitting drone demonstration flights may be held. Students ages 12-17 are welcome to attend with an adult. Don’t be a dummy, learn to fly drones safely.
Stillwater (Online), Tuesday May 26, 2020, 6-8PM, Register here
Pony Stadium Drones for Non-Dummies Demo Flight
Drone Aerial Photography and Video
This course is for those who want to learn more about drone based aerial photography and video (recreational and commercial). Topics covered include rules of the road for aerial photography and video, license and registration, where to fly (and not fly), flight planning and weather, autonomous and manual modes, equipment, hardware, software and other tools. Additional topics include what type of drone and camera equipment are best, as well as, accessories and post processing tools. Students aged 12-17 may attend with an adult. Weather permitting a demonstration flight will be flown. Prerequisites: Drones for Non-Dummies: Beyond the Basics or related experience.
In addition to our SmugMug online store, we also have a FineArtAmerica site where you can shop, buy prints, puzzles, wall art and other items.
When in downtown Stillwater, visit our partner Smith + Trade Mercantile where you can buy Pictures Over Stillwater aerial photography postcards among other items.
Proud Member Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Dynamic Fall Weather St. Croix River Inversion Fog Dragon Breath. One of the things I enjoy about living in the Minneapolis St. Paul metropolitan area is the changing weather and seasons, if you don’t like it, wait and will change. That has been the scenario past week or so here the Stillwater St. Croix River valley eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin areas. So far in the past week, we have seen highs near 70 lows of freezing frost, clear and windy to wall clouds and tornadoes. We have also seen partly cloudy with calm windows high humidity between rains including inversion fog layers on the St. Croix River.
Some drone-based aerial views above and around Stillwater as well as St. Croix River valley over the past week. These include visits to Stillwater Fire Department open house, Art Fair, fall colors, St. Croix Sailing School High School Regatta in Hudson, new St. Croix Crossing bridge and much more.
From a sUAS or drone flying perspective, strong winds are a challenge and even more so are rain. However, in between those conditions, there have been some great opportunities to go upstairs and gets some different and unique perspective views that past week.
For example, check out the following video that I captured the other evening of inversion fog layer over St. Croix River valley shortly before evening severe storms arrived.
Dynamic fall weather resulted in Layer of Inversion Fog (Dragon Breath) Over St. Croix River flows south under Arcola Soo Line High Bridge towards Stillwater MN.
Some Tips, Recommendations and Reminders
Keep the weather in mind, head in the clouds and feet on the ground meaning watch the sky along with weather, while you are safe on the ground. Weather can change quickly, so be ready, plan ahead, watch forecasts and be prepared. When you contact any airports or air traffic control for the areas you will be flying (e.g. for those in Stillwater area, the downtown riverfront is controlled airspace), ask for conditions at their location to compare with your own local. If you are flying an sUAS or drone, keep your eyes on the aircraft, if using first-person view (FPV) goggles have one or more visual observers (VO).
Pay attention to surface winds along with those aloft, look around where you are going to be flying. Look at flag poles which way they are pointing, the direction of clouds, smoke from chimneys and other indicators. Also, note that winds can vary at the surface as well as a few feet to hundreds of feet up in the air. Another consideration is how the windows can be more turbulent around buildings, bluffs, hills and other structures, something to keep in mind. Note that while your drone may have automation and is fine once up in the air (watch out for fly-away during high winds), the landing may be a challenge. Likewise, not if, rather what happens when your software based automation AI enabled drone stops working and you need to land manually? How will you avoid a crash? The answer is being prepared.
Something I have noticed is that changing weather, the birds can be an indicator of when to land or get out-of-the-way if you are flying FPV mode with no VO, how will you see the birds behind or on your sides? Likewise, keep the aircraft in visual line of sight (e.g. don’t fly beyond where you can see it) so that you can recall quickly before developing weather has an impact. Also if you are using filters, adjust accordingly for example if cloudy try an ND4. Have fun, however, be prepared, be safe.
