From way up high
Black Tomato adventures have always been photogenic, but the travel outfitter’s new Drone the World service brings home the ultimate souvenir: vacation photos that put smart-phone pictures to shame.
The roaring lion on safari; a palm tree silhouette at sunset; Egypt’s pyramids in the palm of your hand – vacation photos that capture the action and majesty of the journey have long been the ultimate souvenir. A generation ago, travellers would invite friends over for a slideshow following a big trip. Today, with Facebook and Instagram, amazing travel photos are an instant social currency.
Black Tomato’s Drone the World option enlists a professional drone photographer to join your excursion. The London-based travel outfitter has signed on with a team of talented cinematographers to capture your trip like never before. Launched August 1, the service partners with Star Wars concept artist Tim Browning. Browning will use his experience on blockbusters including the James Bond films to get the cinema-quality aerial shots you can only imagine from the ground. Prices cover the flights, accommodations, travel expenses, and fee for a cameraman like Browning.
A long weekend in Iceland, for example, would cost around US$13,800 (RM60,000), including a drone photographer and one edit. Two weeks in Western Mongolia and the Gobi desert with a drone cameraman would be more than $50,000 (RM203,000), all-inclusive.
The option is available on any Black Tomato trip and begins with a pre-trip consult to review the client’s wishes. Post travel, a featurette video and collection of breath-taking stills will be delivered. “[Drone the World] allows clients to focus on the experience, which is truly special, instead of worrying about getting the right shot,” says company co-founder Tom Marchant. The company has named its top 10 drone destinations, which include the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar; the Jökularson Glacier Lagoon in Iceland; Norway’s Lofoten Archipelago.
