Las Vegas, NV—A provider of professional medium-format cameras, Hasselblad and DJI, which develops civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, announced a special collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The partnership involved medium-format aerial photography. It resulted in high-resolution photographic documentation of the exterior of the Fuentidueña Apse. The 12th-century limestone structure is part of the Met Cloisters.
This collaboration utilized the Hasselblad A6D-100c camera and DJI’s M600 Pro drone to capture photographs for a condition survey of the apse. The structure came to the Met Cloisters from a church in Fuentidueña, Spain, in 1958. This is the first time the Met employed drone technology for this purpose.
Even with the best technology available during the 1990s, earlier surveys required an extensive commitment of time and resources, with photography of each stone, section by section. However, the new collaboration enabled the Met to more efficiently capture higher resolution 100 megapixel images of the exterior elevations for comparison with previous images to assess condition changes.
The images may also help create a 3D model of the apse. This will allow conservators to visualize the varying conditions of the stone in correlation with the building’s surroundings.
Medium-Format Aerial Technology
The Hasselblad A6D-100c camera and DJI M600 Pro UAV combine each company’s technological expertise. Together they create a tool for aerial imaging. The Hasselblad A6D-100c camera boasts a large 53.4mm x 40.0mm sensor that offers detail, color reproduction and tonal range.
The camera attaches to the drone via DJI’s Ronin-MX. The three-axis stabilized gimbal uses motors as well as inertial measurement units to resist high G-forces, maintain stability and hold the horizon.
Moreover, to control camera functionality in flight, pilots use the DJI GO 4 app. The DJI M600 Pro drone is an adaptable six-rotor flight platform. It is equipped with a Lightbridge 2 HD transmission system, a dustproof propulsion system and also six intelligent flight batteries.
