Probably Not What Leonardo Intended

I read yesterday that a French scientist scanned the Mona Lisa with a multispectral camera and discovered three hidden paintings beneath the surface of the Mona Lisa. Evidently, the real-life Florentine, Lisa Gherardini, is hidden within. It's not uncommon for artists to reuse canvases when works don't turn out just right but for there to be a natural progression from real-life to what may be the world's most well-known painting is noteworthy.

What better time to post my multispectral — or at least multi-camera — photograph of the Mona Lisa? Frankly, it was one of the biggest letdowns in the art world. Not only is she sitting at the end of what feels like a gymnasium but after you fight your way through hundreds of people to see her, she's stanchioned off by 10 feet and hiding behind a thick layer of greenish bullet-proof glass.

This is probably not what Leonardo da Vinci intended.

This photograph was captured with a Nikon D90. 

Floating Over Lake Tahoe

So much for keeping Tahoe blue... This boat rental from Zephyr Cove is just floating 10 feet above a crystal clear sandy and emerald-green bottom. Don't let the serenity fool you... fire up that motor and in five minutes you'll be in deep blue water almost five football fields deep. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States and the sixth largest by volume, after each of the Great Lakes.

Canal Boat Under London

Time and space just seem to slow down when you hit the canals of London. Surrounded by the madness that is one of the greatest cities in the world in both size and stature, pop down 30 feet to Regent's canal and you can just float along in peace. The only things to remind you of the city all around you are the tunnels. Floating through a tunnel the length of a football field underneath central London is just surreal — it's like Disney's "It's a Small World" ride redesigned by Banksy (there's an idea for the next Dismaland).

This photograph was captured with a little Canon pocket camera called a Digital Elph.

Parisian Cinquecento

There's something special about seeing a classic Cinquecento on the streets of Europe. Paris isn't quite Italy but I'll take it! 

This photograph was captured with a Nikon D90. 

Delphinus I

Remember that photo of Alligator Lake from Thursday? If you want to go check out Capers Island and Boneyard Beach, give the captain of this boat — the Delphinus — a call. They ship out of the Isle of Palms Marina and do sunset and daytime exploration trips out to Capers Island every day. 

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Bruxelles Absinthe

We made it to Saturday! Celebrate with an Absinthe "cocktail" from The Royal Cocktail Bar!

Buying a Drone for the Holidays? Read this First.

People always ask for my advice on the best drone setup. All needs are not the same but if you are looking for a fantastic aerial camera platform, I've put together a quick guide to help you navigate the options. 

Read about my drone setup here, along with links for best pricing of each component. 

Morning Above the Clouds

This isn't trick photography. This is what the morning looks like on Beech Mountain when the clouds sink into the valley below you. Being on the highest inhabited mountain east of the Rockies has it's privileges as the clouds move out of the way to reveal amazing technicolor sunrises.

This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.

Alligator Lake at Sunset

This lake lies in the heart of Capers Island, which is one of Charleston's barrier islands. The main beach on Capers Island is called Boneyard Beach so it only seems fitting that the lake oasis in the middle of the island is full of alligators and all rivers leading to it look like snakes. This place is straight out of Peter Pan and it's amazing!

This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.

Bruxelles' Tunnel of Trees

When most people think Brussels, they think: "is that somewhere in Europe?" What they don't realize is that Brussels has brought us chocolate, waffles, trappist beer and french fries! 

Brussels is also one of the most design-centric cities in the world. Can you imagine any other city painting the trunks of their trees to match the nearby pathways and walls?

BONUS: Are you thinking about getting a drone this holiday season? If you are, I put together a quick video as part of Edison Nation's "25 Days of 520 Elliot" web special on how to keep it safe and make sure it doesn't enter "Return to China" mode.

You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vevsL4_mgAo