I’ve just finished watching The Troll (directed by Roar Uthaug) on Netflix. Take Jurassic Park and mix it with Godzilla and you have some idea of the format of this wonderful film. Released just a few weeks ago it has already climbed to Number One as Netflix’s most popular non-English film. I can only agree. I am not going to give any of the plot away in this post at all. There are no spoilers. Rather, watching this homage to Norway, her landscape and mythology has prompted me to look back into my extensive Norwegian image library and share some of the locations with you. After nineteen trips to Norway, Covid very quickly put a hold to that, but now I am ready to return – to travel once again through my second home. Here are some Troll memories and locations. Dovre/Hjerken Huus This region is where we first see our friend as he emerges from the tunnel excavations. In summer, this road is an absolute dream to drive – gentle curves across one of the higher plateaus on The E6 between Lillehammer and Trondheim. Gudbrandsdalen As our friend moves south he starts to stomp down the Gudbrandsdalen Valley towards […]
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Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks. After successfully operating drones for the last ten years I am proud to announce I now hold an official Australian commercial RePL Drone Licence. I am also officially endorsed with a sub class <25kg rating (meaning I can fly drones that weigh up to 25kg). I also now hold an AROC (Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate). What does all this mean – essentially I am fully certified to operate commercial drones in Australia and have been approved by the Australian Civil Aviation Authority. This gives me the ability to operate legally within airport zones (with correct approval). My licence is your safeguard. for some of my drone images please see Explore Ian Brodie Photo. The RePL is not just a piece of paper. The week long classroom course is both theory and practical and fully covers subjects that include: Aerodynamics Navigation Lithium Polymer Batteries Air Law RPA Components Meteorology Human Factors Risk Assessment Mission Planning Our other two instructors made sure we had a thorough understanding of both the theory of flight (pictured right) and also the operation of larger drones like the Inspire 2 (far right). The course was held by […]
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After the very successful release of the interactive Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site e-book we felt it necessary to produce a brochure detailing the many facets of our books. Our interactive e-books are entertaining, educational, and informative. Simply put, we create communication products that attract attention and interest to suit your needs and goals. Our interactive e-books cannot be compared to a normal book, or even a standard e-book for that matter. They are truly created to match the dynamic urge to explore and learn –– you can freely move around and navigate, allowing your curiosity to lead the way. Your interactive e-book can vary in length and complexity depending on your budget, and your needs. Contact us to learn more about the different alternatives open to you. Our 24 page brochure also answers all those questions you may have about how our books are created. On Location Guides are a collaborative team of Ian Brodie, David John Smith and Per-Ole Hagen. We merge our collective backgrounds within film, writing, management, photography, and different elements of ICT with our experience related to communication, marketing and PR. Please, download or view our brochure online for more information. Our fully interactive e-brochure […]
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I was delighted to hear the confirmed announcement last week by Amazon Studios that their new mini-series set in Middle-earth will commence filming in New Zealand next year. Since I first read The Lord of the Rings almost fifty years ago, there was never any doubt that the world meticulously created by JRR Tolkien was my own home – New Zealand. With the release of the Peter Jackson directed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, New Zealand was indelibly stamped as Middle-earth and the many thousands of film and book pilgrims that visit the country as a result of the films continues unabated. The promotion of the country alongside the films is an abject lesson in film tourism and has been cited in many scholarly publications to showcase how “set jetting” became mainstream. One could argue that despite winning 17 Academy Awards the most important omission was an award for the country itself. Film Production Another important facet of the series success has been the development of film production in New Zealand. Despite its relative isolation, the country has seen the growth of Weta Workshop from the small Wellington bedroom of Richard and Tania Taylor to […]
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Living in a world of social media and instant sharing, the travel guide is perceived by many to be a thing of the past. A dinosaur that has been replaced by the instant consumer review and obligatory selfie, denoting both a “this is where we are and this is what we thought” moment for the poster and all their friends. Unfortunately these type of posts and reviews often have no basis of fact or knowledge and can have a detrimental effect as the post spirals out into the cyberspace. However, technology has also delivered a new medium for the travel guide that allows tourism organisations to provide an authoritative platform that showcases a country, a county, a town or an attraction, with consumer interaction and social integration for the reader and user. The modern e-book has a number of benefits. It allows us to merge the content and the purpose of a traditional guide book with new technologies, new narrative concepts and dynamic, interactive content through handheld devices such as iPad, iPhone and HTML5. It provides a platform that immerses the user and reader into stories, histories, landscape and places by using moving images, animation, sound, photos, live interviews, samples […]
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