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March 18, 2007
Super High Resolution Photos in Google Earth
Those of you who are regular users of Google Earth have probably already discovered the super high resolution photos in Africa courtesy of National Geographic Magazine. The layer is currently found in the Layers pane under the Gallery layer folder. What you may not know is that there are more of these high res pictures in Google Earth than originally thought (see below). The Megaflyover images were taken by NG photographer Michael Fay (who recently did the March issue article on elephant poaching) from a small plane at low altitudes using special aerial photography cameras. In many places you can see people looking up at the plane, and in others you can see villages, and many examples of African animals. Michael took over 92,000 photos. Several hundred of the photos are in Google Earth. By the way, make sure you check out this story about a collection which categorizes the many kinds of animals found in the Fay photos.
Here is a cool YouTube video showing a flying tour of several of these high res photos:
Recently members of the Google Earth Community (including myself) have found places where several hundred photos taken in a single flight by Michael Fay are actually included in Google Earth. These are not marked as part of the Megaflyover layer, but they are there nonetheless. Here are two paths of photos: one 
and two - posted by 'Hill'. If you zoom in along the path you will see dozens of the very high resolution photos taken by Michael Fay. Most of the photos show pretty barren terrain, but a few have hidden gems of animals, people, or buildings. See this collection of placemarks which actually highlights the more interesting ones in one of the paths. Make sure you double click on the placemarks to get flown in to see the full resolution.
Video found via GoogleMapsMania.
Posted by FrankTaylor at March 18, 2007 01:43 PM
Comments
Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2007 02:10 PM
Also, these things exist in the most improbable of places, like northern Niger, in the middle of the Sahara. Now that's barren!
Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2007 02:11 PM
I am not sure where the correct place to comment on the collection of placemarks is.
One of the placemarks says "submerged plane" and says it is not a shadow. It is in fact the reflection of the plane in the water. It is also visible in the next image and in images 4 and 5 before that.
Posted by: Timothy at March 19, 2007 06:27 AM
These animals are quite interesting. But are they really georeferenced exactly? Not the animals, but the ground they are walking on ... Sometimes the ground is showing sand only, how the position can be placed exactly?
Posted by: Peter at March 19, 2007 09:00 AM
@Peter: these photos were probably GPS-logged at the time they are taken.
@Timothy: You're right, it's obviously the plane's shadow. If you click the link on the info balloon, it should take you to the Google Earth Community where you can post a response. But, I'm someone over at GEC may have already noticed this.
Posted by: Lauren at March 19, 2007 04:55 PM
Anyone noticed that all the animals in these photos are terrified? They are badly stressed, running away in panic from the low flying aircraft.
Posted by: Stewart at September 25, 2007 09:55 AM
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I noticed this too! You have to look for those little squares of high-res imagery in the sea of pixelation that covers much of Africa. It's kind of exciting when you zoom in and discover a village or an animal herd; it's like getting this tiny little window into african life.