David Palermo: Real Estate Photographer of The Month

This month I've selected David Palermo as the PFRE photographer of the month. I've admired David's work for some time now. I first noticed David's stunning cockpit photos that he shot at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. These images caught my attention because shortly before I first saw David's cockpit photography I'd done some cockpit shots of the Spruce Goose and they didn't work out nearly as good as David's. David is selling special limited edition prints of some of these famous cockpits. As David describes his Smithsonian shoot:

I had a year long job at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. My job was to photograph the cockpits of historical aircraft as they moved each on into the museum and hung on the ceiling or displayed on the museum floor. It was a great experience! There is an article in the current issue of Architectural Digest about this museum.

David describes his background, equipment and work as follows:

I have been a photographer since age 18 when I bought my first camera by selling 2 autographed books by Ansel Adams (I kept a 3rd one). I like to say he helped me buy my first camera! I worked at Apple Computer in a position that made me decide to go into professional photography full time. At Apple I was product manager for technology that started virtual tours called QuickTime VR. I left Apple in 1999 to pursue full time photography. No, it has not been easy! It's the selling that gets to me! I need to work on that!

I use 2 Nikon D70's for creating virtual tours and a Canon 5D for still photographic work. On the Nikons I use a 10.5mm fisheye lens. On the Canon I use a 24mm TSE (Tilt-Shift lens) and a 24 - 105 zoom lens. I rarely use supplemental lighting. When I do it's for some subtle fill in. I have a Canon 580EX strobe as well as Speedotron Studio strobes.

In addition to real estate work I do hospitality/architectural work, some people photos - usually publicity head-shots. My personal work is landscape photography. I don't have as much real estate work as I'd like. That's because I am busy doing my other work. I travel a lot. This month I will be in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Nashville - all photo jobs so I have little time for RE work this month. My goal is to cut down on the travel and do more local RE work. I'm working on it!

If you appreciate 360VR be sure to see David's 360VR site, it's a real treat! Those of you that are regulars on PFRE and the PFRE Flickr photo group will notice David's insightful comments and suggestions. Thanks David for all your contributions!

PFRE Photographer of the Month Winners:

• Feb 2008 PFRE photographer of the month
• May 2008 PFRE photographer of the month
• November 2013 PFRE photographer of the month