Your aerial photo of Maryland’s Blackwater Refuge is now a U.S.
postage stamp. How do you feel about that?
I think it is great. Because of the five year NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement), it
was tough to not be able to tell anyone other than my wife that it was happening.
For me, it was an honor but more importantly, the series showed the importance
and beauty of aerial photography. I was pleased that they chose so many fine
aerial photographs and even produced a puzzle from the images.
You have traveled extensively throughout your career. If someone
had a single chance to see the world from a helicopter, where would
you recommend they do it?
That is tough to narrow down. I know for me - I’d love to photograph Scotland
from the air, and also return to Africa. If I had to narrow it down, I would say
spending a day or two in Kenya and Ethiopia would be pretty amazing.
What kind of things are most surprising when you look at a place
from the sky?
The patterns that repeat themselves at different altitudes. Sometimes an image
shot at five-hundred feet will look similar to one shot at five-thousand feet.
Are there any particular types of things that are different than one
might expect or that made an unusual impression on you when you
saw them from above?
No, I can’t say so. I research the areas I am shooting. There is also the element of
surprise, which you hope for, the undiscovered target or opportunity that unveils
itself that happens on just about every flight. You just have to be prepared to be
lucky.
Is there a particular set of skills or equipment for aerial photography,
and if so what is the most important thing when going up in a helicopter
to shoot?
It is