AERIALS
I like to get high. Get your mind out of the gutter. I fly up to look down. Above eye level the world
takes on a dramatically different appearance. Nature and civilization become abstract.
Change someone’s perspective and you can change their point of view.
Hot air balloons are available and there is a growing interest in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVS), i.e. drones, but the most likely choices for aerial photography are fixed-wing airplanes
and helicopters. Availability and budget are major deciding factors. Helicopters are usually a
better photographic platform but they are more expensive. Fixed wing pilots are easier to find in
remote or foreign regions. Hire local. Take sightseeing tours.
Safety is tantamount. You want a reliable pilot with whom you can communicate in critical
situations. Seek single engine planes with wing overhead for better visibility. The ability to open
the window is essential for optimum results. Renting helicopters with removable doors makes
the ride more exciting, but that is how professionals work. Gaffer-tape your seat belt to insure it
does not accidently release allowing you to fall out.
With imagination, shooting out the windows with point-and-shoot cameras and smartphones
gives amazing results. What we see above the clouds, as the sun is setting on the wings, as
night falls with city lights below, never gets old. I carry a small camera in my pocket for just such
opportunities.
PicsArt Monthly |15