What kind of work are you doing? Is it aerial survey type work for forestry, geology etc? What other applications are there for this type of work? And what sort of equipment (photo and a/c) is used?
Anybody shoot aerial photos for stock agencies, books, postcards, or corporate? If so what kind of technique do you use - just open the window and shoot hand held? Do you find the struts get in the way? Can you shoot fast enough to get a sharp image? How do you control the plane when you're trying to shoot?
I'm interested in both kinds of work.
A couple questions for the photo guys
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TopperHarley
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1870
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:56 pm
boss,
I'm a low-time pilot working for an aerial photo company. I have been doing this for 3 months now.
I take pictures of houses, farms, business, land, etc. If a customer requests a picture of their house, I go up and take it according to how they want it done. Most of my time is spent shooting farm pics, with the hopes that our company salesmen can sell the pictures. However, I have also done pics of business, land development, and forests.
I fly a Cessna 152, and unfortunately, I cannot share with you any information regarding the camera equipment that I use, as it is confidential.
All the flying is single-pilot, meaning I take on both pilot and photographer duties. This can be challenging at times, however, I feel comfortable enough with it having logged just under 200 hours doing it. At first it took a lot of time for me to get into the right position to take the picture; now, I have developped an "eye" for what kind of picture will suit the property at hand (close-up, steep, vertical, straight-on, or to have the features/buildings arranged along the diagonal of the frame).
The type of pic I take will always depend on the property, as will the altitude I fly at. For small properties, I just zoom in and take the pic, usually flying at a little over 500 ft. If its a large property or a wide farm, I will have to be a little higher and zoom out. We use very professional cameras that have amazing zoom capabilities, so you rarely have to get as low as 500 feet. If the property is very wide, it helps to arrange the picture in such a way that everything will be arranged along the diagonal of the frame, instead of zooming way out and shooting straight on.
As far as stabilizing the pic goes, this is very tough if it is turbulent. The camera I use has special stabilizer functions, which helps out a lot. It also has very high shutter speeds, so the pics are rarely blurred out due to your high speed. The strut rarely presents a problem, but it has "snuck" into some of my pics! The best technique to prevent against this is to use a sideslip.
For a/c configuration, I like to be around 60-70 IAS, without flap. I used to use flaps, but I stopped recently (I do not like having to worry about exceeding Vfe while I am holding a camera with the window open). One thing I do not like about the 152 is that they tend to vary IAS in turns too much, and this is not much fun when you are orbitting at low altitudes in a 30+ degree AOB.
For me, the most uncomfortable thing is holding onto the camera. The camera I use is heavy, and my hand gets tired fairly fast. I am always flying with one hand and shooting with the other. I have often come home with bruises on my thumb caused by holding the camera for an extended period of time (I usually do 3-4 hour legs, 6-7 hours/day). If youre using a personal handheld camera, this should not be a problem.
Well, I hope I answered all your questions!
Chris.
I'm a low-time pilot working for an aerial photo company. I have been doing this for 3 months now.
I take pictures of houses, farms, business, land, etc. If a customer requests a picture of their house, I go up and take it according to how they want it done. Most of my time is spent shooting farm pics, with the hopes that our company salesmen can sell the pictures. However, I have also done pics of business, land development, and forests.
I fly a Cessna 152, and unfortunately, I cannot share with you any information regarding the camera equipment that I use, as it is confidential.
All the flying is single-pilot, meaning I take on both pilot and photographer duties. This can be challenging at times, however, I feel comfortable enough with it having logged just under 200 hours doing it. At first it took a lot of time for me to get into the right position to take the picture; now, I have developped an "eye" for what kind of picture will suit the property at hand (close-up, steep, vertical, straight-on, or to have the features/buildings arranged along the diagonal of the frame).
The type of pic I take will always depend on the property, as will the altitude I fly at. For small properties, I just zoom in and take the pic, usually flying at a little over 500 ft. If its a large property or a wide farm, I will have to be a little higher and zoom out. We use very professional cameras that have amazing zoom capabilities, so you rarely have to get as low as 500 feet. If the property is very wide, it helps to arrange the picture in such a way that everything will be arranged along the diagonal of the frame, instead of zooming way out and shooting straight on.
As far as stabilizing the pic goes, this is very tough if it is turbulent. The camera I use has special stabilizer functions, which helps out a lot. It also has very high shutter speeds, so the pics are rarely blurred out due to your high speed. The strut rarely presents a problem, but it has "snuck" into some of my pics! The best technique to prevent against this is to use a sideslip.
For a/c configuration, I like to be around 60-70 IAS, without flap. I used to use flaps, but I stopped recently (I do not like having to worry about exceeding Vfe while I am holding a camera with the window open). One thing I do not like about the 152 is that they tend to vary IAS in turns too much, and this is not much fun when you are orbitting at low altitudes in a 30+ degree AOB.
For me, the most uncomfortable thing is holding onto the camera. The camera I use is heavy, and my hand gets tired fairly fast. I am always flying with one hand and shooting with the other. I have often come home with bruises on my thumb caused by holding the camera for an extended period of time (I usually do 3-4 hour legs, 6-7 hours/day). If youre using a personal handheld camera, this should not be a problem.
Well, I hope I answered all your questions!
Chris.
"Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly." - Mother Theresa
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Boss Hawg
- Rank 4
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:38 pm
- Location: North of somewhere and south of everything to the north
- Contact:
hey thanks c-hris. There's a lot fo good info there. i was really interested to know the process (without you having to give your co's secrets away) but it sounds like it's handheld out the window with a 35mm or something similar vs a camera hatch or having the camera mounted someplace else on the a/c. Interesting to know that you fly and shoot both - i've tried doing this a few times before but as soon as i start working on the photo stuff the plane starts going into a stall, turn, whatever. guess I just need some more practice. thanks much for the reply.
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TopperHarley
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1870
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:56 pm
bosshawg,
That's correct how I do not use a camera mount. I just use a special camera, have the window open, and shoot.
It took time for me to get comfortable with this as well. Our company had hired one pilot, who quit after only 1 flight because he did not like it. I felt very frustrated after my first flight too, but you have to stick with it. Like everything, you will establish a comfort level with this. Just be patient.
For the first few flights, I went up with another pilot and we worked together. I had the opportunity to go up and have several practice flights, where I was free to shoot whatever I wanted. After 3-5 training flights, I felt ok to be on my own. In the beginning, I was shooting 3 rolls of film per day. Now, I'm shooting upwards of 8. To begin with, my boss assigned me very easy shooting locations that were straight forward, which is important when youre just starting out.
Good luck, and don't give up on it! It's a fun line of work!
That's correct how I do not use a camera mount. I just use a special camera, have the window open, and shoot.
It took time for me to get comfortable with this as well. Our company had hired one pilot, who quit after only 1 flight because he did not like it. I felt very frustrated after my first flight too, but you have to stick with it. Like everything, you will establish a comfort level with this. Just be patient.
For the first few flights, I went up with another pilot and we worked together. I had the opportunity to go up and have several practice flights, where I was free to shoot whatever I wanted. After 3-5 training flights, I felt ok to be on my own. In the beginning, I was shooting 3 rolls of film per day. Now, I'm shooting upwards of 8. To begin with, my boss assigned me very easy shooting locations that were straight forward, which is important when youre just starting out.
Good luck, and don't give up on it! It's a fun line of work!
"Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly." - Mother Theresa
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TopperHarley
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1870
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:56 pm
ahramin,
I was hired along with one of my classmates. Both of us were low-time pilots (I had 260tt, he had 230tt); however, we were both friends with one of the pilots there.
I had no photography experience whatsoever, but my friend had taken a photography course in high school.
I was hired along with one of my classmates. Both of us were low-time pilots (I had 260tt, he had 230tt); however, we were both friends with one of the pilots there.
I had no photography experience whatsoever, but my friend had taken a photography course in high school.
"Never travel faster than your guardian angel can fly." - Mother Theresa
Bosshawg, 2 of the cameras I use weigh over 7 pounds... so I hold the camera with both hands using rudder to maintain the wings level.
Most of the time, a friend of mine is flying while I take the pictures, but even though he's a really good pilot, I still prefer flying the plane in position and have him hold it... then lift the wing or give some rudder to move the strut out of the frame.
Good luck if you get into the business, just remember to charge for your work... too many cut-troat outfits IMHO (well in Quebec)
Most of the time, a friend of mine is flying while I take the pictures, but even though he's a really good pilot, I still prefer flying the plane in position and have him hold it... then lift the wing or give some rudder to move the strut out of the frame.
Good luck if you get into the business, just remember to charge for your work... too many cut-troat outfits IMHO (well in Quebec)
--In his wrapup remarks, the FAA chief said, "If you think the safety bar is set too high, then your
standards are set too low."
standards are set too low."
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Boss Hawg
- Rank 4
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:38 pm
- Location: North of somewhere and south of everything to the north
- Contact:
Hey Benwa, thanks for the reply. I'd actually forgot about this thread, most of it got lost after the last meltdown.
Awesome photos on your website, that's exactly what I want to do! Now I see where your avatar comes from. I'll work on refining my technique this summer and hopefully get something decent. Keep up the good work, you're obviously quite talented at what you do.
Awesome photos on your website, that's exactly what I want to do! Now I see where your avatar comes from. I'll work on refining my technique this summer and hopefully get something decent. Keep up the good work, you're obviously quite talented at what you do.
Thanks BossHawg !
Send me some pics whenever you start shooting !!
I'll give you some pointers if you want some.
I suggest you join the aerial-pro mailing list.
http://www.aerialimages.com/links/aeria ... alpro.html
Good Luck !
Send me some pics whenever you start shooting !!
I'll give you some pointers if you want some.
I suggest you join the aerial-pro mailing list.
http://www.aerialimages.com/links/aeria ... alpro.html
Good Luck !
--In his wrapup remarks, the FAA chief said, "If you think the safety bar is set too high, then your
standards are set too low."
standards are set too low."
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Boss Hawg
- Rank 4
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2004 2:38 pm
- Location: North of somewhere and south of everything to the north
- Contact:
Hmmmm, tried posting one from last fall but it didn't work. This one's on my hard drive but it looks like it's got to be linked from another server, to reduce the load on AvCanada's server I guess. Makes sense anyway.
I did join the aerial pro list back in the fall, that was one of the other suggestions that got lost in the hack. I've read lots of the posts but there's too many to read them all. I may very well take you up on some pointers when I start running into problems in the spring - thanks much for the offer!
Boss
I did join the aerial pro list back in the fall, that was one of the other suggestions that got lost in the hack. I've read lots of the posts but there's too many to read them all. I may very well take you up on some pointers when I start running into problems in the spring - thanks much for the offer!
Boss
Last edited by Boss Hawg on Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Boss Hawg ! I'm impressed ! 
You can send the pic to my email... benwa@direct-air.ca
The main difficulty with aerial photography is you can't really go slower than 1/500th of a sec, unless you have gyros. My best shots are about 1 hour to ½ hour before sunset.
The first one was at about 16h30
the second at 13h30
Not on the same day... but the difference is quite dramatic.
You can send the pic to my email... benwa@direct-air.ca
The main difficulty with aerial photography is you can't really go slower than 1/500th of a sec, unless you have gyros. My best shots are about 1 hour to ½ hour before sunset.
The first one was at about 16h30
the second at 13h30
Not on the same day... but the difference is quite dramatic.
--In his wrapup remarks, the FAA chief said, "If you think the safety bar is set too high, then your
standards are set too low."
standards are set too low."
