Aerial Photography Using An Aeroplane Or Helicopter

This is the type that most people will be familiar with.

A photographer uses an airplane, microlight or helicopter to provide the height in order to take the photographs.

When using a fixed wing aircraft like a plane or microlight it is important that the plane is of the high wing type, to ensure that the wing does not obscure the photographer's view from the aircraft. The photographer will normally either have an open window or a small window through which they can take point their camera out of.

If a helicopter is being used, the photographer will either use the same technique as in a plane or have the door open completely and lean out of the door (the photographer wares a safety harness to prevent them from falling out of the helicopter) and take the photographs.

If a plane is being used it is normal practice to circle the subject whilst taking photographs. If a helicopter is being used, the helicopter can either circle the subject or the pilot can put the helicopter into a hover to allow a number of photographs to be taken.

Benefits

1. A large area (a few square miles) can be shown in a single photograph.
   
   
2. Large areas can be photographed quickly along a route, ideal for mapping terrain, the route of a river or road.
   

Disadvantages

1. The aircraft is normally limited to a minimum height of 500 feet (about 1.8 times the length of a football pitch) or 1000 ft (3.6 times the length of a football pitch) over congested areas.
   
   
2. This type of photography needs planning as a flight plan needs to be filed, so there is normally a lead in time between commissioning the photograph and it taking place.
   
   
3. Haze caused by heat and pollution can result in the final photograph lacking contrast. To prevent haze being an issue, early in the morning, late evening or during the winter months are the best times to photograph from the air as the pollution haze is less prominent.
   
   
4. To get close up photographs of buildings and objects on the ground, the photographer needs to use a telephoto lens. Careful elimination of vibration from the aircraft is required otherwise the photograph will be blurry, this is especially true if large heavy zoom lenses are used. Alternatively some photographers use very high resolution cameras and then crop the photograph on a computer afterwards.
   
   
5. When photographing buildings using this type of aerial photography, the building normally shows up as mainly roof.
   
   
6. Unlike some of the types of aerial photography, the views from a property can not be included in the photograph.
   
   
7. Unless their is room in the airplane, the client is dependent upon the photographer interpreting their brief and getting the photographs they require. With some of the other types below, the client can see the exact composition of the photograph before an image is taken. Ideal if a client has a mental picture of what they require.

For the rules and regulations that