Aerial Photography Tips and Strategies

Various Photographs when taken from various perspectives gives a unique edge to that photograph. For example photo of a house taken from a ground level is very common. But have you imagined how that house’s look will appear when the same photo when taken from few hundred meters above your head ?

Not everyone get a chance to photograph the same picture from a height of hundreds or thousands feet from an airplane or helicopter. It is very interesting and everyone’s dream and not only for a professional photographer. If you are a photographer who just love to add a creative or unique side to that image then aerial photography is for you.

If you are getting to fly then be ready with your equipment to shoot the best photograph. Here are few tips you will love to know before starting your aerial photography.

Know the best time to shoot

Dawn or Dusk is known as time for photography! You can choose your time either in dawn or just before sunset. This is because the photograph may look two dimensional due to shadows, growing distant and the lack of depth of field. Weather also play unique role in differentiating each image with other. The mountains, water bodies or landscapes may appear stunning during winters .

However if you are already knowing about photography then you must be knowing that how the color , the shadows and the contrast changes during each time interval throughout the day.

Fast shutter speed

In order to take sharper images along with moving on the air, you need to keep your shutter speed fast. For wider aperture you can keep your shutter speed 1/2000. Low shutter speed can end up in blurry images

Wide aperture:

Since you are in major heights and so you may keep your depth of field narrower. This is because, wider apertures will give more sharper and more focus, In aerial photography the key is…..keep wide aperture and fast shutter sped to capture great views.

Make a plan

Since you have very limited time while traveling on air, you should be ready and clear with what you want to shoot. For example whether real estate, or monuments or stadium or landscapes etc. It is very important to take help with the map for direction say google map. This prior homework will ease your work and save you time from searching landmarks and directions.

Recompose your Images.

While on air, you have very limited time interval to shoot. The major complexities are

You are continuously in motion
Your camera may shake owing to turbulence on air, like winds, rain, clouds, aircraft wings

In such a case it is advisable to use wider angle view rather than Zoom. You may have to use post processing software to edit, or reframe your images

Lens

Do not go for Zoom lenses or Telephoto Lenses. These lenses are only ideal for shooting in earth for landscapes, or underwater photography. It is recommended that you use wide-angle lens or prime lens.

Take the best out of the scene

Even if photographers prefer a perfectly bright sky during aerial photography, but it is better to look for whatever best possible is from the view. For example a fair view above the clouds,…or a haze or mist above the view may balance the light for you. You can experiment with the clods…mist and haze to take that unique and creative side.

Conclusion:

The best thing about Aerial photography is the opportunity and the challenge that lies beneath. It feels celestial from the top to view and bring the rarest of the rare views of the nature in front of the world to get amazed by !!!

About Author:

Jazz is an avid Photographer by profession. On free time she loves to write about photography, technical gadgets and Photo recovery software.