Understanding the Art of Aerial Photography

1. Understanding the Art of Aerial Photography Did you know that aerial photography—also referred to as airborne imagery—is a type of photography that was first practised in the 1800s? A Frenchman and balloonist by the name of Gaspard-Felix Tournachon thought of using aerial photography for making maps and for surveying purposes in 1855. However, it wasn’t until 1858 when an actual aerial photograph was first taken. Since then, there has been a demand for such photographs, and aerial photography in the UK has stayed popular through the years. Is aerial photography more complex than typical photography? Perhaps, especially if you factor in the platforms used to actually take the pictures. Unlike traditional photography where a photographer holds the camera in his hands, aerial photography makes use of fixed-wing aircraft, balloons, kites, blimps, vehicle-mounted poles, parachutes, rockets, helicopters, and more popularly, drones. The camera is mounted to the platform and triggered using a remote controller. Aerial photography is especially useful when there are natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and floodings since it is used to assess the enormity of the damage. Space photographs are also taken courtesy of aerial photography. The topography of various regions, as well as mountains, river systems, valleys, and terrains are also among those taken through aerial photography in the UK. To understand this unique type of photography, you need to realise that a stable platform is a key to taking awesome aerial shots. For one thing, balloon flights are only given the go-signal when very light winds are blowing through. That allows the balloon to float along moderately. Shooting aerial shots from a plane is possible, but it will require removing the doors of the plane, and sometimes, it’s a violation of aviation regulations. Of course, a drone is the most popular choice these days when it comes to aerial photography. Initially, image quality was questionable, but continuous advancements in the said technology have vastly improved the quality of images taken by drones. Professional photographers who do aerial photography in the UK will tell you that shutter speeds matter a lot with this type of photography. Setting the shutter speed correctly is key to minimising the effect of vibrations, especially if you’re aboard a plane or a helicopter. It’s also important to ensure your body touches very little of the aircraft or seat to avoid turning yourself into a vibration insulator.