Four Tips For Your First Aerial Photography Shoot
If you are an experienced photographer looking for a new way to hone and enjoy your craft, you may want to consider aerial photography. You can hire a professional to take you up in an airplane or helicopter, and during the ride, you take photos of the ground below. You won't believe the kinds of shots you can get in such a situation -- but there are a few tips to keep in mind as you embark on your first shoot.
1. Consider the time of day.
The time of day impacts the direction from which natural sunlight will be coming during your shoot. If you want to take photos of scenery to your west, then you should go up during the morning when the sun is shining at you from the east. If you want to photograph something to the east, then afternoon is the best time to photograph since the sun will be shining from the west. It is harder to compensate with artificial lighting in the sky than it is on the ground!
2. Wear gloves.
Many of your shots will be obtained by holding your camera out the window of the plane or helicopter. The cold, rushing air will be quite hard on your hands and can make it hard to operate your shutter button. So, wear a pair of gloves. Thin ones that make it easy to still move your fingers are the best choice. Wool gloves work well, since wool can be kept quite thin while still keeping the air and cold away.
3. Tether your camera.
You would not be the first person to drop your camera out of the plane. Even experienced photographers have done it! Either tether your camera to the plane, or use a neck strap while you are photographing. There are tethers specifically made for aerial photography, which you may want to look into if you plan on making aerial photography a regular thing.
4. Use a lens with image stabilization.
There will be a lot of vibration in the plane, and also from the air rushing by. Make sure you have a lens that has image stabilization so you get clear shots. Setting your camera on the window sill will also help keep it stable as you take your shots.
Aerial photography can renew your love for photography as a hobby! Follow the tips above, and you'll be off to a great start. Contact a service, like Timeless aerial photography LLC, for more help.