Aerial Photography
I’m pretty sure that at one time during your childhood, you wished you could fly. To be able to take flight and soar over the landscape below you, to see everything below you stretch as far as the eye can see, and to achieve and experience a perspective of the world that one can only achieve from above.
Today, I am sure that at some point during your adulthood, that wish has developed from its initial stage to one where you would like the experience it all, but capture the memories of it as well.
Enter aerial photography.
Enter the ability to experience a new photographic freedom, a new experience, a new excitement, and a new creative exploration that comes from this unique view.
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm @115mm, f/8, 1/160s, ISO 400
New experiences can be overwhelming. Especially with camera in tow and when you are not sure if/when you will be able to have that experience.
But don’t be alarmed! As with all our photographic safaris and photography tours, we will always guide you in helping you capture the best images during your time with us.
Our photography blog posts are no different.
Here are some photography tips to keep in mind next time you are up in the sky, overlooking the beauty of our natural world, taking aerial photos:
Aperture:
Don’t worry about shallow depth of field. As you are above the scene/your subjects, shallow depth of field becomes inconsequential. An aperture of f/8 to f/16 is perfect in order to have an image that is sharp and in focus.
Canon 7D, 70-200mm@105mm, f/8, 1/1250s, ISO 640
Lens:
As aerial photography is about capturing the scene below and before you, and magnification of 70-200mm or wider will enable you to capture the true scale of the scene.
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm @200mm, f/14, 1/800s, ISO 1250
Composition:
This is very important when it comes to aerial photography. Although you have a huge expanse of land below you, you still need to be aware of the elements that will be included/excluded in your frame. At the end of the day, you are telling a story through aerial photographs. Where you place certain elements in your frame will either aid the viewer in reading your image, or just be an image of a scene where the viewer doesn’t know where to look or rest their eyes on.
Canon 1DX, 70-200mm @200mm, f/8, 1/320s, ISO 1250
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm @125mm, f/8, 1/2500s, ISO 500
Creative:
As mentioned above, aerial photography can be pretty overwhelming as you are now looking at the land from a different perspective. Look for lines, patterns and shapes to guide you in your aerial photography. No longer is the subject necessarily the important aspect within your frame. It is now about the lay and look of the land…the overall scene.
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm @115mm, f/8, 1/1000s, ISO 640
Canon 1Dx, 70-200mm @115mmm f/8, 1/2000s, ISO 250
Enjoy every moment you have as you look on the world from a new and different perspective.
Stay passionate,
Penny Robartes
