Things You'll Need:
- Aircraft
- Camera
-
Step 1
Get the best airplane or helicopter for the job. A helicopter is ideal for its wide range of view and ability to maneuver very slow and very low. Airplanes are more common and much less expensive. High wing Cessnas, such as the ever popular 172 Skyhawk, work well. High wing airplanes give you a better view of the ground and generally have windows that open easier than low wing airplanes.
-
Step 2
Use the best camera you have available. A high shutter speed and a fast lens helps you get the best exposures. Single lens reflex (SLR) cameras are very good choices with a wide range of lens options. If the camera is digital, more megapixels are better but inexpensive point and shoots have a greater chance of leaving you dissatisfied with the image, no matter how many megapixels they are.
-
Step 3
Use a fast shutter speed. You will be moving as you take your photo. Using a shutter speed over 1/500th of a second freezes the motion and gives you a sharp image.
-
Step 4
Open the window when you are shooting. The air will rush in, but the glass in the aircraft window is usually a streaky Plexiglas that can distort your picture with streaks and reflections. On airplanes such as Cessnas, ask permission to take out the screw that holds the window brace on your side of the plane. When you open the window in flight without the brace, it will fly open 90 degrees offering you a great glass free view. Helicopters can often be flown with the doors off to give you an even greater field of view.
-
Step 5
Keep your camera steady. Use your arms as shock absorbers when taking your photos. Hold the camera with both hands and don't rest any part of your arms on any part of the aircraft.
-
Step 6
Aerial PhotoFind the most interesting things you can see and shoot away. Use hand signals to direct your pilot, as the wind noise may make your headset mike hard to hear.
