HELP Advice on Aerial Photography - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

the_marq · 10-29-2008, 06:19 PM

I have been asked by a local land development company (residential) to take some aerial photos of some of their work in progress projects. We're going up by helicopter and I get to hang out the open door and shoot away.

I'll be shooting all digital and I am considering renting a some gear as I would like to supplement my lens selection. Do I need something wider than an 28-80. or should I go longer (I also have a 200mm)?

I don't know if I will be able to tell the pilot to change altitude very much, but if I can what should I tell him? I would guess that we'll be at 3000-5000 feet. Since we'll be shooting pretty large tracts of land (5-6 acres) I want to capture the sites all-in-one.

The end result I am looking for is something along these lines (random GIS): http://www.blenheimgrange.com/images/aerial_july07.jpg

Any advice, examples or resources would be appreciated.

Grancey · 10-29-2008, 06:37 PM

While working for my local conservation service years ago, I was set to go up and shoot aerial shots for new aerial maps for the county. Funding fell through and it didn't happen. I would suggest that you start there. Contact your conversation service, or whoever takes the aerial photographs for your stabilization and conservation service. They should be able to help you out.

fnaqzna · 10-29-2008, 09:35 PM

I took some photos from an aircraft a few months ago. We were 3500 feet up. I used my 18-200mm. Even at that altitude, I think I could have done a bit better with a longer lens.

Your example is similar to what I got at 200mm.

Oh... and you might want to consider a stabilized lens.

PonyPotato · 10-30-2008, 03:38 AM

Contact an archaeologist, the national park service, or your local historical preservation office. They should be able to point you in the right direction - aerial photography is used excessively in midwestern archaeology to find earthworks. Some of the archaeologists I worked with got some of their photos from the department of transportation.

runningwild · 10-31-2008, 09:23 AM

I do this for land developers all the time. I shoot with a nikon 200 and use two lenses. 1. 70-330 2. 1-70. Both work great for this. The helicopter can fly only as low as 500 ft, but the lower the better. I have gotton the bests shots from 500ft and having the pilot move back so that i can get everything in the shot. I also use google earth to set up my shot prior, then give the pilot the gps cords.

Because of the price of the helicopter I have also used a kite check out some of these. Kite Aerial Photography - KAP. This was a hobby that turned into a money maker for me.

hope this helps.

10-29-2008, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	Advice on Aerial Photography I have been asked by a local land development company (residential) to take some aerial photos of some of their work in progress projects. We're going up by helicopter and I get to hang out the open door and shoot away. I'll be shooting all digital and I am considering renting a some gear as I would like to supplement my lens selection. Do I need something wider than an 28-80. or should I go longer (I also have a 200mm)? I don't know if I will be able to tell the pilot to change altitude very much, but if I can what should I tell him? I would guess that we'll be at 3000-5000 feet. Since we'll be shooting pretty large tracts of land (5-6 acres) I want to capture the sites all-in-one. The end result I am looking for is something along these lines (random GIS): http://www.blenheimgrange.com/images/aerial_july07.jpg Any advice, examples or resources would be appreciated. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series

10-29-2008, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	While working for my local conservation service years ago, I was set to go up and shoot aerial shots for new aerial maps for the county. Funding fell through and it didn't happen. I would suggest that you start there. Contact your conversation service, or whoever takes the aerial photographs for your stabilization and conservation service. They should be able to help you out. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

10-30-2008, 03:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	Contact an archaeologist, the national park service, or your local historical preservation office. They should be able to point you in the right direction - aerial photography is used excessively in midwestern archaeology to find earthworks. Some of the archaeologists I worked with got some of their photos from the department of transportation. __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

10-29-2008, 09:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
fnaqzna Meat Popsicle Location: Left Coast	I took some photos from an aircraft a few months ago. We were 3500 feet up. I used my 18-200mm. Even at that altitude, I think I could have done a bit better with a longer lens. Your example is similar to what I got at 200mm. Oh... and you might want to consider a stabilized lens.

10-31-2008, 09:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
runningwild Tilted	I do this for land developers all the time. I shoot with a nikon 200 and use two lenses. 1. 70-330 2. 1-70. Both work great for this. The helicopter can fly only as low as 500 ft, but the lower the better. I have gotton the bests shots from 500ft and having the pilot move back so that i can get everything in the shot. I also use google earth to set up my shot prior, then give the pilot the gps cords. Because of the price of the helicopter I have also used a kite check out some of these. Kite Aerial Photography - KAP. This was a hobby that turned into a money maker for me. hope this helps.