Advanced Photography Course

then flattens out and goes no higher (fig. 4-11). This

condition makes it difficult to photograph the ground.
In these circumstances, you can use film with extended

red sensitivity or a red filter to help cut through the haze.
There is nothing you can use to cut through the smoke.

Thermal shimmer is another condition with which

you should be concerned. Thermal shimmer is the
result of heated air moving upward. When thermal
shimmer is occurring, distant objects appear to shimmer
because the light rays are being refracted by the rising

heated air. This occurrence can obscure minute detail
in high-altitude photography. When thermal shimmer
exists, you should take enough photographs to ensure
that subject detail occurs in at least one photograph.

Good weather conditions for aerial photography are

generally considered to be clear with 5 to 10 knots of
wind (to help blow off smoke and smog) and visibility

of 7 miles or more. Minimum conditions are generally
considered to be scattered clouds with visibility of 6
miles. When weather conditions are poor, shoot

low-oblique photographs from relatively low altitudes.
This helps to minimize the effects of smoke and haze.

AIRCRAFT

After you have gained some experience in taking

hand-held aerial pictures, you will probably have a
preference for a particular type or model of aircraft.
Hand-held aerial photographs can be made from almost
any aircraft. However, there are some generally
accepted preferences, such as high-wing aircraft or
relatively slow-flying aircraft. Most slow-flying
aircraft have a window, door, or hatch that can be
removed or opened to simplify unobstructed

photography. A high-wing plane is preferable to a
low-wing plane because the wing is out of the field of
view of the camera.

Helicopters provide photographers more freedom

to work at lower altitudes, but there are certain
misconceptions about them (fig. 4-12). One of these
misconceptions is that the platform can be suspended

Figure 4-12.--Helicopter used in an aerial photographic assignment.

4-12

contents

Advanced Photography Course

<- previous page

next page ->


DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> then flattens out and goes no higher (fig. 4-11). This condition makes it difficult to photograph the ground. In these circumstances, you can use film with extended red sensitivity or a red filter to help cut through the haze. There is nothing you can use to cut through the smoke. Thermal shimmer is another condition with which you should be concerned. Thermal shimmer is the result of heated air moving upward. When thermal shimmer is occurring, distant objects appear to shimmer because the light rays are being refracted by the rising heated air. This occurrence can obscure minute detail in high-altitude photography. When thermal shimmer exists, you should take enough photographs to ensure that subject detail occurs in at least one photograph. Good weather conditions for aerial photography are generally considered to be clear with 5 to 10 knots of wind (to help blow off smoke and smog) and visibility of 7 miles or more. Minimum conditions are generally considered to be scattered clouds with visibility of 6 miles. When weather conditions are poor, shoot low-oblique photographs from relatively low altitudes. This helps to minimize the effects of smoke and haze. AIRCRAFT After you have gained some experience in taking hand-held aerial pictures, you will probably have a preference for a particular type or model of aircraft. Hand-held aerial photographs can be made from almost any aircraft. However, there are some generally accepted preferences, such as high-wing aircraft or relatively slow-flying aircraft. Most slow-flying aircraft have a window, door, or hatch that can be removed or opened to simplify unobstructed photography. A high-wing plane is preferable to a low-wing plane because the wing is out of the field of view of the camera. Helicopters provide photographers more freedom to work at lower altitudes, but there are certain misconceptions about them (fig. 4-12). One of these misconceptions is that the platform can be suspended Figure 4-12.--Helicopter used in an aerial photographic assignment. 4-12 contents Advanced Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
	WWW.DOFMASTER.COM © 2006 Don Fleming. All rights reserved.