Aerial Photo

The Varied Forms And Past Of Aerial Photos

Pictures high above a bustling city and long range shots over the countryside are two common examples of aerial photos. The sky high photos have been dominating scenic shots of the world for over 150 years now. With advancements in technology, photos from a bird's eye view have become more common place and more accessible to amateur photographers. What started in the 19th century in France has blossomed into its own subspecialty of photography. Most people think that shots from such a height are taken with helicopters or other expensive vehicles; what they do not know is that these shots can be obtained with cheaper means, such as a kite or hot air balloon.

In France, a Balloonist commonly known as "Nadar" is believed to be the first man to combine soaring heights with a camera. 1855 was the year he patented the concept of aerial photos; the only difference is his original goal was for mapmaking and surveying, not as a form of art. It would not be until three years later that he would secure his place in the history books by taking the first aerial photograph. The idea of an aerial photo often brings to mind a picture that is taken from hundreds of feet in the air; Gaspar was only about twenty five feet off the ground when he took the photo of a French village named Petit-Bacetre. Sadly, the events of the past have robbed historians of this precious first photo.

1860 is the year of the oldest existing photo, which was taken by James Wallace Black; the photo was from a hot air balloon. Due to the technology at the time, the balloonist was required to transport incorporate a darkroom into the hot air balloon; the dry plate process would later be invented and remove this inconvenient requirement.

One of the cheapest forms of aerial photography involves flying a kite. The humble kite has been providing man with the ability to experience new heights for centuries. Archibald, a Meteorologist from Great Britain, was the first man to make use of a camera and a series of kites to take photos. The ability to attach an inexpensive camera to a kite still exists today; a means to remotely trigger the camera is not as simple, but not impossible. Weather conditions can have a horrible impact on trying to get a clear shot. The ability to aim and focus on something specific is not possible, which means there will be a lot of pictures taken, but few that are usable. The kite is still a fun way to a hobbyist to try his or her hand at taking aerial photos.

The hot air balloon is still a prominent figure in the world of aerial photos; it is more costly, but does remove the majority of problems with the camera and kite method. The introduction of modern cameras and telephoto lenses has allowed for a balloonist a great deal of control over what they want to take a picture of. Weather conditions may ground the balloon from time to time, but strong winds will rarely be a bother. The joy of the air balloon ride is just a fringe benefit to the pleasure of capturing breathtaking photos of cities and countrysides.

For those not afraid to break the budget, a helicopter makes for an amazing tool to obtain aerial photography. A helicopter provides a level of precision that is hard to match. With digital cameras giving the ability to review a photo instantly, the cameraman can have the helicopter pilot change altitude or angle immediately to try for a better shot. The noise can be bothersome to the public if flying too close to residential or business areas, but sometimes the perfect picture requires bothering the neighbors a bit. While not for the amateur, a helicopter is definitely the way to go all out to get those desired aerial photos.

The amateur has a simpler and far less expensive option for taking aerial photos with the remote controlled helicopter. Using the proper transceiver a user can see what the camera on the helicopter sees; this allows them to ensure that every shot is in focus and at the right angle. The expense compared to a full sized helicopter is minimal. The distance the helicopter can fly will also be limited, but it is far less bothersome to the locals. Those not trained in how to fly a remote controlled helicopter can hire a skilled professional who can help them take amazing aerial photos.

The most popular methods are the ones still employed today, but in the past, a handful of strange ideas have been attempted to get that high soaring shot. In the early 20th century, a man named Julius Neubranner developed a carrier pigeon camera. The breast mounted camera would take photos at specific intervals while the bird was in flight. The photos were not always the best, but it was an interesting experiment to see just what the bird would see as it flew.

The very first photo from an airplane had a beautiful view. Wilbur Wright was trying to sell planes to the Italian Government in 1909. One of the passengers on the demonstration flight decided to bring along his camera and filmed a military field just outside of Rome; that would be the first aerial photo taken from an airplane. Cameras have been hooked up to rockets as well, though there is always the danger of how the rocket lands and possible damage to the camera or film.

The fact is aerial photos are ones often remember by people. There are many who cannot forget the iconic skyline of New York or the cliffs of Dover; these are images that last a lifetime. Aerial photography has touched many lives. The photos have shown how truly small people are in the world compared to mountains and skyscrapers. From the very first balloonist using his onboard darkroom to the ambitious director that needs that perfect shot from a helicopter, aerial photos have a rich history and will only continue to grow as technology grows.

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