Aerial Photography

[BongleBear]

Hi all.

I've got a new money making/hour building idea and before I get excited about it I'd like some info, and any ideas/views anyone has. I'm currently working for (non-aviation related) a company that sells images/photos online and there's money to be made for good images. I've noticed, and been informed that good money is paid for aerial shots and was wondering if I could combine my current job to my education and rent an aircraft and go getting myself some photos.

Any views on that? Any setbacks I might not have considered? Also, does anyone know what aircraft would be best for doing this in? Is it going to be a case of opening the storm window in a warrior and trying to avoid the wing tip?! I wont be taking the photos by the way! I am safe observant pilot.

Thanks, B Bear

[skyviews]

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=189398&highlight=aerial

Try this for starters

[Maude Charlee]

Avoid low wings unless you intend to shoot through a hole in the floor or have specialist external equipment. Also, as this would constitute a commercial enterprise, you need to be sure of the legality of your operation with regard to CAA regs on aerial work, and whether or not your a/c supplier is aware of (and happy with) your intentions.

It is considerably harder than you think, and for the speculative business ("Hello sir/madam, want to buy a poor and overpriced picture of your house?), it is a cut-throat and dirty business. Lots of nasty goings-on there that would even make the ice-cream wars in Glasgow look like a teddy bears' picnic.

However, that said, it can be rewarding in all sorts of ways, not least for the pleasure of actually hand-flying for a living instead of turning knobs for the autopilot to follow.

[pinkpilot150]

The ideal aircraft is something like a Cessna 177RG. The high wing and retractable gear gives you an amazingly unrestricted view, and this is improved substantially by the fact that the wing is a full cantilever (no support struts).

The poorer mans option is a C172 which is prefered because of the faster transit times and 'boot' space for your camera equipment, or the ubiquitous C150. The disadvantage of the later is space and speed but good images can be captured from both. Shooting at about a 45deg angle backwards behind the strut gives best results but this means that aircraft position, heading and height become critical if you don't want to include the wing, the strut or the undercarriage in the frame.

Shooting from a low wing aircraft is a pain in the bum and not recommended!

Regarding equipment, you really need a good set-up if you are going to get good quality pictures. The default medium nowadays is digital, and at least 8MP would be needed, but good quality bodies can be picked up for reasonable prices. I shoot using a Canon EOS350 which is cheap enough to bang around, but gives excellent results. Of more importance is the lens - an 8MP camera body will be lens limited. You need a fast lens with at least a 200mm zoom (approx. 300mm on a digital body), and if you are going to get good photos it needs to be SHARP!

The only lens I have tried that really fits the bill is the Canon 70-200mm F4 L series. This gives really incredible results - don't be tempted to go for a multitasking 28-300mm or similar because the quality of the picture suffers far to much. When you are taking photos from the air - the sharpness of the picture really is the prime concern to ensure that the most detail can be extracted as possible.

The other big issue is that of legislation - particularly the requirement for a CPL for any aerial work (which aerial photography falls into), and potentially the need for an Air Operators Certificate. I am still trying to get my head around this one and despite requests for help from PPRUNE (thanks Skyviews), I am still unsure as to the extact requirements. You can catch up on the discussion so far on the thread that Skyviews kindly attached.

You opinion on the legislative issues would be appreciated by the way - I am an Aerospace Engineer and all this legally written jargon is a bit over my head.

[skyviews]

Lots of nasty goings-on there that would even make the ice-cream wars in Glasgow look like a teddy bears' picnic.

:} :} :} :D :D :}

Oh dear some people take this far to seriously, care to elaborate on this MC I'm intrigued to know what the competition is doing to each other.

Pistols at dawn!!!:}

[Maude Charlee]

Heh heh heh! No thanks Skyviews, those stories are always best kept for the pub and a decent pint of beer. ;) Fortunately the spec stuff is no longer a concern, but the old war stories from some of your ex-mob are always entertaining.

[skyviews]

You will be based in the NW then ?
With a nice shinny 152??