Photos from a Helicopter.

[OsmosisStudios]

I'm lucky enough to be living at home during my university years, and exceptionally lucky enough to have a mother that wants to take me on (paid) vacations.

Later this summer, we're going on an Alaskan cruise. I'll be bringing every conceivable piece of camera gear I have, that's a given.

I may also be able to take a helicopter ride and im wondering what I should be doing for photos. I definitely want a shot of the instruments and interior, but was wondering about shooting out the windows.

I dont know what kind of helo it'll be (one with rotors!), so I cant really help on that front, but im really just looking for recommendations

(gear in signature)

[OeterB]

I live at home with parents who like me enough to support me, too! And while I go on a few holidays, they're certainly not Alaska!

That said, one piece of advice with the chopper?

My godfather is a professional photographer --- used to be the photography editor at our local paper, and had his own company doing wedding and event photography before he retired. (Does that make him a pro photog still, or an ex-pro photog?)

He hired a chopper once to get photos for one of the local councils of this development or something. He had his (ex) assistant with him who was a complete ditz. Who managed to stick her hand out the door... while holding an expensive piece of equipment... which was quickly ripped from her hand and fell to an untimely death somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.

The wind whipping past the chopper is quite extreme, so keep your hands and equipment within the confines of the chopper, use your camera strap, and I'd try and keep things nice and simple. You wouldn't want to be doing many lens changes, I wouldn't think. That 18-70 looks like it'd be a nice all round lens.

And, boo, I want to go to Alaska. Actually, I want to live in Canada, first.

[candleman]

you'd definatley want a wide angle lens.. so the 18-70 is what i'd use.. but a bit more zoom would have been nice too.. pitty you sold the 18-200

in terms of types of shots?
not sure, depends on the terrain and weather and time of day,
a chopper wont be hard to shoot from as its only one layer of glass/perspex.. passenger aircrafte can be tricky with multiple layers and frosting between the layers too.

i have done some shots metering for the outside at wide angle (18mm)...thus making the interior black/silouette.
it could be really cool if you are in the front seat of something like a Hughes 500 which is bubble-ish.

i'll send you a link to my mountain shot when its online.

[OsmosisStudios]

Thanks to you both.

I had figured the 18-70 would likely be the best.

OeterB: I hadnt planned on sticking my neck outside the copter. KNowing me, I'd forget about the Cuisinart above my head and suddenly become a good 10" shorter and quite alot dumber. I wouldnt mind shooting out of an open door (like an old blackhawk) but standing on the skids isnt my idea of fun

candleman: Im not sad to have the 18-200 gone. I've gone over some images that I had thought were great from another trip only to find them SERIOUSLY lacking some basics. Good riddance, IMO.

Part of me is tempted to rent something for the two weeks we're gone. An ultra-wide maybe. Ive never taken a cruise before, so I dont know if there's anything on-board ship that would be good to shoot.

[fletch]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

I'm lucky enough to be living at home during my university years, and exceptionally lucky enough to have a mother that wants to take me on (paid) vacations.

Sound like my idea of hell. University is obviously a totally different experience in Canada to the UK. Most people here try to get as far away from home as possible!(That smiley is the closest one to looking drunk!)

Can't help with the chopper shots I'm afraid.

[sk66]

I fly helicopters for a living so I get to take pictures from up there occasionally.

For images of inside, a 10-20mm would work better..there is not much room to get back from the subject, and if it is a helicopter large enough to have a back area there will be stuff in the way... You have the 18mm which might work ok.

For "scenics" from altitude you will find that wide angle shows little detail...it's almost "too much". If it were me, I would expect to use my 80-200 f2.8 primarily. A wide angle could be very cool for a couple of shots...

A helicopter vibrates....A LOT. Fast shutter speed is going to be critical...especially if you're in something like a robinson. A fast lens with VR would be ideal (and expensive).

SECURE YOUR GEAR! You're not going to be able to easily change lenses etc. There is little room for gear, and none of it should be loose. A lost lens because it rolled out of the helicopter is one thing....a downed aircraft because a lens rolled away and jammed up the flight controls is quite another. I've even seen switches inadvertantly moved by a lanyard attached to something which was set on the console...(this was a pair of NVGs and when the pilot picked them up the lanyard caught on the emergency governor switch flipping it into the emergency position...NOT a good thing!)

Open windows or doors removed/open is always better than trying to shoot thru a window....a bubble window can add a lot of distortion to an image. There's always "something" on the windscreen..or there will be shortly...and most are plexi of some sort and have hazing/scratches.

And last, haze....there can be a lot of haze which will ruin any long distance shots/scenics...maybe you'll catch a good day.

[navcom]

Helicopters don't fly...they are just so ugly the earth repels them.

...sorry...had to say it! Back to serious...

As a fixed-wing pilot, I don't have a ton of experience in rotors, but as far as aerial imaging is concerned, the concept is the same. Over the years I've taken hundreds of folks up for "scenic" flights and have also had aerial imaging jobs...both commercially as well as for search and rescue operations.

Couple tips:

1) sk66 is right. For interior shots, or shots where you want to get the perspective of both the inside and the outside while flying, use a wide angle in the 12-18mm range. For outside shots, super wide angle is useless as you will have a hard time not having the aircraft in the photo as well as the complete loss of any detail. But keep in mind that large telephoto lenses are not practical either (200mm+ or so) as it will be hard to get good photos due to aircraft vibration and movement over the ground without a specialized tripod.

2) Have a plan. Have an idea of what you want pictures of and have your gear ready for it. It's been my experience that most folks who take a scenic tourist flight are not necessarily prepared for the whole flight experience as it's something relatively new to them (even if they have flown an airliner many times). What ends up happening is more of a "deer-in-the-headlights" mode...you become engrossed in the sensations of the flight (the view, the aircraft motion, the radio talk, trying to figure out what the pilot is doing, "WOW, look at THAT!", etc.) and forget what you are actually doing. This is NOT a bad thing! It's a blast after all! But if you are hoping to get memorable photos, it may work to your disadvantage if you are not prepared ahead of time. Heck, even after years of flying, I still get like that on occasion!

3) If you can, talk to the pilot ahead of time. Depending on the weather and the aircraft, you might be able to remove windows for better shots or he/she might have ideas to make your trip better since they know the area and more than likely have some photographic knowledge of what works since you are most likely not the first one.

4) Practice shooting photos from the passenger seat of a sub-compact car going down the freeway. It's not the same compositionally and it won't prepare you for shooting in moderate turbulence, but it will give you a good idea of what you are up against logistically....dealing with small spaces, trying to compose through a window in a moving vehicle, storing and accessing your equipment, etc. You can even roll down the window to get that experience as well...just don't stick anything out in the slip-stream!

5) For crying out loud, HAVE FUN! Don't get too caught up in trying to take photos. Enjoy the experience too.

Good luck and don't forget to share some of them photos!

[sk66]

Originally Posted by navcom

Helicopters don't fly...they are just so ugly the earth repels them.

5) For crying out loud, HAVE FUN! Don't get too caught up in trying to take photos. Enjoy the experience too.

Good luck and don't forget to share some of them photos!

I agree....
Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission!

[navcom]

Originally Posted by sk66

I agree....
Helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission!

How about this one: If the wings are moving faster than the fuselage, then it is probably a helicopter, and therefore unsafe.



...couldn't resist.

[sk66]

Why Helicopter Pilots are Different
The thing is, helicopters are different from planes. An airplane by its nature wants to fly, and if not interfered with too strongly by unusual events or by a deliberately incompetent pilot, it will fly. A helicopter does not want to fly. It is maintained in the air by a variety of forces and controls working in opposition to each, and if there is any disturbance in this delicate balance the helicopter stops flying, immediately and disastrously. There is no such thing as a gliding helicopter.
That is why being a helicopter pilot is so different from being an airplane pilot, and why, in general .......

airplane pilots are open, clear-eyed, bouyant extroverts, and helicopter pilots are brooders, introstpective anticipators of trouble. They know if something bad has not happened, it is about to.

-- Harry Reasoner, February 16, 1971*


No worries Ossmosis...In over 20 years of flying helicopters, most of them single engined, I've never "crash landed" for real....

I hope you do get the opportunity...The first time in a helicopter at altitude is WEIRD...especially in a bubble cockpit. It STILL gets me sometimes when I fly with the doors off/open...
I have a little fear of heights!