Aerial photography is growing more and more familiar these days as people want to explore this different and interesting field. It is a comprehensive photography niche that has many different types.
Today in this article, we're going to discuss all the essential types of aerial photography: which will indeed prove to be a piece of very useful information for aerial photographers or people who wish to start aerial photography and want some insight into the niche.
But before talking about that, I have a fun fact about aerial photography for you!
Fun Fact: Aerial photography was first used in 1858!
Well, now that you know a fun fact about your niche, let’s dive into the article and talk about all different types of aerial photography.
Types of aerial photography:
Several types of aerial photography lie in three main categories: camera axis aerial photography, image scale aerial photography, and film and filter aerial photography.
All of these types of aerial photography are distinctive in characteristics and image capturing techniques. You’ll read about all three of them in detail in the following paragraphs.
Camera axis aerial photography:
There are three main types of aerial photography based on the camera axis: vertical, low oblique, and high oblique.
We’re going to discuss all of them in detail as well as get to know how the three of them are different from each other.
So, without any further delay, let’s have a look at the types of aerial photography based on the camera axis.
1. Vertical aerial photography:
Let’s start with vertical aerial photography. This type of aerial photography refers to the vertical camera axis that leads to a photo taken in the vertical position.
Such photographs don’t cover a large area like a wide shot, rather look more like maps because of their overhead characteristics.
2. Low Oblique aerial photography:
This type of aerial photography involves a rotation or tilting of the camera axis by three degrees or more.
However, do keep in mind that this type of aerial photography compromises the amount of perimeter covered in the picture. Often times, the image turns out to be altered to some extent.
These kinds of shots are taken: when the photographer needs more detailed or close-range shots of the location. This type of aerial photography is useful for advertisement and marketing purposes.
3. High Oblique aerial photography:
The high oblique aerial photographs are taken by rotating the camera axis to around 60 degrees. This type of photograph is wider than the types mentioned earlier. Plus, there is full horizon coverage in these photos.
It is a type of aerial photography that is good forcapturing landmarks and identifying geographical features.
Which one is better?
As we discussed above, the vertical type is more suited to mapping purposes, but it can obviously be used for other purposes as well.
However, photographers often prefer oblique because it covers more perimeters. Consequently, a wider shot is produced through this technique.
Moreover, oblique are easier shots to take than the vertical shots that are relatively difficult to capture.
Image Scale aerial photography:
There are two types of image scale photography: large and small.
This kind of aerial photography depends on the altitude from which the shots are being taken.
It's a type of photography that is used for marketing purposes or a detailed look at the property from above.
1. Large Scale aerial photography:
Large scale photo is taken when the aircraft is at a lower elevation. The subject/object is captured relatively in large sizes: which produces more detailed and clear images.
Such type of aerial photography is done to map out, measure landmarks or property. Moreover, in this type of photography, a small precise area is covered.
2. Small Scale aerial photography:
Now in this type of photography, the aircraft is at a relatively higher elevation, and more area is covered in the photographs.
However, the object/subject is in small size. Plus, it isn't as straightforward as it would be with the large scale technique. There is less detail in small scale aerial photography.
Hence, this type of aerial photography is best suited to take top-down shots of landscapes that aren’t taken for mapping or any kind of measurement.
Film and filter aerial photography:
Certain types of aerial photography are based on film and filter, and they too have different uses. So let’s have a look at what these film and filter aerial photography types are.
Panchromatic Image:
Such type of aerial image points to the film that captures the image in grayscale with all of the visible wavelengths of energy.
Color Images:
These photographs are taken in a manner thatall visible color bands are captured. Such type of aerial photography is usually used to analyzeobjects in a particular study area.
Infrared Images:
In this type of aerial photography, infrared films are used to take aerial shots that only record the infrared rays. Moreover, this type of aerial photography is used for vegetation and water bodies.
Radar aerial photography:
Radar aerial photography is done through a specific film that records radar waves only, such as microwaves. Weather professionals use this type of photography to study ectomorphic or use it for weather applications.
Conclusion:
Aerial photography is a very diverse and interesting niche, but a very technical one too. Therefore, in order to understand it fully, you’ve to first go through the fundamentals, such as the different types of aerial photography.
And this article serves best as an informational blog for you to learn about the types of photography.
Oh hey, just one last thing don’t forget to leave your feedback in the comments section along with some suggestions for future posts as well.