High Altitude Aerial Photography
Sometimes, an aerial photography project requires more altitude than our drones can legally fly. The FAA stipulates that we fly no higher than 400 feet above ground level in Class G airspace. This means that sometimes we simply can’t fly high enough to show large communities in a single photo. Once the subject property gets over 20 acres, it’s time to evaluate the shape of the property to see if a drone can handle it or if manned aircraft is the better solution. We also use manned aircraft for Class D airspace in Key West and for offshore islands located more than a half mile from land.
Case in point—Lisa Baez at thenewhomespot.com needed community photos around Marathon, including one of the entire city. At nearly 10 square miles, a photo of Marathon in its entirety is well beyond the capabilities of a drone. Fortunately, our good friend Justin at Ultimate Heli Tours is always making the rounds in Marathon, flying well above 400 feet. We hear him on the aircraft band radio nearly every time we operate in the Middle Keys, giving us a heads-up on where he’s headed so we can stay out of his way. He’s an excellent pilot, flying a Robinson R44 helicopter with up to three guests typically wildlife watchers or visitors checking out Pigeon Key, Sombrero Beach, Seven Mile Bridge, and Sombrero Lighthouse.
This time, I was up there with him—two cameras in hand and shutter speeds in the stratosphere. We needed a little over 1,000 feet to get the shot of Marathon. Despite the hazy conditions, the Canon DSLRs captured enough data for serviceable images that turned out great after processing. In addition to the photos, it was a lot of fun and a short escape from the hot summer down here in the Florida Keys. Check them out here:
