Back in 2015, during a season’s grip in the New Jersey helicopter hangar, a question popped into my head: “Can you catch the entire island of Manhattan into the same image?”
A quick Google revealed some overall frames and some certain-wing high altitude versions. I decided to go to a separate route. Canon recently released his 8–15 mm fish zoom, and most widely, the lens captures a fully circular image with a view of 180 degrees on a full-frame sensor. I used one on ebay and popped some frames as a test during an event coverage flight at 3500ft. I guessed that double may be able to fit that height inside all the fish circles of manhattan and with the help of your friends FlynionI quickly found myself hanging from A-star over an icy central park on the afternoon of February 1.
The first attempt was successful, and I found a green light a few weeks later to try the night version. It was unknowingly very cold, and miraculously, Y. I avoided the high winds and 1/60 second shutter speed. I passed a quick color and exported because we were out in the hangar, and I went to the next project.
I am moonlight as an aerial photographer and have been swept away with Flynians for more than 10 years at this point. I started the stock shooting and eventually went into real estate/commercial photography and event coverage. Some jobs were wheels-up, sub-zero temperature at 4 o’clock, which were able to pursue the shutter release of my fingers. Others found us high at the Metlife Stadium, with fireworks in the sky with 400 mm lens trained in a group of yoga participants during the Star Spangled Banner or in a group of Yoga Square.
I popped some rolls of Aerochrome 120 in a Rz67 among places on a real estate shoot and was lucky enough to stay in the air during the fourth place of the July Firework Show. All of them, good luck have allowed me to experience a lot of experience in an exploitation, swinging the feet over the city. Many of these Gigs were before the drone, causing Hawaii Kalpana to reach the public.
I am not an anti-drain in any way (I regularly use them on my film projects and have a part 107 licenses), but with completing this series, I went with back helicopters.
First, NYC has incredibly restrictive drone laws. They are compulsorily banned by the city by flying in all five boros (with the exception of some designated model aircraft areas) without NYPD permits. Permits for takeoff and landing have required a cost of $ 150 (not refunded if not rejected), requires at least 30 days ago, rules require notice about flight to publicly posted the rules, and are always subject to change. And before you have considered all FAA laws about flying at the city and 4 major airports of 8.25 million people. And here is the kicker: I must be 7,000+ feet at the Central Park for this image to work.
Once there is a compromise about our time limit for flight, there are many technical ideas for this project. First, the position of the helicopter is important, and you need to be able to communicate with the pilot. The problem here is that it is incredibly air at this height, so any live feed microphone you worn will get flooding in line with air buffet. Push-to-talk will function technically, but I usually need both hands for camera operation. We decided that someone decided to sit with me a kitty-corner, which I directly directed through the signal, and they communicate directly with the pilot. This allows the pilot to hover directly on the target (in this example baseball diamonds to the south of the reservoir) until I believe that we do not have a shot.
Fortunately, the last image is circular and thus can be rotated 360 degrees without a crop, so it does not matter in which direction the helicopter is eventually cope with. I think it is clear that the final position is not accurate in all these images. Air, lack of time, and FAA instructions kill the same mark every time they are almost impossible. But it does not stop us from trying.
Second, is the time of air race clearance and climbing. Pilot is in advance for clearance (terminal radar approach control) in advance and is constantly on radio during flight, coordinating with local airport towers. Climbing at the location can sometimes be more than half an hour, which depends on the path determining the towers, which is determined what the runways commercial airlines are using. For example, on our two most recent flights, we climbed 20 minutes near Koni Island and then spent more than 30 minutes by Newarark. They provide an opportunity to shoot some less-photograph areas of the long ascending region and zip additional layers. Our previous flight temperature was on the ground in the 80s, but was well dipped in the 40s when we were at height. Fingerless gloves and a stocking cap are always ready for high altitude flights regardless of the season.
We raised the project a few weeks ago with an afternoon flight and during another blue hour. Once we get into a position, it takes only a few minutes to get the shot. I bracket the exposure and shoot as an F-stop because the light allows to ensure that it is sharp. This type of aerial photography is an incredibly expensive attempt, R hence there is no time to review images. Knowing that the settings are correct and relying on your camera is the key to success. I always fly with many bodies; Changing the lens when the doors are closed is very dangerous, and safety is paramount. After the completion of this shot, the body is wrapped and secured with Fisheya, and then I switch to my 2 and third body to the lineage. My Go-to-normal-purpose lens canon has 16-35 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. To be honorable, it is very difficult to take a bad picture from this point of view.
I am very happy so far from this series, but definitely place for improvement. If you ever want to get a separate view of NYC, test some new kits, or move to the city from above, helicopter photography is always an incredible experience. It is not lost on me that it is a complete privilege to be able to do this professionally and I will not be in this position without flyan pilots and employees. Hopefully, I have an opportunity to fly another high height for this decline, I think a fish with the Central Park in full autumn colors will actually go round the chain.
About the author: Taylor is a Brooklyn -based filmmaker and cinematographer. After starting his career in fashion as a digital technology and photo assistant, he went into filmmaking as an AC and has been working as DP and director since 2010. He has shot on every settlement continent in more than 50 countries. The documentary is his favorite projects that are sometimes for the work along with music videos. His hobby includes marathon running, repairing mechanical watches, skiing and anything including passports.
Image Credit: All photos © Taylor Scott Mason | Website , Instagram
