Aerial Photography was originally developed as a surveillance tool to
map out the land ‘behind enemy lines’ and to highlight potential
targets, strengths and weaknesses within the enemy during periods of
conflict.
This form of Survey Photography or Vertical Photography is still used today although in the civil world it obviously has very different applications.
Vertical photography is therefore taken in a vertical aspect which
not only allows a large area to be covered with each image but also
allows images to be ‘stitched’ together to create an overlapping mosaic
if a very large area is required. Recent advances in image editing
software allow this to be done automatically at the touch of a button
and are ideal for large Event Photography or Progress Photography where height restrictions apply.
There a many companies within the UK who offer Vertical Photographic
services. An accurate vertical image can only be acquired using a
vertical cage or camera mount which can either be positioned outside
the aircraft or sometimes inside using a hole in the floor.
Cessna aircraft can be equipped with a vertical cage which
mechanically slides out of the side baggage door of the aircraft or
alternatively forms part of the door. All of these external cage mounts
must be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority as airworthy
adaptations to the design of the aircraft. Without this paperwork the
operator will be flying illegally and may be liable to prosecution.
Usually the cameras are controlled remotely from a laptop within the
front of the aircraft, this not only allows remote image capture but
also allows full adjustment of all camera settings from within the
comfort of the aircraft while undertaking Vertical Photography
Keith McGregor is a partner of Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth. Strawberrysoup specialise in creative web design, content managed websites, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing and graphic design
