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5 Tips for Shooting Photos & Video from a Helicopter

Sometimes shooting from the air is essential. While there are increasingly more options besides a helicopter (we’ve shot more with R/C helis in recent years – click here and click here to see some of the highlights of these fun toys) sometimes there is simply no substitute for a good old-fashioned chopper. For example, the shoot we’re currently working here in Cape Town with Mike Horn and crew demanded that we take to the air for the shot list we’re working on.

Top 5 Tips for Shooting from a Heli:

1. Book with the right operation. Go with a well-recommended outfit. An operation that has pilots who understand photographer/filmer needs is essential. We photographers and filmers have unique time pressures around light and weather considerations – it works out better when your pilot and ground-team understand this.

2. Make sure that the doors can come off for photography and filming. And then make sure they are off when you arrive.

3. Dress warmly. No matter what time of year it is. The rotors make it chilly.

4. Use a safety harness. Attach yourself to heli at two points (eg: the frame and floor) plus your seatbelt. If you do not have a harness – tape the seatbelt clasp liberally with gaffers tape. Ideally you can move about freely. Note: a regular climbing harness and carabiner will work in a pinch but a the full-body roofer harness is preferred.

5. Use camera exposures of higher than 1/1250s. Ideally 1/1600s or greater. This will insure that your shots are free of motion blur. There is lots of motion see inside a heli that you can see and not see (both high and low frequency). Adjust the rest of your settings (ISO/Aperture) to get the proper exposure around that shutter speed.

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[As another point of reference – some of you might recall the video I ran a couple years ago that was a visual run-through of my pre-flight. Check that out by clicking HERE.]

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21 replies on:
5 Tips for Shooting Photos & Video from a Helicopter

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  1. Martin Jensen says:
    May 19, 2014 at 11:15 am

    Hi
    Great tips! What are your recommendations for shooting video from a helicopter? I’m thinking about best shutter speed and fps. What about ND-filter?

    I have a Canon 6d with a 24-105mm lens and i’m heading to Hawaii this summer. Would like to shoot an amateur video from a helicopter above Kauai 🙂

    Thank you!
    //Martin

  2. Richard says:
    September 25, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    For my marine work I often shoot out of a heli. Best advice I have is buy or rent a hand held gyro which goes under your camera. It eliminates most if not all vibration and allows for beautiful motion blur while keeping your subject sharp. Same goes for shooting out of an airplane. And you can use it for your camcorder to get smooth pans. I wouldn’t go up with out one…!

  3. Hannah E. says:
    September 25, 2012 at 11:38 am

    As far as the harnesses go, I recommend getting your own because you’re likely to use it multiple times and they’re easy to travel with. Petzl has an entire division dedicated to work and rescue specific gear. If you get your own harness, you know it will fit and you will know how to use it. They’re reasonably affordable too. How did you like Cape Town? It’s one of my favorite places.

  4. arcadius says:
    August 28, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    it very helpful article – thanks
    I gonna try some of the tips next week

  5. Oscar says:
    August 22, 2012 at 1:09 am

    Or use a stabilised camera platform mounted on the outside of the heli, like Flir or Wescam! No need to dress up warm, use harnass etc. etc. etc.

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