Hi everybody! Paul Seibert here, also known as @BeholdingEye on Instagram.
I'm a New York City area based freelance photographer
with a specialization in aerial photography.
I'm here today to give you 5 tips on how to get the best shot from above.
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So, a question I'm often asked in the DM's is
what lens should I bring on a flight?
There's two possibilities: if you have one body, or if you have two bodies the options expand, obviously.
For the one body people, what I would recommend is the 24 to 70.
It offers enough of a wide angle
so that, if you wanted to get the whole island of Manhattan--
say, if you were all the way downtown by the Financial District--
you could shoot at landscape, and it would be a beautiful print for yourself.
As well as, you can then zoom into the 70 to get some of the details
when you're closer to the buildings.
Second option of two lenses--
what I normally am flying with, especially during the daytime--
is a 16 to 35 on one body and the 70 to 200--
not in my hand but you get the idea--on another body,
so that I can get some ultra-wide panoramic shots
and those, kind of, vertigo-inducing shots
when you're pointing straight down, all the way out wide.
And, the 70-200 offers an incredible amount of detail,
especially when you're flying towards another target.
Okay, so one of the most important things I think when you're flying,
or when you're on a flight somewhere,
is to know your targets
and when you're coming upon your targets,
so that, when you finally reach, say, the Empire State Building or Hudson Yards or the World Trade Center,
you're not scrambling to make sure that your settings are right.
If you have time, what you want to do is make sure that everything is going to be exposed properly
when you get to that spot, so that the only thing that you have to worry about is composition.
A question I'm often asked by people who are interested in flying in helicopters--
and this can apply to also, you know, drone operators and people who are in planes as well--
is "how do I get the most out of my experience?"
"Or that time when I'm piloting." Or whatever situation you find yourself in.
And that would be to have five shots that you absolutely have to get.
You can see them in your mind.
You were brought to wherever you're going because, probably somewhere along the way,
you saw an image and you wanted to put your spin on it.
Okay, so have five options and five frames that you must come away with.
So, this can lead back to our situational awareness,
where, if you see your target and you know that it's coming, alright,
or you're finding yourself, you know, piloting your drone,
and you're coming into that area where you want it to be framed,
you want to make sure--
obviously drone pilots are going to have a lot more time and a lot more freedom
to get your settings right and frame it.
Whereas, if you're in a plane or a helicopter you're moving.
So, the five frame ideas probably would definitely relate a little bit better to
or translate a little bit better for people who are in a moving object
and not in control of slowing down or stopping.
Making sure that your settings are right.
Recognizing, okay, "This is my moment to to frame it"
"the way I see it in my mind's eye."
And get everything lined up perfectly beforehand.
So that, when you're zooming across your frame,
which you probably have maybe two seconds to get,
when you're in a moving aircraft, you're already ready and locked in.
Another question I'm often asked is about settings,
and settings can be difficult just because every day, every flight, every every time is different.
Okay, uh, the basic answer to the settings questions
is that you want your ISO to be low enough,
but your shutter speed to be fast enough.
Okay, so, you will have some play with your aperture to make that happen.
So, what I usually like to do is, on a sunny day like this,
I'm usually starting out around f/9, and trying to keep my ISO between 100 and 400,
depending upon the time of day and how much detail I need in the shadows.
And then, my wild card is my shutter.
Whereas, if I'm shooting something, say, during sunset,
It's a very, very difficult thing to be able to share concrete settings,
as every day is different, like I said.
So, if there's cloud cover or if there's clear skies,
That's two different ways that I go about shooting.
And also adding in the factor that the light is changing precipitously, almost by the minute,
so you really have to be on top of your game.
I don't always recommend sunset as people's first flight,
but it really is the most popular.
So, be prepared, know your settings and be adaptable to that situation.
And the last tip, which actually may seem like a joke but it's actually true,
and it can be quite helpful,
is to bring an extra layer of clothing.
An extra jacket, vest, sweatshirt because even when it's 70 degrees on the ground,
you're moving--you know, if you're in a helicopter--you're moving sometimes 80 miles an hour.
It's kind of like moving 80 miles an hour with the windows down,
and there's no way to stop it.
So, if you're prone to being chilly, bring an extra layer,
and it'll make the experience that much more enjoyable.
Thanks so much!
I hope I gave you a little bit of insight into the world of aerial photography.
If you have any other tips, leave them down below.
And you can find me on Instagram.
@BeholdingEye is my Instagram,
and my website is www.PaulSeibertPhotography.com
Thanks again! I'll see you out there.
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