Large format aerial photography...anyone?

[David Phillips]

Noah,Bob Cameron who shot all those "Above" Citys books used a 6X7 Pentax with a gyro and it worked perfectly. I was with him in the Helicopter when he shot some of the "Above Chicago" book. I would stay away from shooting color negative and shoot
a transparencie film like 100 Ektahrome or one of the Afga films. In my estimation they
are sharper. The Pentax lenses are plenty sharp film film image and Bob's books are
magnificent. He made millions with his books. Too bad he's gone at almost 100 years old. A great talent and a great guy. David Phillips dpcapc@comcast.net

[GPS]

...
If I'm shooting from a chopper at around 500', would I still be ok if I use a fixed infinity focus on 110, 150 and 210mm lenses?

Those are two different questions. The fixed focus is surely ok, the time depends on the vibrations in the helicopter.

[Nathan Potter]

I have framed in my workroom, four prints (Ciba Geigy calendar copies) of images made by Emil Schulthess in 1982 from his book "Swiss Panorama". Even these reproductions are astounding in detail. I'm looking at the image of the "old town" of Lucerne take from above the river Reuss and the swans in the foreground are distinctly reproduced and with such clarity that their bills are distinguishable.

These images were made using a specially designed 360 degree camera with a rotating shutter. The camera was slung below the helicopter on ropes and operated remotely. BTW his book published by Artemis Verlag in Zurich about 1982 is still available through Amazon. I think there was also a US edition by Alfred Knopf, NY.

The view of Armin sitting in the helicopter reminded me of Emils work. Armin it looks like that big camera is suspended on a sling while in use, sort of like what I used while in the Navy with the Fairchild cameras on a P2V Neptune plane.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Armin Seeholzer]

The view of Armin sitting in the helicopter reminded me of Emils work. Armin it looks like that big camera is suspended on a sling while in use, sort of like what I used while in the Navy with the Fairchild cameras on a P2V Neptune plane.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

The Linhof Aerotronica is hanging on an aluminium guide rail with a carabiner like for sailing fixed on a door frames hook and a very strong rubber band is going down to the camera holding points, in emergency which never did happen to me I could just throw the camera out of the cockpit I had just to pull on a green string and push the camera out of the door frame!
This was done after in an incident with a photographer which was killed because of the camera with the wight of it falling on the breast of the photgrapher during the incident!
The pilot survifed the crash with almost nothing!

You almost ever get down, but very seldom a little bit to fast!
1 time a week we did the emergency drill, with autorotation and I had to get the camera fast beetwen my legs in really emergency I would liked to smash it out of the cockbit! Its good to drill it and not to use it;--)))
Cheers Armin

[Armin Seeholzer]

Oh and Emil had a very expensive setup with colaboration of the Swiss army some high end engeeniering etc. The setup was in a range of a middle expensive Swiss house!
I remember me on an exipition of his Panos and also some other pics, he was really good one and also a very good business man!
He worked many years till he was totaly happy with his setup!

Armin

[GPS]

...

If I'm shooting from a chopper at around 500', would I still be ok if I use a fixed infinity focus on 110, 150 and 210mm lenses?

I wonder why nobody, not even the Swiss Army hero, answered your simple question...

[Sevo]

I wonder why nobody, not even the Swiss Army hero, answered your simple question...

Sorry, I simply missed it. At angles around 30-60° at 500ft AGL the distance to the main subject will in the 400-800m range. That is close enough to infinity with normals to slightly longish lenses by my standards.

[Robert Crigan]

In the past I did quite a bit of aerial work but it was all 67 with Pentax equipment. I worked from either fixed wing or helicopter.
A colleague of mine did a lot of aerial work over the years, using only 45. He used a field camera. I don't rememer the type but it wasn't wooden.
In my experience wind is not a problem until the camera is stuck out in the slipstream. Then nothing will stop it vibrating to the point of uselessness. If I needed a near-vertical shot I'd ask the pilot to bank and I'd get enough depression from within the cabin to get the angle I needed.
A potential problem is keeping track of equipment in the tight confines of the cabin. I had just a couple of bodies, some lenses and lots of film. When you have dd's floating around and there's nobody behind you to keep things tidy you'll be busy. It's awefully easy to let something slip and with a door off it becomes a federal offence, at least here in Australia.
My advice is to try out what you've got. Framing and shutter release can be problems on their own. Good luck.

My current photographic project involves doing some aerial photography. I started the project with digital, then went 6x7cm with a Mamiya 7 and now I'm shooting 4x5 (I know, it's a slippery slope to larger formats!).

I'm trying to figure out if I can shoot all 4x5 or if I'd need to stick with 6x7 for the aerial work. I'd love to shoot all one format for consistency as well as simplicity when traveling.

Is it at all possible to shoot aerials with my field camera (a wista 45vx)? It's very rigid and has a shoe that could hold a viewfinder--but I've heard that the bellows can cause vibrations. I'm not sure if I understand why, since if the whole camera is vibrating I'm not sure why a soft bellows would make it worse. Perhaps I could add a stiffener between the back and front standard? Focus should mostly be infinity and the photos would mostly be overall views of urban areas.

I'd be shooting 400 speed color neg with a modern Rodenstock 150mm lens (or maybe 135mm). I'd be shooting from a helicopter, usually with the door removed.

I know the alternatives would be a gaoersi or a fotoman (Anyone selling one with a 120/135/150mm cone???). But since my work does involve travel, if I could get by with the Wista that would be great. I'm not doing aerials full-time, it's just a small part of the project.

Of course I would try it locally first before renting an expensive helicopter overseas, but I was wondering if anyone here has any relevant experience...

[cosmicexplosion]

john schnieder had a gowland 4x5 arial for sale, i think only about $2-300.

they are a fixed box and look nice and simple, kind of point and shoot 4x5.

let me know if you are interested and i will contact him, i almost bought it just fr the point and shoot factor.

[John Schneider]

john schnieder had a gowland 4x5 arial for sale, i think only about $2-300.

Hi Andrew, hope you're continuing to stay ahead of your steep learning curve and are having fun!

I sold the Gowland aerial cam a while ago on eBay (the 612 setup you sold me is far more fun to shoot ), but they're not terrible uncommon. Peter's estate may even still have the parts to assemble a new one. Since they're a simple sheet metal box with handles, a sight, and a Graflex back, they could be recreated by anyone reasonably handy.