Advanced Photography Course

CHAPTER 4

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

With the development of sophisticated airborne

photographic systems, most aerial photographs today

are made by photo-configured aircraft, such as the F-14
Tomcat with the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod
System (TARPS). The role of the Photographer's Mate
in aerial photography evolves less flying as a crew
member and increased responsibilities in a
ground-support function. Even with this changing role,
you may be called upon from time to time to make
hand-held vertical photographs and oblique
photographs from airplanes and helicopters. This aerial
photography could include such assignments as
gunnery exercises, refueling at sea, publicity photo-
graphy, construction progress, accident investigation,
ship identification, display pictures, mapping, aerial
motion-media work, and so on. As a knowledgeable
PH you may also have to train non-photographic
personnel in the operation of cameras and
picture-making techniques for antisubmarine warfare
and maritime surveillance photography.

Aerial photographs are taken from a variety of

altitudes. The altitude ranges are defined as follows:

Low altitude: 0 to 1,500 feet

Medium altitude: 1,500 to 10,000 feet

High altitude: 10,000 feet and above

As a Photographer's Mate, your aerial photographic

assignments are normally accomplished from low to
medium altitudes.

CATEGORIES OF AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY

Three basic categories of aerial photography are in

use today: vertical, oblique, and air-to-air. The vertical
and oblique categories are broken down further into
types of aerial photography. The three basic categories
are discussed first.

VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Vertical aerial photography is accomplished with

the camera held or suspended in the aircraft, so it points

directly downward with the optical axis of the lens
perpendicular to the ground (fig. 4-1). At the moment
of exposure, when the camera is level and the film is
parallel to the ground, the result is a photograph, for all
practical purposes, with a uniform scale. However, if
the aircraft is climbing, diving, banking, or the camera
is tilted for any other reason at the moment of exposure,
the resulting photography does not have a uniform

scale. It is always important in vertical aerial
photography to hold the camera in a true vertical
position. The angle between the camera axis (or optical
axis) and the true vertical position is called the TILT
ANGLE; straight down, perpendicular to the ground, is

0 degrees, and straight out, parallel to the ground, is
90 degrees (fig. 4-2). The purpose of vertical aerial
photography is to show details clearly of ground objects

at a uniformly accurate scale. In peacetime, these aerial

photographs are valuable for mapping and for planning
locations of buildings, streets, runways, docks, and
other similar projects. During wartime, vertical aerial
photography is valuable for a variety of military
purposes, such as determining enemy location, strength,

and capability.

The entire view of a vertical image is not perfectly

vertical because only the very center of the image area
is taken straight down. A building in the center of a
vertical image shows only the roof, but a building near
the edge shows part of the sides in addition to the roof.
Although this slight change in the viewing angle from
center to edge of the image is undesirable when you try
to match prints for laying strips or mosaics, it does
provide the necessary differences in photos for stereo
viewing.

Most vertical aerial photography is performed with

photo-configured aircraft. It is possible, however, to
make hand-held vertical photographs from planes and
helicopters.

OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY

An oblique aerial photograph is made with the

camera directed out and down at an angle from the

aircraft (not straight out and not straight down). For
accuracy, the amount of the oblique angle is stated in
degrees. The angle between the camera axis (or optical

4-1

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DOFMaster for Windows On-line Depth of Field Calculator DOFMaster for Mobile Devices On-line Depth of Field Table Hyperfocal Distance Chart Articles FAQ Recommended Books Support Contact Links Home As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	contents <- previous page next page -> CHAPTER 4 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY With the development of sophisticated airborne photographic systems, most aerial photographs today are made by photo-configured aircraft, such as the F-14 Tomcat with the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS). The role of the Photographer's Mate in aerial photography evolves less flying as a crew member and increased responsibilities in a ground-support function. Even with this changing role, you may be called upon from time to time to make hand-held vertical photographs and oblique photographs from airplanes and helicopters. This aerial photography could include such assignments as gunnery exercises, refueling at sea, publicity photo- graphy, construction progress, accident investigation, ship identification, display pictures, mapping, aerial motion-media work, and so on. As a knowledgeable PH you may also have to train non-photographic personnel in the operation of cameras and picture-making techniques for antisubmarine warfare and maritime surveillance photography. Aerial photographs are taken from a variety of altitudes. The altitude ranges are defined as follows: Low altitude: 0 to 1,500 feet Medium altitude: 1,500 to 10,000 feet High altitude: 10,000 feet and above As a Photographer's Mate, your aerial photographic assignments are normally accomplished from low to medium altitudes. CATEGORIES OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Three basic categories of aerial photography are in use today: vertical, oblique, and air-to-air. The vertical and oblique categories are broken down further into types of aerial photography. The three basic categories are discussed first. VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY Vertical aerial photography is accomplished with the camera held or suspended in the aircraft, so it points directly downward with the optical axis of the lens perpendicular to the ground (fig. 4-1). At the moment of exposure, when the camera is level and the film is parallel to the ground, the result is a photograph, for all practical purposes, with a uniform scale. However, if the aircraft is climbing, diving, banking, or the camera is tilted for any other reason at the moment of exposure, the resulting photography does not have a uniform scale. It is always important in vertical aerial photography to hold the camera in a true vertical position. The angle between the camera axis (or optical axis) and the true vertical position is called the TILT ANGLE; straight down, perpendicular to the ground, is 0 degrees, and straight out, parallel to the ground, is 90 degrees (fig. 4-2). The purpose of vertical aerial photography is to show details clearly of ground objects at a uniformly accurate scale. In peacetime, these aerial photographs are valuable for mapping and for planning locations of buildings, streets, runways, docks, and other similar projects. During wartime, vertical aerial photography is valuable for a variety of military purposes, such as determining enemy location, strength, and capability. The entire view of a vertical image is not perfectly vertical because only the very center of the image area is taken straight down. A building in the center of a vertical image shows only the roof, but a building near the edge shows part of the sides in addition to the roof. Although this slight change in the viewing angle from center to edge of the image is undesirable when you try to match prints for laying strips or mosaics, it does provide the necessary differences in photos for stereo viewing. Most vertical aerial photography is performed with photo-configured aircraft. It is possible, however, to make hand-held vertical photographs from planes and helicopters. OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY An oblique aerial photograph is made with the camera directed out and down at an angle from the aircraft (not straight out and not straight down). For accuracy, the amount of the oblique angle is stated in degrees. The angle between the camera axis (or optical 4-1 contents Advanced Photography Course <- previous page next page ->	As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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