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The art of Very Low Altitude Aerial Photography
(VLAAP) has a strange history. For many years it has been impossible
to accomplish VLAAP because the technique was just not mature. Aerial
photography is almost as old as flying itself - people took cameras
into the air as soon as they went up in balloons and early aircraft.
So the tools and techniques for aerial photo work are well established.
But what about that dedicated minority who prefers to shoot in the
altitude range that starts under six feet, and where most of the best
work is done at only a foot or two above the ground?
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 Using
standard aircraft for VLAAP is not practical. Even a 150 mph airspeed
at an altitude of two feet makes it very difficult to get a clear
image. And most planes are simply too far from the ground - even
when sitting on the runway. Here we see an attempt at VLAAP in a
standard plane. The pilot is trying to get close to the ground by
flying upside down, but the large wing blocks the view.
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 A
helicopter would seem a better choice than a fixed wing aircraft since
a chopper can indeed hover in one spot right above the ground. However,
bitter experience has taught us that there are multiple drawbacks
to helicoper VLAAP. For one thing, the strong downblast tends to scatter
the subject matter, particularly the highly prized leaf litter on
snow. And in the case of urban VLAAP many of the best spots to photograph
worn paint are in major intersections where it is not considered good
form to hover in a chopper two feet from the ground for extended photo
sessions. |
 Hot
air balloons appeared at one point to be the ideal solution for VLAAP,
and here we see a dedicated pioneer of VLAAP with his assistants towing
him to his next shot. However, after much testing and, quite frankly
a lot of hype, balloon VLAAP was found to be a less than idea solution.
Overhead wires and trees, the nemesis of the balloonist, are often
found too close to some of the best VLAAP subjects, which puts the
balloon VLAAPist at a severe disadvantage. |
 In
the end the most effective method for VLAAP is simply to lie in a
horizontal position a few feet above the ground. While this method
does take some practice it gives the accomplished VLAAP photographer
the most freedom since no large motorized equipment is necessary.
In this photo we see an advanced student of VLAAP hovering over a
site in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, that is reputed to have some of
the finest pavement paint around. |
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