How to Photograph a City at Night from a Helicopter

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(via Serge Ramelli)

Ok, I know the title sounds like it belongs in a fancy magazine, but seeing and photographing a city like New York from a helicopter isn't such an unachievable dream. It might set you back a few hundreds, but it can be a once in a lifetime experience, or at least one that you'll remember for many years.

And since a night flight like this is a rare opportunity, you don't want your game to suck when it comes to photography. Chances are you've never done aerial photography before, so it's a good idea to prepare before the flight.

Starting with gear, we recommend shooting with a camera that has very good ISO capabilities. Think cameras like the Sony A7S that work incredibly well at values over 12.000. Your lens should also be a bright one, so don't use anything darker than f/2.8.

When it comes to settings, the first thing to have in mind is that you'll be riding in a moving helicopter. Long exposures are therefore out of the question.  We don't suggest using any speed slower than 1/80th. If you can get away with 1/125th or shorter, you'll have a better chance of keeping detail. In terms of ISO, the same rule that applies to all other types of photography should be considered: use the lowest possible value. Even if you do have a capable camera, stick to the minimum value. Don't get too excited yet, because that minimum value could be ISO 8000.

Finally, shoot as much as you can. You won't have a lot of time as these tours don't usually last more than 25 minutes. Make the most of it and photograph in continuous high mode, although don't lose your head because the last thing you want is the run out of memory half way through the tour. Speaking of memory, pack two or three memory cards with you just in case.

Photographer Serge Ramelli shares his experience photographing New York at night in one of his trademark videos. Enjoy!

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