Hey Everyone,
About two months ago I started discussing the possibility of chartering a helicopter with a landscape artist and getting some shots of Rottnest Island. We decided that we wanted to get shots of Parker Point and Geordie Bay and then photograph Thompsons Bay on the way back to Jandakot Airport. I’ve done some aerial stuff offshore with Christian and Mike Fletcher but this was just awesome as I was the main shooter and hanging out the door. If you’ve not hung out the door of a chopper whilst taking photos you should! Its heaps easier than climbing over lots of rocks and steep hills.
If you are going to shoot from the helicopter make sure that you tell the helicopter pilot exactly what you are after and don’t be afraid to direct them once you are in the air. You’re paying a lot of money for the helicopter and they understand that. If you want to hover at 200ft ask them to do it. If you want them to do a fast circle over something get them to do it. You’re the boss.
Have any of you guys thought of getting into a helicopter? As always feedback and comments are always appreciated.
Hope you all have a great weekend,
Jamie Paterson
10 Comments
Sounds like a lot of fun Jamie…and a great (different) perspective of rotto.
Hi Chris,
It was stacks of fun, though you do keep checking your harness to make sure you are 100% strapped in!
Jamie
I have to agree with you, shooting out of a chopper is the best. I have been up quite a few times and it really pays to find out if the pilot has had many hours with photographers, the last time i was up i had a very very average pilot. Long story short, he did something wrong, the chopper went sideways (door off) and if i didn’t have a neck strap on my pano camera it would have been fish food. btw i never have a neck strap on the pano camera so i guess luck was on my side this day.
Love the shot but I think that the sand dunes have a bit of a magenta cast on them which draws my eye away from the channel where the boats are.
Hi Darren,
Talk about lucky. I would’ve been pretty upset if I’d lost my camera would make great YouTube footage though. I’ll check out the dunes.
Jamie
Jamie,
Nice shot mate…. Love the colours.. .My brother has his own chopper ( http://rodthomas.zenfolio.com/p570377215/h227da948#h227da948 )
and also here http://rodthomas.zenfolio.com/p570377215/h2a7c55ec#h2a7c55ec
If you ever get over this way, well try and get our ass’s up there mate and do some aerial stuff around here…..
Hey Rod,
It looks like I might be heading over that way in early September with Mike Fletcher. I’m actually heading to Tassie but I’m thinking of diverting to Sydney on the way home. If I don’t do it then I will most likely head to Sydney after my late November Tassie trip. I’d love to do some aerial stuff around your way! Thanks for the links I’ll check them out.
Jamie
Nice one Jamie…and they’re fun to jump out of as well!
Hey Mark
Thanks for that mate. Now you just know that I’m not going to jump out of a helicopter. Unless of course if wasn’t too high and it was into the water. Hope you guys are having heaps of fun over there.
Jamie
Looks like a beautiful day out on the water, or above it in your case.
Hey Luke,
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂 It was a beautiful day both in and out of the water. Is there really such a thing as a bad day out at Rottnest?
Jamie