Taylor's Transportation Blog

One of the great things about taking a scenic flight is having the opportunity to capture those stunning views. For anyone interested in photography, it can be a dream come true, and yet it's easy to mess up shots when you aren't used to using your camera on a plane, especially a smaller model.

Here are just seven tips to follow if you want to take spectacular photos during your scenic flight.

1. Hood the Lens

If you're using a camera with a fitted lens, you should attach a lens hood to cut down on reflections. If you don't have a lens hood or happen to be shooting with a camera that cannot fit one, cup your hand around the lens as much as possible.

2. Start Snapping Early

If you've ever been on a long-distance flight, you'll probably have noticed that windows start to gain more condensation as the flight goes on. Many scenic flights only last a couple of minutes, so this isn't something to worry about. However, many last an hour or more, and it's not uncommon for the windows to be at little clearer when you first set off. If you can, start taking pictures right away instead of waiting.

3. Speak to the Pilot

If you're planning on taking some pictures during the flight, try speaking to the pilot. They'll be able to tell you when points of interest are coming up, and they'll let you know when they're going to bank the plane.

4. Set the Shutter Speed High

You need to guard against blurred photos when you're shooting from a moving plane, so make sure the shutter speed is set high.

5. Shoot Straight

It can be tempted to shoot your photos at an angle to the window when you're trying to get different views or snap something that just passed. Unfortunately, shooting at an angle increases optical distortion, so try shooting straight on.

6. Don't Touch the Window

Some photographers attempt to steady larger cameras against the window, but this is a bad idea. Vibrations caused by the plane's engines will only make your camera impossible to hold straight, and they may even do some damage if there's a bit of a bump.

7. Switch to Manual Focus

If you leave your camera on auto focus, it's going to get confused between the scenery you want to capture and the window it needs to shoot through, which can lead to out-of-focus shots. Make sure that doesn't happen by setting your camera to manual focus before you leave the ground.

For more information about taking a scenic tour to get the photos of a lifetime, contact businesses like Professional Helicopter Services Pty Ltd.