Aerial photography refers to the taking of photographs from an elevated position. Usually, the photographs are taken from some air- borne craft or equipment such as rockets, airplanes, hot- air balloons and drones.
For a photograph to qualify as an aerial photograph, it must be taken using equipment that its base is not on the ground. There are many categories of aerial photography, usually categorised according to the angle of taking a photograph.
Aerial photographs are also categorised according to the proximity and width of the area covered in the photograph about the subject of the photography.
As such, there are oblique, vertical, high, low, wide or close- up aerial photographs. It is possible for a single photograph to fall into two or three such categories. Hence, you can have an oblique photograph that is flat and wide at the same time.
Types Of Aerial Photographs
Oblique Photographs
Oblique photographs are those that are taken at an angle. These can either be wide or close-up, and high or low.
True Vertical Photographs
Unlike oblique photographs, vertical photographs are those that are taken directly from the object to be captured.
Special equipment is required for these kinds of photographs, as one has to take them at an angle of 900 above the object, with a variation of only up to 30. Such photographs are exceedingly important, as they exclusively used for mapping and calculating distance.
There are some photographs that are a tad more accurate than real vertical photographs. These are known as ortho- rectified vertical photographs. These photographs have been edited to make them devoid of any distortions.
Near Vertical Photographs
These photographs are a cross between oblique photographs and true vertical ones. They are not as precise and accurate as true vertical photographs, but they are close to being so.
Taking near vertical photographs does not require the use of special cameras, as is the case with true vertical photographs. However, special aircraft with pods is necessary to take these photos.
Wide Photographs
To determine whether or not a photograph is wide, one needs to look at the subject of the photograph.
If you want to include the surroundings of that subject in the photograph, then it is a wide photograph. Such photographs are important when one needs to capture a large area for planning purposes or such.
There are some photographs that are exceptionally wide, and also called as panorama images. Sometimes, it is impossible for one to capture a panorama image using a camera, so some are stitched together using computer programs.
Close Ups
Close up photographs are the exact opposite of wide photographs. In these photographs, the subject of the photography is the primary area of focus. With such shots, one can capture details of the topic of the photography.
Ideally, close up shots should fill the frame intended for the image. Sometimes, they are magnified to fill the frame. This could interfere with image quality, but if size is the priority, then one can compromise with the quality.
High Photographs
High photographs are those that include the horizon
Low photographs
Predictably, low photographs are those where the horizon is not captured alongside the image.