Anyone shot aerials from a helicopter? My first time on Monday... Any advice?

A

AppaLuci

Active member
It's just little ol' me with my handy hand-held DVX100a and DV tape. Going 16:9, 30p. Yes, it's for a job. I've been in a few helicopters, but never shooting. Mainly I'd welcome advice regarding what to be careful of, aware of, any pitfalls to avoid...just whatever experience anyone has. Obviously, the shake/stabilization factor... I won't have any additional tools or equipment for stabilizing, it's me holding the cam. I don't even know if I'm shooting through a window or not? I can't imagine the thought of holding my dvx by hand out the window! Yikes. And, exposure, movement, what anyone has found that works and doesn't work. It's for a promo video for a helicopter business. Getting shots of their airfield and hangars, etc. And inside the chopper, pilot, etc. Thanks, anyone!
 
BE CAREFUL!


Run a search here for "helicopter" and you'll find some good information.

But most importantly safety first. And be careful!


- Mikko
 
I would also want to know the same. I've been awarded a job to shoot coastline of an island covering a distance of about 1,400 km. I have a DVX102B & would like to know if by using a steadicam would suffice to get a stable image.

Trying to find a reason to buy myself a steadicam using the client's money... thus teh reason I try not to get a heli-mount stabilizer.
 
NEVER EVER use a Steadicam in a Helicopter. It is extremly dangerous and the complelty wrong too for the job.

Tyler Mounts, Wescam & Gyros are the tools for Helicopters.

- Mikko
 
Think of the chopper as one big camera rig, make the chopper do the pans and tilts. Makes the images look a lot better than if you make the pans and tilts yourself. If you can, get the pilot a little monitor so he knows what you are shooting. That way you can give him directions and references as to what the camera sees.

Gyros would be sweet and a world of difference if you have the means...
 
Your challenge is going to be holding the camera still enough. I assume if they're putting you up with just a DVX, they don't have the money for a Tyler Mount -- which usually requires rental, a technician to install it, and a helicopter mechanic to certify the installation. You could be looking at $2,000 or so when you're done. Most professional pilots are very strict about what they allow shooters to do. Hopefully yours will give you some good advice. Basically, you don't want ANYTHING to leave the aircraft, which risks hitting the tail rotor and causing a crash.
 
Thank you all for the advise & warning. I never have experience doing aerial videography before & neither does the client. Thus the reason why I need to find out some details to present to the client. They're willing to fork out the capital but they need to know whether they need to rent the stabilizer mount or just purchase one for long term purpose since their project will run for more than 10 years. One of the option that I could think of is a steadicam/glidecam setup which I thought I can use for my other projects. Seems that it's not such a good idea then.
 
A professional helicopter shoot requires them to remove the side door, take out the seat, and use the seat bolts for the Tyler mount. A Tyler mount isn't like a glidecam or something you just buy. They are highly, highly technical pieces of gear. Also, when you rent a tyler mount and hire the technician to install it, the rental house will want a certificate of insurance. So just bear in mind that to do it right takes time and planning. I suspect you're talking about doing it guerilla, in which case a search or google of tips for how to safely steady the camera. I'd begin with a monopod just to use as a handle. I always have a monopod attached to my DVX when handholding, even if the monopod isn't making contact with the ground.
 
Johnnyfive said:
Think of the chopper as one big camera rig, make the chopper do the pans and tilts. Makes the images look a lot better than if you make the pans and tilts yourself. If you can, get the pilot a little monitor so he knows what you are shooting. That way you can give him directions and references as to what the camera sees.

Gyros would be sweet and a world of difference if you have the means...
Click to expand...


Bad advice. The pilot's job is to fly the helicopter, not to make your shots. If they are concentrating on a monitor, they aren't looking out for your safety.

Discuss and communicate with the pilot where you want to go, but then let them fly, while you worry about shooting.

- Mikko
 
Well, even though Stealthy hopped on in with his question, I still learned some valuable things to apply to my shoot. Yeah, I won't have the Tyler mounts or anything fancy this time... guerilla is right. Mister Big, do you recommend I have my tripod (don't have a true monopod but the 3 legs together of my Manfotto sort of does the trick usually) attached to my camera while up in the chopper, and holding IT, not the camera to get my shots?

It's funny, everyone emphasizes our safety, and while yes I appreciate that reminder, I had sorta put that in my mind BEHIND the first priority: ensuring the safety of my DVX. If I'm actually holding it and getting shots of hangars below and such, I need to do it so it's secure. You think involving the tripod would help matters? I think these choppers are pretty small...

And, it's not like this is a fancy-flying kind of shoot. It's simply some aerials of their facility, since they are promoting their business and flying IS their business. I have a feeling I'm over-preparing myself for what will actually go down, but that's never a bad thing. More than likely, what I'm attempting to do won't be too hard, but ya'll's feedback for me sure does help me to prepare.

Thanks for all the input guys. And, good luck to you too, Stealthy.
 
No, I don't recommend the tripod up there -- too big, to awkward, too many legs. These choppers really are small. Just use a simple stick of a monopod that you don't extend, but only use as an extra vertical handle on your DVX. Pop for a monopod. One hand on the monopod. One hand in the strap of the DVX. That way both the monopod and camera are secured if they should come apart.

Stay wide. You go telephoto and it's gonna be herky jerky -- unless that's what you're looking for. Whatever you do, make sure everything is tight and together. You don't want anything to come apart in the air.

I only know this from producing a show in which the Varicam operator and I went up in a chopper with a full tyler system.

The bottom line is you are going to have to become a human steadycam. The monopod at its shortest length (again, DO NOT extend it to the chopper floor), held with the left hand. Then use the right hand under the DVX strap. That combination yields me the steadiest non steadicam shots on the ground. I'd imagine it would help minimize shaking and vibration in the air.

Be safe.
 
I've flown and shot with some really good pilots who understand photography. They will and can fly the helicopter to get your shots. Don't try and zoom and pan yourself, the results are lousy. Brief your pilot fully as to the shots you need, and they can get you great results - for example starting low over the subject and flying tight cirlcles higher and higher up. Great effect. Essential to remove the door of the aircraft, and if possible sit in the doorway behind the pilot, so you are both in the same orientation for the subject. You must have communications with the pilot via intercom. There is a lot of noise and often vibration, so stay on wide shots if you can - use the aircraft to get the shots and angles you need. Good luck and enjoy.
 
Sorry for jumping in your thread again AppaLuci. After reading everything out again, suddenly it strike me that since3d animation is also background, I thought of animating my proposed flight-path.... get approval from the client... show the approved flight path (animation movie) to the pilot & tell him that that's how I want him to fly the chopper. Would this make any sense...??
 
stealthy said:
Sorry for jumping in your thread again AppaLuci.
Click to expand...

Hey, Stealthy, no problem... jump on in! I don't mind someone else digging in and learning from a thread I began. We're all here to learn. Group discussion is productive!

Besides, I've gotten plenty feedback here to feel better about my question... this forum really does rock. :thumbsup:
 
Hi there,

I don't have any experience shooting from aerial mounts other than hot air balloons, so my advice may be limited in this application.

It would be my belief that a tripod is nearly useless in a helicopter because of the vibrations inherent in the airframe, as well as the rapid changes in orientation of the aircraft. There's no possible way to continually keep the tripod head level as the helicopter pitches and rolls on all three axes.
 
I don't have any experience shooting out of a helicopter but I do have experience nearly falling out of one. I was in a jump seat in an open door of a Huey. The seat belt wouldn't tighten up on my skinny a$$ and the pilot decides to do a hard bank turn. There was absolutely nothing for me to grab and hold on to besides that limp seat belt.
Regardless of what model you fly in, do like you are doing now; plan ahead
AND be freakin careful!.
 
Lucinda,
Check out the stuff I shot for a Air Rescue Service here in Austin.
Flight
Number one rule around aircraft. Make certain the pilot knows where you are. Number two: do what the aircrew tells you.
Hope you have or had fun.
-Will
 
I'm back and still alive!! Well, the experience was great. I had a great time, and was very lucky that the pilot was just a very cool guy who has done this aplenty. And, the other nice thing was I wasn't working under the pressure of HAVING to get that PERFECT particular shot; all I really needed was a few nice seconds of an aerial view of the facility, and it gave me time to just relax and shoot everything and practice.

We went up twice, and I think the second time I did a little better. I had a loose belt around my waist and spent most of the time spun outward, leg out resting against a leg rest. I hooked my camera in a long line... just in case!! God forbid I would underestimate the wind and have it tumble out of my hand... so that felt better. But it was no problem after all. It was easy. I will say though, yes it's hard to keep it real steady... when the helicopter shudders a little as it moves from a hover into more speed, forget it. Even when we flew smoothly, I had to work on how to hold it for maximum comfort and stability. That was a challenge. Tried hand on the right side, ended up with hand on top handle much of the time.

It may seem obvious, but in expansive shots which include the horizon, be aware of keeping it level. Shots look much better that way. I kind of forgot that a little at first, then by the second time up got better at it.

Anyway, all in all it was really a great experience, fun time, good shoot, and safe safe safe... I had no fear... and at least I got shots that I can use. Not quite on the level of Apocalypse Now or anything, but you know, I'll get there... in time...

Thanks again for everyone's suggestions and tips. Everything ya'll said really stayed in my mind and came to be useful! I was glad I showed up with some degree of (mental) preparation!

Now, I'm excited about the possibilities for more of this for other stuff I might do! Nice to know the right pilot to choose when a need for aerial shooting comes up. Next time I will look into doing the Tyler mount rig too! I definitely got inspired. :)
 
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