What?
SkyHigh Photography is dedicated to capturing aerial video and images of events, structures, landscapes, and buildings. This service is provided free of charge, and the footage will be provided under Creative Commons license, allowing you to use it for personal and commercial purposes alike.
Why is it free?
I enjoy all aspects of aerial photography: the flying, the editing, and the phenomenal views from the sky. Even after many flights, the stunning footage still brings a smile to my face, and I enjoy sharing the experience. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) prohibits financial gain from such activities without the appropriate licenses, which are costly and take time to obtain. In short, I’m not allowed to charge for the work I perform, and I’m quite happy doing it for free as a hobby.
What kind of things will you film?
Anything interesting! If you think it would look stunning from above, then send me an email detailing what it is, where it is, and when you’d like me to film. I’ll send you an email back and let you know if I can help.
Examples of things that look good from the air which I’d be willing to film:
- Outdoor sports (especially water sports!)
- Outdoor activities
- Quadbiking
- BMX
- Go-karting
- Airsoft
- Motorsport shows/meetups
- Historic buildings
- Universities
Examples of things that don’t look as good or that I wouldn’t be able to film due to restrictions:
- Local parks
- Houses
- Your dog (as cute as it may be)
What are the restrictions?
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) set out guidelines for where my aircraft can fly (click here for details). As such, care must be taken to ensure all the shots are legal, and I refuse to breach the CAA guidelines. Here are the key ones:
- I can’t fly within 50m of a person who is not under my control
- For example, if you requested that I film your golf course, we would have to ensure no golfers are nearby, unless they have explicitly agreed to be nearby for the purposes of the flight
- I can’t fly within 50m of vehicles or structures that are not under my control
- For example, if you requested that I film the club house of a golf course, you would have to provide written permission from the building manager
- I can’t fly within 150m of congested areas (roads, residential areas, etc.)
- For example, if your place of interest is on a main road, I cannot film it due to the proximity to the road
In essence, proper permission must be provided by all parties before the flight may commence, and the area of interest must be away from any congested areas.
How will it work?
I’ll drive to the location on the agreed date with my kit. I will bring two batteries (allowing for ~40m flight time) and charging equipment, so that the batteries may be recharged while on-site if necessary. I’ll shoot the footage, and send you a digital copy, which you are free to use. I will retain the copyright to the footage.