A helicopter tour Dubai offers a photographer’s dream: a unique, dynamic perspective of one of the world’s most futuristic cityscapes. But capturing that perfect, crisp, and breathtaking shot from a moving aircraft comes with its own set of challenges. From vibrations to reflections, there are a few things to know before you lift off.
Whether you’re using a professional DSLR or the latest smartphone, these tips will help you turn your aerial snapshots into gallery-worthy masterpieces.
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1. Pre-Flight Prep: Setting Yourself Up for Success
The best shots begin before you even board the helicopter.
Choose the Right Gear:
DSLR/Mirrorless: This is your best option for control. A versatile zoom lens (like a 24-70mm) is ideal, as it allows you to capture wide cityscapes and zoom in on landmarks without changing lenses mid-flight.
Smartphone: Modern smartphones have incredible cameras. Make sure you know how to access pro/manual mode to control settings like shutter speed. Clean your lens thoroughly!
Essential Camera Settings:
Shutter Speed is Your #1 Priority: This is the most critical setting. The helicopter moves and vibrates, so you need a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion and get a sharp image. Aim for 1/1000s or faster. If light is low, don’t go below 1/500s.
Aperture: Set your aperture to a mid-range value like f/8 or f/11. This creates a deep depth of field, ensuring everything from the wingtip to the city below is in focus.
ISO: Start with a low ISO (100-400) and only increase it if you need to maintain a fast shutter speed in lower light.
Focus Mode: Use Continuous Autofocus (AF-C or AI Servo). This will allow your camera to constantly track the focus on the landscape as the helicopter moves.
Shoot in Burst Mode: Switch your camera to its continuous shooting (burst) mode. Taking several photos in a quick burst dramatically increases your chances of getting one perfectly sharp shot.
Wear Dark Clothing: This is a simple but game-changing tip. Brightly colored clothes will create distracting reflections in the helicopter’s windows. Wearing black or dark gray will minimize this and give you a cleaner shot.
2. During the Flight: Nailing the Shot
Once you’re in the air, it’s time to put your preparation into practice.
Manage Reflections: This is your biggest enemy.
Get your lens as close to the window as possible without touching it. Touching the glass will transfer the helicopter’s vibrations directly to your camera.
Use a rubber lens hood if you have one. You can press it gently against the window to create a seal that blocks out reflections.
Cup your hand around the lens to block stray light.
Think About Composition:
Look for Leading Lines: Use roads, coastlines, or the curve of the Palm Jumeirah to draw the viewer’s eye into the image.
Find Patterns and Shapes: From above, the world is full of interesting geometric patterns. Look for the layout of buildings, the arrangement of boats in the marina, or the design of a highway interchange.
Show Scale: Frame your shot to include a recognizable object (like another building or a boat) to give a sense of the massive scale of landmarks like the Burj Khalifa.
Don’t Just Shoot Straight Down: While top-down shots are interesting, the best photos often come from shooting at an angle, capturing the horizon and the layers of the city.
Anticipate the Shot: Listen to the pilot. They will announce when you are approaching a major landmark. Get your camera ready in advance so you’re not scrambling at the last second.
3. Post-Flight: The Magic of Editing
A little bit of post-processing can elevate a good aerial shot to a great one.
Dehaze: Aerial photos often have a slight atmospheric haze. Using the “Dehaze” or “Clarity” slider in your editing software (like Lightroom or Snapseed) can work wonders.
Crop and Straighten: It can be tough to get a perfectly level horizon in a moving helicopter. Straightening your image is a quick fix that makes a huge difference.
Color Correction: Enhance the turquoise of the sea and the tones of the desert to make your photos pop.
Most importantly, remember to put the camera down for a few moments and simply enjoy the incredible experience with your own eyes. The best photo is the one that reminds you of an unforgettable adventure.
Alice is a travel blogger from the US. She loves to meet new people and explore new cultures, as well as try delicious foods. Alice’s blog is full of her adventures around the world! In her spare time, she likes reading books about other cultures and how they might be different from what she knows in the United States.
