A UAV is a high-tech, sophisticated aircraft that can be piloted remotely.

We use state-of-the-art, electric-powered model helicopters. They are small enough to fit in the back of a car and large enough to carry professional level digital SLR cameras, HD video cameras and thermal imaging systems.

Remote piloted crafts can safely operate from one foot above ground to a maximum altitude of 400 feet, while conventional manned aircraft are limited to a minimum altitude of 1,000 feet. ImageAbove specializes in filling this void where full scale aircraft can not safely operate.

Traditional aircraft are restricted on their minimum altitude that they can operate. Images taken by telephoto lenses on conventional aircraft are subject to image loss due to particulate matter in the air (smog), motion blur (most planes fly at least 80 mph), and poor visibility (pictures taken through the window of an aircraft). These factors combined, produce images that lack detail and showcase the roof/foot print of the house rather than the details and relationship of the subject to its surroundings.

Because UAVs are not limited to minimum altitude restrictions, they can be safely flown much closer proximity to the ground and subject. This allows us to shoot at close range with wide-angle lenses, maximizing clarity, detail and resolution while giving a true birds-eye view. Unlike traditional manned aircraft, our aircraft are vibration free, noise free and smoke free ensuring the least amount of distractions and the clearest image possible. We also benefit from shoot ing from a stationary hover, unlike the 80mph minimum speed that most manned aircraft operate at.

The most amazing images are usually photographed from around 50-100 feet. This provides a truly unique vantage point that cannot be captured at ground level but is not high enough so that you feel like you’re looking out from an airplane window. However, for every project, we start shooting at just a few feet above the ground and continue shooting untl we find he most flattering perspective, capturing every interval in between in order to gain different perspectives of the subject.

We can see a live feed of the photos and video while our specialized craft are airborne. This feature enables us to communicate with the client and confirm that we are capturing exactly the perspective that shows the subject at its very best. With traditional aerial photography you do not usually see the images until well after the aircraft has landed.

We photograph with Canon's top of the line 22-megapixel digital DSLR camera, our images are of the same professional high quality as photographing from ground level. Our panoramic images exceed a resolution of 400+ mega pixels, our images are suitable for any application. Even Google co-founder Sergey Brin was impressed by the clarity and resolution of our images!

What exactly is an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV)?

What type of UAV do you use?

What is the difference between traditional aircraft versus the UAVs?

What are the disadvantages of using traditional aircraft for aerial photography?

What are the advantages of using UAVs for aerial photography?

What altitude puts the subject in the best perspecitve?

How do you know what you’re photographing while the UAV is in-flight?

What is the resolution of the images?