Carl Zeiss Camera Lens News, Number 36, July 2010

Sublime Views at Breakneck Speed

Aerial photographs pose particular challenges to photographers and their equipment

Algimantas Deikus and Vidas Kaupelis are photographers from Lithuania who specialize in aerial photography. These two frequent fliers pursue the ambitious goal of capturing superlatively atmospheric images of nature.

The remarkable thing about Deikus and Kaupelis is that they are both highly experienced pilots and photographers. This makes for a perfect combination: As photographers they understand that the speed of an airplane requires rapid decision-making and special equipment, while their skill as pilots is intricately linked to their ability to see landscapes with a photographic eye. We chatted to Vidas Kaupelis about aerial photography and his experiences with ZEISS lenses.

CLN: Vidas, what is the difference between aerial photography and other forms of photography? What technical challenges does it pose in terms of the equipment you need?
VK: The most difficult part of aerial photography is getting your shot in focus. We take photographs from a fast-moving, low-flying airplane, and if your subject is still partially hidden by morning mist then it can be very tricky indeed to get the perfect shot. In such rapidly changing conditions, it is often impossible to get the results we want using autofocus lenses, which rely on contrast detection algorithms to focus.

CLN: So how did you get around that problem?
VK: We tried out a number of different solutions before we realized that manual focusing is the key to a successful shot, because if you are taking landscape shots at focal lengths below 85-100 mm, the subject almost always lies beyond the infinity focus point. Unfortunately, most autofocus lenses are not suitable for manual focus operation. But Zeiss lenses have been designed to offer simple, high-precision manual focusing, which means you can simply set the focus ring to infinity and start snapping away without worrying about focusing. The irony is that – however much we all love high-tech solutions – omitting certain technologies can occasionally be more of a benefit than a hindrance!

CLN: How do you deal with exposure issues?
VK: In order to emphasize the characteristics of the terrain we are photographing, we work at specific times of day, basically just before sunrise or just before sunset. That's when the light is at its most dramatic. But weak light falling obliquely on a subject is one of the greatest challenges the technology has to tackle. On the ground the solution is fairly simple: you just position your tripod where you want it and select a slow shutter speed. But in an airplane you are racing above your subject at 150 km/h, and you can only compensate for the extreme vibrations by using shutter speeds of around 1/1000.

CLN: So do you use special equipment?
VK: In weak light, we depend on lenses that offer outstanding image quality at wide aperture settings. If we are taking shots directly towards the Sun, we can only use lenses that are designed not to produce flare, and the optical elements need to have a high-quality coating. Carl Zeiss lenses have proved to be a superb choice in terms of both those criteria. Lens flare is minimal and the image quality at wide aperture is visibly better than that of similar lenses from other manufacturers that we have tried out.

Algimantas Deikus and Vidas Kaupelis embarked on their career in aerial photography in 2006. They are both highly experienced pilots who have racked up thousands of hours in the pilot's seat, and every flight marks another step on their journey to find unusual aerial views. 2009 saw the first public exhibition of their work in Lithuania.

About Algimantas Deikus:
Algimantas Deikus is a professional pilot and photography enthusiast. He lives in Vilnius, Lithuania.

About Vidas Kaupelis:
Vidas Kaupelis is a Information Technology specialist and project manager who has a keen interest in flying and photography. He also lives in Vilnius, Lithuania.

You can see more photographs and find out more about the duo at www.FlyFoto.lt.

Original text (English)

Original text (German)