Since we added aerial photography to our list of services several years ago we’ve seen no shortage in demand. We’ve been proud to capture and produce dramatic aerial photographs for commercial and residential real estate, municipalities, corporations, tourism and other businesses. We’ve effectively integrated these photographs into clients’ print and Web-based marketing collateral.On a crisp, early October morning we embarked on an assignment for in-flight formation airplane photography with our clients, Brandon NeSmith of Table Rock Aviation and Mariano Rosales of 12 O’Clock Level Photography.We flew our Cessna 172, modified for aerial photography, with Mariano taking pictures and choreographing plane positions from the back seat. Brandon flew the target planes, a Cessna 182 and a Diamond DA40 XLS.It was a gorgeous morning. The rising sun lit up the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A heavy mist hovered over the Catawba River. Sunlight danced off of wingtips. Fall colors were peaking all around.Mariano, a member of the International Society for Aviation Photography, traveled from his home in Chicago for the shoot. When he’s not working as an air traffic controller in Chicago he can be seen photographing all things aeronautical at air shows everywhere. Check out his web site, www.12oclocklevel.com. Brandon operates a flight school, Table Rock Aviation offering full-service flight training, out of the Hickory Airport. He holds a flight bag full of general aviation ratings and is certified to fly more makes and models of airplanes than we can count. Some days he’s instructing in a tail-dragger; other days he is in the clouds with an IRF student; occasionally he competes in aerobatic competitions, and he’s always ready to shuttle a plane here or there.
