Aiming high with helium balloon
Paul Watkins of Skylens Aerial Photography may have his head in the clouds but his feet are firmly planted on the ground.
The Telford-based company has been undertaking aerial photography for over five years with a telescopic mast system but has now expanded the business with the addition of a helium balloon to enable shots to be taken at a higher altitude.
The balloon is a special new design which combines the characteristics of a kite and a blimp (airship) and is the approximate equivalent in terms of lift of using a 15ft blimp but gives greater stability.
Paul believes he is the only photographer in the UK to be using this type of balloon combined with a telescopic mast to provide a complete aerial photography service.
Both systems provide cost-effective aerial photography for clients with the advantage that rather than flying over in an aircraft at 1,500 feet and hoping for the best, Paul can position the mast or balloon to get the desired shot or a series of shots for a lot less cost than using aircraft.
The images using the balloon and mast are relayed to a control station on the ground housing a monitor to allow the image to be composed and viewed before being taken.
The balloon can be walked around attached to a body harness allowing access to areas such as golf courses where vehicles are not allowed and due to being a silent operation it does not disturb the surrounding properties, etc.
Clients include commercial property agents, estate agents and engineering/construction companies.
Paul has been working as a professional photographer for 18 years after qualifying with a BA (hons) and is experienced in all types of photography in addition to aerial photography.
