Whether for personal enjoyment or marketing an island for sale, obtaining aerial photographs is a popular and often necessary task for island owners. However, ordinary camera equipment generally lacks the needed stabilization and resolution for crisp, high-quality aerial photographs. Special technologies are available that have been designed to allow for perfect images when flying at high speeds and elevations.

The main technology for preventing blurring from the high speed and vibration of aircraft photography is gyro stabilization, which keeps a camera still even in turbulent conditions. The Super G stabilizer is a device that attaches to the front of a helicopter or small plane, and provides a secure and stable place for aerial cameras. Tested in some of the world’s most extreme weather conditions, including the Arctic and Sub-Saharan Africa, this product is used by some of the world’s top nature photographers.

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Any island owner who is interested in selling or renting their island should consider having aerial photographs taken of their island. Aerial photographs provide prospective buyers/renters with important information about the size, shape and topography of your island. Most buyers are not interested in visiting a prospective island unless they have a good sense of what the island looks like.

Unfortunately aerial photographs can be expensive, and become even more costly when the island is remote. Fortunately, a new spin on an older technology is allowing island owners to get crisp island aerial images at a fraction of the cost. Radio controlled (RC) helicopters with an attached camera allow the operator to take photos/videos of their island without leaving the ground. Flight controls allow the pilot to control the throttle, cyclic controls and the tail rotor. Sophisticated models can perform most of the maneuvers that regular helicopters can such as hovering and flying backwards. RC helicopters can cost as little as $20 however systems which include cameras can cost up to several thousand. Most island owners do not purchase their own RC helicopters; rather they hire individuals with the craft.

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