Recently my aerial photography was featured in a news.com.au article by James Law titled “jaw-dropping shots of cities like you’ve never seen them before.”
The feature covered some of my aerial photography projects, from circling high above Manhattan to sweeping over Sydney Harbour and tracing the curves of the Thames in London. Each city reveals its own character from the air, whether it’s the grid of streets in New York, the glittering coastline of Sydney, or London’s blend of old and new.
What makes this work exciting for me is the chance to reframe how people see places they thought they already knew. A familiar skyline takes on an entirely new story when viewed from above, a perspective that’s fleeting, difficult to capture, and yet unforgettable when it all comes together.
You can read the full piece here: news.com.au – “Photographer’s jaw-dropping aerial shots show cities like you’ve never seen them before”
THINK you know your city well? Andrew Griffiths is challenging that with jaw-dropping photos offering never-before-seen vantage points.
MELBOURNE photographer Andrew Griffiths goes to great lengths to get the shot.
And when I say great lengths, I mean leaning out of a helicopter being battered by 50-knot winds, 15,000 feet above New York City’s soaring skyscrapers.
He says steady hands are a prerequisite — as is having a vomit bag handy.
Griffiths, 40, has made a name for himself internationally with jaw-dropping aerial images of cities.
He began to specialise in aerial work 16 years ago, offering never-before-seen vantage points on Australian cities. Now he is commissioned to perform similar work all over the world.
High above Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
Sydney like you’ve never seen it. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
The Gold Coast, where the city meets the sea. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
He completed his most ambitious project to date this year when he produced a series of gobsmacking photographs of Manhattan.
It took six months of planning and preparation to pull off the shots, which were taken over several weeks from choppers flying high above the metropolis.
He had to work closely with Air Traffic Control to be able to fly into restricted airspace up to 15,000 feet above ground.
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
Central Park is an oasis in the heart of busy Manhattan. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
A new perspective on New York. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
“Before conducting the photo flights, I spent days just walking around the city, which really helped me gain an appreciation for the amazing architecture and inspiring vibrancy of New York City life,” Griffiths told news.com.au.
Then, it was a matter of taking the project skyward.
“For the New York project, I was essentially positioning the helicopter above key locations around the city and leaning out as far as possible to capture views of the city life below,” he said.
The view from the chopper. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
Downtown Manhattan. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
“On one particular flight we were experiencing 50-knot wind gusts, so the technique required a powerful turbine helicopter, steady hands and very precise hovering skills and pedal turns by our pilot — and a vomit bag on standby.
“Certainly not an easy task in New York’s hectic airspace but it all went beautifully.”
From the project he also created 360-degree immersive images, which were captured with a large custom camera he designed and manufactured about eight years ago and has refined ever since.
He began the project in May at the same time Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was in the city to meet US President Donald Trump.
“It turned out we landed right next to the PM’s plane as he was disembarking. I should have waved but feared being shot by the Secret Service.”
Griffiths has had “tremendous” feedback on the shots, which have reached more than 100 million people on Facebook.
Anyone for tennis? Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography
Griffiths marvels at how far technology has come since he began life as a professional photographer.
“Back when I started, there was no such thing as a drone and the only way to capture something unique and different was to design and build my own gear,” he told news.com.au.
“Modifying and refining cameras, blimps, drones and all sorts of contraptions to use on board helicopters has been an important driving force behind my career.
“It is a career that is also a way of life.”
Andrew Griffiths at work. Picture: Lensaloft Photography
Griffiths said he set aside a percentage of profits of his day-to-day work to fund his aerial projects. He has fielded requests for international exhibitions, workshops and new aerial projects scheduled for next year.
“The costs are high, but then so are the rewards,” he said.
You can check out Griffiths’ stunning work on Facebook, Instagram or on his Lensaloft Photography website.
Sunrise over the Victorian capital. Picture: Andrew Griffiths/Lensaloft Photography