It was a real privilege to be interviewed by the London Evening Standard about my aerial photography work in London and around the world.
The article shone a light on one of my most memorable projects: an interactive panoramic of London at sunset. I shot these photos from the open door of a helicopter as dusk fell across the city. From that vantage point, you can trace the Thames as it snakes through the capital, watch the Shard catch the evening glow, and see St Paul’s standing proudly against the skyline.
Flying over London is never straightforward. The weather can turn in minutes, airspace is tight, and timing the light just right is always a race. But when all those elements fall into place, the city reveals itself in a way that’s almost otherworldly and it’s that rare perspective I love being able to share.
That’s what makes this project so special to me. It’s a chance to bring people into the experience of flying over city lights of London at dusk, and to share the rare perspective that keeps me chasing these views in cities all around the world.
You can read the full article below or visit the direct link here: London Evening Standard – “Incredible interactive cityscape lets you fly across London at sunset
Chloe Chaplain – 8 July 2018
People seeking a bird’s-eye view of London can now fly across the capital using an incredible interactive online tool.
Aerial photographer Andrew Griffiths specialises in taking cityscape pictures from a bird’s eye view – with New York, Sydney and Melbourne already part of his portfolio of stunning locations.
In May he turned his attention to London and spent several days flying over the capital to collect images and footage.
He then merged these together to create the interactive tool that spans the length and breadth of the city.
The viewer is able to navigate using arrows on the screen and enjoy an entire 360 degree tour of London in all its glittering glory.
Andrew Griffiths: Stunning 360 images taken from the skies.
A Fish-Eye of The River Thames in Central London filmed from the skies
As you travel across the city the light changes and the sun sets – transforming London into a beautiful display of city lights and pink sky.
A special “mini planet” feature allows the user to zoom out and see London from the perspective of as if it were its own planet.
Mini Planet: London From Above
The Australian photographer, who works under the name Lensaloft, had to seek authority from Air Traffic Control in order to be allowed to fly over the busy city at a certain time.
He said, due to “tricky” London weather, he took four flights and spent more than 5 hours in the air.
I’ve been very fortunate in my career so far as an aerial photographer and this is my way way of giving people the opportunity to experience their cities from above in a way that they can relate and engage with,” he said.
London as a panorama image – Lensaloft
“It’s a an immersive experience that has been very popular with tourism, government agencies, and building industries.
“My favourite viewpoint changes every day. At first I really got a thrill out of the high altitude panorama captured directly above the River Thames, perhaps because there’s so much to see and it was such a difficult location to gain access to.”
“Now I can’t decide between the view 1,000ft above Piccadilly Circus or 1,200ft above London CBD. Ask me again tomorrow…”
The Thames from above – Lensaloft
“I do a lot of research before travelling to each city, coming up with a general flight plan that will work in with local airspace and altitude restrictions.
“I then spend four to five days walking around and experiencing the sites and sounds.
Behind the scenes: The inside of the helicopter where Andrew took the footage
“Finding the heart of each city and having an appreciation for how it is used and related to by people on the ground is perhaps the most important step in identifying where I will capture each panorama.
“Other factors like how light reflects off the architecture and landscape help me to identify the best time of day to fly over each location.”
In order to actually capture the shot the aircraft’s door had to be open and Mr Griffiths had to stand out on the skids using a harness with the camera.
He designed and built the camera specifically for use onboard helicopters himself and has been refining it for the last eight years in order to get the perfect shot.
Mr Griffiths also added sound affects to the footage to emulate the noises of a helicopter flight to, he explained, create a more immersive experience.
“I like to do a lot of exploring on foot before a photo flight and one thing I’ve noticed in each city are the different sounds that give each location a unique quality,” he said.
“Ferry horns on the Hudson River NYC, church bells and morning bird life in London, Trams and coffee cups in Melbourne Australia, Seagulls and Ferries in Sydney Harbour.
“It’s often the subtle sounds and smells that make an imprint on your sub conscience. Smells, tastes and sounds are so powerful in their ability to trigger those memories and can transport you straight back to where you experienced them.
“The idea behind the projects that I produce are to immerse the viewer into the view and local sounds really enhance that experience.