Behind the camera, memories and anecdotes...

My office in the sky.

I've been flying helicopters for more than 20 years...each time is a real privilege. I never got used to it.

Photo Eric Bruyere

17 000 feet, - 25°C approching kilimanjaro summit. Such a great pleasure to see again the great mountain I climbed two years ago.

photo Alexis Peltier

Madagascar. 10 000 kilometers flying an ultra light.

Several small video cameras where attached all around me, even one on my photo camera.

In the wild north of Canada.

Befriending a wolf. I spent two days with her. Awesome moments !

When I came back and found her six months later, she recognized me.

Photo Bernard Hazebrouq

Just like me, Caro is particularely fascinated by big cats.

Here with a tiger in a temple in Thailand.

Caro comes with me on every photo shoot. She assists me ande take care of logistics.

In conclusion, i have the pivilege to associate all I'm pationate about. My wife, travelling, photography and flying.

In Kenya, masais keep an eye on our plane at night.

The danger... hyenas. Tires are like candies to them.

Flight over "les demoiselles coiffées de Théus"

Just like flying over the moon.

Working with an ultra light, everything is ftied up around my legs, Gps, notes...

The worst is to have to change the memory cards with frozen fingerswhen super windy.

I had the privilege to be trained to fly helicopters by Michel Anglade.

Probably the best helicopter pilote ever with more than 30 000 hours.

But above all, a great guy.

Another great encounter with...a cheetah named Tsavo.

Photo Alexis Peltier

Helicopters are a fantastic tool to meet people.

Engine failure in the middle of the Sahara desert.

Sahraouis people welcoming us and giving everything when they have so little.

Encounter of the third type in the Mauritanian desert.

The camel driver want to show the big "insect" to his camel.

Our vacation !

Climbing  Kilimanjaro...

I must confess Caro reached the summit before me...but I'll get over it....I will...

Photo Nicas Hubert Temba

On a TV set.

Interesting experience especially when it's live.

In Africa we often have to be self-sufficient concerning gas and tools. This doesn't leave much room for food, water and other necessary items in case of survival situation.

We sometimes have gas tanks sent in the desert on camel backs weeks or months before we come working.

This job allows me to meet unusal people. Great ones who make me reconcile with human nature.

Here, my friend, Alexis Peltier. Great person, excellent pilote and photographer.

He happens to have a privileged relationship with animals. Here we are able to play with a huge elephant a few feet away from his plane.

These moments of "fun" are very important in the middle of a photo shoot . We take so many risks so often, humor helps release the pressure.

I see myself more as a pilot than a photographer.

Aerial photography can be compared to skyscrapers window cleaning. For that kind of job, you need a climber. Same for aerial photography, it takes a pilot more than a photographer. It's a matter of primary skill required.

The only similarity with a traditional photographer is about being able to imagine things in a frame.

Madagascar, my goal was to fly 10 000 kilometers over this beautiful country.

On board of a Cessna,  Caro took a picture of my "flying mopped"  when passing me. She was in charge of logistics, notably finding fuel on our itinerary.

Looking at this picture, i realize how crazy it was. But we did it. Thanks to Eric lefebvre my pilote who made it possible.

Photo Caroline Mulliez

Righer after landing in the outback by the end of the day... Alexis and I were "relieving ourselves" facing the sunset when a gigantic elephant came out of the bushes a few feet away. We jumped back into our plane laughing at the whole situation.

Photo Alexis Peltier

On a "monkey bridge" in Burkina Faso.

Photo Franky Mulliez

Touch-down in the Chalbi desert...around 50°C. In case of an engine failure we wouldn't be able to survive more than a few hours.

I like old planes.

This one has been on the ground for long and has become an unusual abode for a few chickens.

Photo Caroline Mulliez

Oxygen masks are required over 12000 feet.

Flying 16 000 feet over the grand canyon, strangely I didn't really feel the altitude effects. For a change.

I usually suffer from them starting 12 000 feet.

I had a bad time climbing up the Kilimanjaro.

Madagascar, Berenty Reserve. I'm assembling my big lenses to photograph lemurs when one of them comes and sits a few inches fom me.

Big laughs.

Photos Caroline Mulliez

Everywhere we land, people seem to come out of nowhere.

Cleared for immediate take off !

Photo Alexis Peltier

Making new friends in Madagascar

Photo Caroline Mulliez

Crossing Okavango delta on horseback a few years ago.

An hour earlier lions had chased me.

During that trip i was fascinated by all lights, smells, sounds, adrenaline, emotions.

I then dreamed to live all that everyday. I didn't know yet, that my helicopter pilot skills would eventually get me there.

Photo Franky Mulliez

Emergency landing in a small village in Madagscar. Because of a heavy storm we rushed the ultra light to the ground. No damages, no bruises. A miracle except for a reckless doggy hit by our wheel while landing. Fortunately, he got right up barely  groggy.

Photo Eric Lefebvre

Landed in Belo sur mer salines.

The ultralight makes it easier to land almost everywhere.

I like cats...especially big ones !

Making a new friend in a sanctuary in Kenya.

Photo Alexis Peltier

Crazy pilots in their wonderful machines.

My friend Alexis Peltierhas just dropped me in the desert to take pictures of him flying when he decides to show me how his plane flies by itself... Look, without hands !

Alexis has a great sense of humor but he is definitely a true professional. I really appreciate working with people like him. I only know a few as good as him around the world.

We never really know where we'll land by night time and who we will meet. But we will meet fantastic people and discover wonderful places for sure.

What I think is a particularly privileged moment.

Photo Alexis Peltier

Work method

In conferences, I'm often asked how I work, and the question usually goes like this :

“So you hop on a helicopter every morning and fly around looking for “The” good shot?”

If that was the case and considering the 20 euros per minute cost, it'd be literally impossible to say afloat (well yes, chopper rental and pilot services cost around 1200 euros per hour). So I can assure you that I never just “go for a ride” when in a helicopter.
We take off only after weeks, sometimes months of long and streneous preparation and planning. Every single minute on board is optimized.

Here is exactly how we work :

Once the topic is selected, we search for “informative material”. We literally get everything we can find on the subject (i.e. books, touristic guides, videos, travel logs etc...). Every page will be thoroughly read!
Two objectives: Carefully select what will be photographed (because of its aesthetism, graphics, history, culture etc...) but also get a feel for the topic.

We develop a story-board while we read. The reading and writing process can take up to several months. At the end, the story-board consits of an exhaustive list of all sites to be photographed (200 on average per photo shoot). Each site is named, described and illustrated with a picture or photo to make sure it won't be mistaken with another target once on board. I also indicate how I think the site should be photographed.

Each site is precisely located via satellite images. Working with satellite imaging also gives us important information on how and when to photograph a specific “target”. For instance, if a castle faces directly west, it ought to be photographed in the evening rather than in the morning. We also spend a lot of time scouring satellite maps to find anything else deemed unususal that will make a great aerial photo.

All these “targets” are then transferred onto a map used to prepare each flight plan. On board, the navigator will utilize the flight plan, map and story-board and take us from one site to the next while minimizing flight time and maximizing lighting for best photos (remember the castle has to be shot in the evening hours).

All these “targets” are then transferred onto a map used to prepare each flight plan. On board, the navigator will utilize the flight plan, map and story-board and take us from one site to the next while minimizing flight time and maximizing lighting for best photos (remember the castle has to be shot in the evening hours).

Each site to be photographed is also positionned on computer maps.

These computer maps are imported in one of the GPS used on board by the navigator who will directly take us to the target. We don't really like detours...

For each photo shoot, we have to decide on the adequate aircraft.
Well, our budget usually dictates what adequate is...
The ideal flying machine is a helicopter, with a pilot, a navigator and an assistant.

But when going ultra-lite,
the photographer becomes navigator and assistant,
which is a lot more difficult.
You're going without a story-board,
just a memorized version of it and only one camera body.

The crucial element in aerial photography is the precise location of the site that is being photographed. Even if the photo shoots are carefully planned beforehand, there's still the element for the impromptu and spontaneous photography. And that's a good thing. When an “unplanned” photo is taken and is deemed a keeper, we can know all vital information on the photo by relying on two things. The signals emitted by the GPS recording our precise itinerary and the digital information associated with the photo indicating the timing of the shoot.

The last step is the selection process. Only 10% of our photo shoots are pre-ordered. 90% of the time, we just “go for it”. We then have to present our photos to publishers hoping they will be interested.

So, does it still look like “just a fun ride” or a real job ?

FAQ

Silver or digital?

Definitely digital ! Digital cameras technology has increased considerably. It is also much more convenient for my particular needs at work. As I’m able to synchronize cameras and GPS, the digital photos are dated making it easier to find the precise spot they were shot at.

Digital pictures are also much convenient for editing and filing.

Do you prepare your photo shoot ?

We try to plan for everything as much as we can. When we take off, I know exactly what I want to photograph and how I want to photograph it. This is very important so as to not waste any flight time and also to bring back an exhaustive list of photos. Even so, I may run into something interesting I didn't plan for. (refer to work method)

Do you work with pre-ordered photo shoot ?

Rarely. This is also why this job is complicated. If you wait for a photo shoot assignment...you can wait for a very long time. I get to choose my topics, finance the photo shoots and then try to sell my work upon return. And even after dozens of publications, I still have sometimes a hard time getting to the publishers and show my work.  

If I get the chance to sell one photo shoot, I only get paid after my work is publiched, which is long after I financed the whole thing.

We usually try to contact publishers before going on a photo shoot and have them interested in the topic. When we manage to get an answer, the very common one is " not interested..." We usually decide to go for it anyhow. Generally, If I come back with a job well done, someone finally says "I'm interested..."

Are you on vacation all year long ?

This one always makes me smile. No, being on a photo shoot definitely doesn’t equal to being on vacation. First, 90% of my job is done facing a computer, working on maps, reading books, doing research, planning for what we’ll take pictures of and how. Travelling represents less than 10% of my actual work time. And when we do "travel", it requires a huge amount of work, pressure and stress reach maximum levels. No coconut beaches except the ones I’m trying to have a picture of !

But don't get me wrong...It is still the best job ever...Because it is the one I chose and the one I dreamed to have when I was a kid!

Aren't you afraid to die ?

Often I must say ! But I accept the consequences of being privileged to live the way I chose. Plus I am not a crazy fan of adrenaline. I am particularly cautious in the way I work. I only work with wise people. No room for show-offs in my team.

Do you make a living with your pictures ?

I personnaly did quite good these last few years, but it is definitely not a job to choose if you want to become rich!.

Do you sell your photos ? How does it work ?

No, we don't really sell. We sort of rent them. The author remains the owner of his work forever. We sell the rights to publish or use the pictures. Prices depend on  the specific use, publishing format, duration and territory coverage.

The rights pertaining to a photo can be "sold" several times for different uses.

What piece of advice would you give to a kid who wants to do your job?

Hang on ! It is more of a way of life than a job.

You have to be ready to jeopardize your life to make room for yourself in this professional fied. Most importantly, the key to success is your own imagination and keeping thinking it is possible.

But clearly, there is no success without a lot of work...

What is the greatest destination ?

The next one !