What is Aerial Cinematography? Definition, History & Examples

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Published: June 13, 2024 | Last Updated: December 8, 2025

A Very(!) Brief History of Aerial Cinematography

Aerial cinematography has a long history in the film industry, marked by rapid technological advancements. Initially, aerial cinematography began with simple camera rigs attached to aircraft. These early attempts were rudimentary but laid the groundwork for future advancements.

Wings (1927) is one of the earliest films to incorporate aerial cinematography, showcasing breathtaking dogfight scenes.

Hell’s Angels (1930) is a milestone in aerial motion pictures. Howard Hughes directed it, and it features large-scale aerial combat scenes:

Innovations in Aerial Camera Technology

The introduction of the first aerial camera platform in 1946 and the Bell 47 helicopter’s impact on TV programs in the 1950s revolutionized aerial cinematography.

Because aerial cinematography faces challenges such as vibrations that affect film footage, the development of gyroscopic stabilizers and gimbal technology has improved the quality of aerial footage.

Monteran and Tyler developed stabilized camera mounts that addressed vibration challenges, creating remote-controlled, active stabilized nose mounts. With stabilized camera systems, filmmakers could achieve smoother and more controlled shots.

Notable aerial shots have been a hallmark in films, exemplified by movies such as Funny Girl (1968), starring Barbara Streisand.

The Drone Revolution

The introduction of drones (unmanned aircraft—especially Quadro- and Hexacopters) has revolutionized the field, providing directors of photography (DPs) with versatile tools to capture unique shots that were once impossible or cost-prohibitive.

Also, First-Person View (FPV) drones have opened new creative avenues. These drones are smaller, more maneuverable, and capable of carrying high-quality cameras like the RED Komodo, enabling 6K and a global shutter.

Despite the rise of drones, helicopters, and airplanes remain used for aerial cinematography. They can carry larger, more complex camera systems and cover broader areas.

Drones vs. Helicopters vs. Fixed-wing Aircraft

Not every airborne gizmo is created equally. The surge of drones pre-2020 meant that everyone wanted an aerial shot because they were not affordable and were produced on lower budgets.

However, a drone can only do so much, and some shots are simply impossible to do with a drone and vice versa.

Drones provide diverse shooting capabilities. Big drones are great for carrying heavy payloads like cinema cameras, while others, like FPV drones, are great for fast-paced action shots. However, they suck in windy weather conditions, and they’re not great for great-distance shots – fx when transitioning from sea to land.

Helicopters offer fewer restrictions regarding weather conditions and are good for high-speed sequences. Due to their stability and range, they are indispensable for certain shots.

Fixed-wing aircraft are great for capturing sequences that require higher speeds, such as aerial dogfighting. They complement the capabilities of drones and helicopters.

Common Aerial Shots

Establishing Shots: Used to set the scene, providing viewers with a sense of location and context. Aerial shots are particularly effective in creating a sense of scale and grandeur.

Tracking Shots: Follow the action, maintaining focus on moving subjects. Action films frequently use these shots, for example, for chase scenes, and FPV drones have become more common.

Low-altitude shots: These are often used in fast-paced aerial dogfighting scenes, such as a pursuit through a canyon. They look great when combined with views from the cockpit, which gives us an immersive perspective and makes the viewer feel part of the scene.

Top-down shots: Giving a bird’s eye or God’s eye view of the action.

Summing Up

Aerial cinematography has evolved from its early days of fixed-wing aircraft to the modern era of drone technology, offering filmmakers new ways to capture stunning visuals and enhance storytelling. – Even for those of us on a strict budget!

Aerial cinematography can increase a film’s production value because it looks great and offers a unique bird’s-eye perspective that we’re not used to seeing daily.

As with every type of camera shot, an aerial shot has to be motivated. It looks cool, but leave it out if it’s not there for a reason. It’s like those flashy swish-pan transitions YouTubers use. It was cool the first three times. After that, it becomes clichéed and boring – unless it adds something significant to the story.