Flying with Fujifilm #1 - New York City

I’ll just say it straight—I love flying! If I could have any superpower, flying would be it. There’s something magical about being in the air, the anticipation of seeing a new country, and, let’s be real, the sweet disconnect of being unreachable up there (even if it’s usually in a squished seat for 20+ hours—oh, the joys of living in Australia!).

During my 6th trip to NYC, I was strolling through the streets when I looked up and saw a helicopter soaring over Manhattan. It was one of those tourist flights I’d always wanted to try but kept putting off due to the cost or time constraints. On a whim, I decided to finally give it a shot, and this time, I wanted a company that’d let me shoot with the windows open. I’ve always felt that to get the best images, you need to avoid glass reflections. After a bit of research, I found FlyNYON, which does one better: instead of just letting you shoot through the window, they actually take the doors off and harness you in! This was a game-changer.

I reached out to them, asking about the camera policy, the best time of day for the shoot, and what I needed to be aware of. They told me I could bring up to two cameras or one camera and one phone, and they’d make sure everything was securely strapped in for safety. They also mentioned that for a sunset shoot, some photography experience was recommended due to the dynamic lighting. Unfortunately, all the sunset slots were fully booked during my visit, so I went with the mid-afternoon flight—it wasn’t quite sunset, but it was the next best thing.

Preparing for the Shoot - What Gear

Since I only had one Fujifilm body and a limited selection of lenses, my gear choice was pretty straightforward. I packed the 10-24mm F4 (with optical image stabilization on), the 35mm F2, and the 56mm F1.2. After some research, I decided to go with the 10-24mm for its zoom flexibility and image stabilization. With no lens swaps possible during the flight and just one body, it made sense to opt for a versatile zoom, even if it might end up being a bit too wide.

I ended up contacting FlyNYON and asked them what the policy was for using a camera, best time of the day, what I should be aware of etc. They instructed me that I could take up to 2 cameras or 1 camera and one phone and they would make sure all devices are strapped in for obvious safety reasons. They recommended if considering a sunset shoot having experience being a photographer was advised due to dealing with the dynamic and changing light, it was also a premium price sunset. I thought I would give it a go but sadly all sunsets were booked out while I was visiting NYC, so I booked for the mid afternoon slot it was the next best thing.

After the Shoot - What Gear

Looking back, the 10-24mm turned out to be the perfect choice. The cityscape shots turned out well, and when we flew close to the Freedom Tower, I was glad I had the wide lens to capture it all. I got super close to some of the iconic buildings, and the 10-24mm was wide enough to handle it without feeling too limiting.

If I had to pick my ideal kit for a future aerial shoot, I’d definitely bring two bodies—yes, it’s a luxury, but if you can, why not? On Body 1, I’d use the 10-24mm, and on Body 2, I’d either go for a mid-range zoom (like the 18-55mm or 16-55mm) or maybe even the 16-80mm, depending on reviews. Another option is the 50-140mm telephoto, though it might be a bit limiting in this setting. Still, it could be worth the risk.

What About My Settings?

Now, I’m no pro, but I tried to keep my approach simple. I set my ISO to auto with a max of 1600, as it was late afternoon and I felt comfortable with this. I also set the f-stop to F6.4 as a baseline, adjusting as needed. The shutter speed was left on auto, as I wanted to focus on shooting without fiddling too much with settings.

Believe YOU CAN FLY

The moment you take off, the adrenaline kicks in. There you are, strapped in, camera ready, phone in hand, and before you know it, you’re soaring through the sky. As we approached Manhattan, I could hardly believe it. From flying past the Statue of Liberty to the first view of Manhattan, it was absolutely breathtaking.

Every time I look at the images, I have to pinch myself to believe I was really up there, flying over the city. This experience has truly ignited my passion for aerial photography, and I’m already planning future shoots to continue exploring this unique perspective.

As for the Fujifilm X-Pro2, it handled the experience like a pro. Sure, the speed of the helicopter meant I missed a few shots due to autofocus, but it was mostly hit rather than miss. There’s also a bit of warping at the edges of the frame when using the 10-24mm at its widest, especially when shooting from those crazy angles. But overall, I was thrilled with the results. My favourite shot? The one where I was hanging over the Freedom Tower, looking straight down.

I Loved It So Much, I Did It Twice… However…

On my first attempt, we had a slight delay in our flight. I didn’t realise anything was wrong at the time, and we eventually took off and flew over Jersey before heading toward Manhattan. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to fly over Manhattanitself, and I was a bit disappointed. Later, I found out the President was in town, and that’s why there was a no-fly zone at the time we were supposed to go over the city.

The next day, I received a survey email, and I mentioned my disappointment. To my surprise, they responded immediately, apologised, and without me even asking, they offered me a 30-minute flight (I’d originally booked the 15-minute flight) at any time I wanted. Now that’s what I call customer service!

I took them up on their offer and booked a late afternoon flight the next day before I left the city. And let me tell you, the 30-minute flight was definitely the way to go. It was the perfect way to end an amazing trip with some memorable images I’m truly proud of.