*Ushuaia helicopter tours showcase the spectacular beauty of the Beagle Channel.*

Ushuaia helicopter tours offer a fantastic experience and wonderful views of the landscape at the bottom of Argentina.

Helicopter flights are great fun and I’ve been fortunate to have made photos from a helicopter on several occasions.

Once I was even able to make photos after the door of the helicopter had been (safely) removed. That was a blast, quite literally.

The greater camera movement and elimination of distracting reflections, on the surface of the window, make it so much easier to create high quality photos.

Unfortunately my Ushuaia helicopter flight was more of a consumer experience and, like everyone else on board, I had to deal with thick windows and pretty significant reflections.

The curved nature of the windows through which I was photographing only increased the challenge.

Patagonia Adventure By Helicopter

The photo at the very top of this post was made towards the end of my helicopter flight exploring the dramatic mountains, valleys and lakes near Ushuaia in southern Argentina.

We'd timed the flight well and were rewarded with amazing cloud formations and beautiful, warm light during our flight back to Ushuaia.

As all the action was in the sky I made sure to include as much of it as I could in my composition.

It's amazing to consider the scale of this picture. Look how big these clouds are in relation to the rugged mountains over which they appear to hover.

Helicopter Aerial Photography

I made the photo with my then Canon 5D Mark II camera and Canon 24-105 mm f/4 L series lens at a focal length of 35 mm.

The light was getting low, as the sun had set, so I was limited to a shutter speed of 1/250 second and an aperture of f/4.

Due to being more maneuverable and flying at a slower velocity aerial photography from a helicopter is much easier than photographing from a plane.

Nonetheless, I would have preferred a faster shutter speed but, given my camera was at ISO 1600, I took a risk.

These days I’d probably be prepared to push my camera’s ISO up to ISO 6400 under similar circumstances.

However the Canon 5D Mark II, while a great camera, just didn’t have the same high ISO capabilities of my current Sony a7R ii camera.

No doubt the current Sony a7R iv camera ups the stakes in relation to high ISO performance and focus to another level entirely.

It had been a great flight when our pilot set us done on a remote and rocky beach.

While the other photographers were enjoying some snacks and champagne, I busied myself photographing the beautifully bleak landscape.

The fact is I don’t rate drinking cheap champagne from a plastic sup all that highly. I was there to make photos and that’s exactly what I did.

In fact a very important post came about as a consequence of that short ground excursion. It’s tilted What Is Subject Matter In Photography?

Ushuaia Patagonia

Ushuaia has a population of over 60,000 people and is commonly regarded as the southernmost city in the world. It’s even referred to as the End of the World or fin del Mundo in Spanish.

Situated on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, on the shores of Ushuaia Bay, the city of Ushuaia is surrounded on two sides by the Andes.

Ushuaia has a sizable port and is a popular place from which to depart on an Antarctica cruise.

*Ushuaia helicopter tour over the Tierra del Fuego National Park near Ushuaia.*

Photography from a Helicopter

Photography from a helicopter is a thrilling, though expensive experience. I recommend it assuming you can afford it and you’re not prone to the sort of fears associated with such activities.

Sandwiched between the Martial Mountains in Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel on the southern most tip of South America a helicopter flight out of Ushuaia could be a memorable part of your own Patagonia adventure.

I would certainly recommend a flight that includes a remote landing on your things to do in Ushuaia list.

The landscape is truly stunning and the fact that you're flying over the edge of a wilderness really adds to the excitement.

Aerial Photography Tips

If ever you get the chance, a helicopter flight can provide great photography opportunities. But to make the significant cost of the adventure worthwhile it’s worth considering the following:

Try to be up in the air during the golden hour: the hour immediately after sunrise or before sunset.
Photographing from a 30-45 degree angle will often provide a great 3D view onto the landscape.
Make sure you inform the pilot that you’re a keen photographer and you’re on this helicopter flight specifically to make beautiful photos.
Do all you can to secure a window seat. Usually the front seat, next to the pilot, will provide the best opportunities.
Where possible photograph with the sun behind you for maximum saturation in the colors of earth, water and sky.
However, for enhanced shape and texture, photograph with the light coming from the side.
While you may want to photograph the sunrise and sunset be aware that the dynamic range of such scenes can record land and water much darker than you perceived them at the time.
Photographing clouds illuminated during the afterglow can be an amazing experience.
Try to ensure you’re photographing at a shutter speed of 1/500 second or higher.
Use your camera’s ISO to increase the sensitivity of your camera to light and provide you with higher shutter speeds to produce sharper pictures.

*A Helicopter flight over the mountains near Ushuaia is an amazing experience.*

Shutter Speed and Sharpness In Aerial Photography

Actually the shutter speed required for optimum sharpness for aerial photography is dependent upon several things, including the following:

The lens focal length at which you're photographing.
Your ability to keep the camera/lens still, with or without Image Stabilization.
Whether or not you're limited to photographing through a curved perspex window.

To reduce vibration make sure the camera or lens is not in contact with any part of the helicopter (e.g., window frame) that's actually vibrating.

You can check by placing your hand on the surface in question. You'll be able to feel all but the most subtle vibration.

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Ushuaia Tours With A Difference

While my Ushuaia helicopter tour was a great experience both the tour and the photos I made could have been better. I think it’s important that I spend some time explaining what went wrong.

I made the booking on the strict understanding that, to enhance the possibility of sharp, colorful photos the windows of the helicopter would be thoroughly cleaned prior to the flight taking place.

That didn't happen and I can tell you, after shelling out the money for myself and a photographer friend, I wasn’t at all happy.

I was prepared not to go and, hopefully, get a refund on the tickets I’d purchased.

But the rest of the group wanted to go and, as the loss of two tickets might have caused the cancellation of the flight on economic grounds, I reluctantly agreed to take my seat and make the most of things.

Of course a quick clean of the helicopter’s windows, which I offered to do myself, would have resolved the issue.

But I was dealing with an obstinate pilot and, no matter what I said, I couldn’t bring him around.

My money was spent and, as he claimed a refund would not be issued, I adapted and immediately determined to have a great time.

And I did! The experience was amazing.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that I would have produced sharper and more highly saturated photos if I’d be able to photograph through clean windows.

Actually I’m not the type to leave negative feedback, but in this case I thought it was important to do so, more for the sake of other photographers than for myself.

As the pilot involved may have moved on since I visited Ushuaia I don’t think it’s appropriate that I mention the name of the company running the helicopter tour.

What’s more I understand that there’s more than one company offering helicopter flights over the mountainous landscape surrounding Ushuaia.

I certainly wouldn’t want anything I say here to negatively impact on the business of another company.

My advice to any keen photographer is to undertake all such negotiations in writing and then confirm any agreements, face to face.

Ideally you’d do so with senior staff and the actual pilot on the ground prior to any money changing hands.

In my case the arrangement was made with a young sales representative in town. The pilot was at the airport and, though I tried, I wasn’t able to speak with him during the sales process.

Either way my concerns probably wouldn’t have a significant affect on the experience of most people undertaking an Ushuaia helicopter tour.

I’m a photographer who travels specifically to make photos. I’d explained that situation to the salesperson who sold me the two (expensive) tickets I purchased.

Despite all assurances my simple request for the windows in the helicopter to be cleaned prior to the flight, though it was agreed to, was not done.

My photos suffered and, as a consequence, my memory of what would have been a truly incredible experience was soured. But I’m no drama queen and I made the most of it.

What’s more I can’t see this issue, should it reoccur, bothering the vast majority of paying customers undertaking the very same helicopter flight.

But if you’re a serious photographer planning a helicopter tour anywhere in the world then this post should be of interest.