A photographer named Jason Lam has created the SkyShutter Aericam, a Erector Set-like remote control helicopter that you can mount a digital SLR to in order to film aerial shots easily and cheaply.
It’s probably not the safest way to get your best shot, but it is a huge money-saver in terms of hiring a full crew. The rig is about 30 pounds and can carry a payload/camera up to 7 pounds. The entire camera and helicopter require two people to control — one to steer the helicopter and the other to control the movement and direction of the camera. A kit costs $9000 and a completely assembled version costs $12,000.
If you want to check out some sample shots from this setup, watch the video below. Otherwise, enjoy the nice looking photos after the video.
Aerial Photography New York from Jason Lam on Vimeo.
