Over the last few years the La Trobe University Bundoora campus has changed significantly, adding 3 new and certainly interesting buildings. Now I have already photographed the Lyons Architects designed AgriBio and LIMS buildings from the ground, both of which are featured on my portfolio site http://www.michaelevansphotographer.com, and this week I was fortunate indeed to be commissioned to capture some aerial views of the updated campus, and it’s relationship and proximity to the city of Melbourne.

I chartered a Robinson R44 from the Helicopter Group based at Moorabbin airport, and since I was going to be using several camera bodies and lenses, my pilot had removed the door completely allowing a good unobstructed view. I cannot praise my pilot Glen or the Helicopter Group highly enough as their service and friendly professionalism (particularly the office manager Debra) was absolutely second to none…highly recommended! http://www.helicoptergroup.com/

The shoot itself was not without issues since we are currently experiencing a heatwave in Victoria, with the temperature at 44 degrees as we took off and headed for the campus. I had been watching the Bureau of Meteorology’s updates in order to pick the best conditions and the Tuesday looked promising, however it was one of those absolutely ‘white hot days’ which for the photographer means little in the way of contrasty light, and even though I used filters there was still heat haze to contend with. The forecast was for little to no wind, however this certainly was not the case, and all credit to Glen as he fought the turbulence to keep me in position while our aircraft was pushed sideways over the campus on each pass.

For the actual shoot I used one Canon 5D Mk III with a 24-105 f4 L and another 5D Mk III with the 17mm TS-E – changing lenses was really not an option in the cramped conditions!