Cameron Davidson

December 1, 2008

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Cameron Davidson

Aerial Photographer
How To Shoot From The Air

by José M. Gonzalez

Article rating: 6.96

For over thirty years, award winning aerial, corporate, editorial, and fine art photographer, Cameron Davidson has been working in the medium he loves. Born in Miami, Florida and later, at three years of age, moving to Virginia, where he still lives today; Davidson has become renowned as a master of aerial photography with compelling images of the varied American landscape from above.

Davidson has also gained acclaim with his photographic work in the editorial world with his images of present day Haiti, and his work on the Underground Railroad Freedom Center for Smithsonian Magazine. His involvement with the Haiti Project to document the need for relief in Haiti has yielded spectacularly harsh and warming images of the town of Pignon. His pictures show the duality of poverty and beauty that intersect in Haiti. His images are reminiscent of the work of David Alan Harvey, with his use of natural light, while still maintaining his own voice in his use of varying angles and perspectives to capture his subjects.

His involvement on the documentation of the Underground Railroad and the Haiti Project speak of an artist that is deeply concerned and willing to use his abilities to aid human suffering. This is the mark of a true artist, guttural and guided by his ethics.

He has worked with Smithsonian Magazine since 1987 on over 20 pieces, giving readers compelling visual images of the articles the magazine presents. From the thrill of pigeon racing to the beauty of Chesapeake Bay from above or below, to the somber reality of the plight of slaves on the Underground Railroad Cameron Davidson leaves lasting images to all who see his work.

Davidson began his love of photography in his teens when he discovered an old camera in his closet. His mother, who was one of the first female helicopter traffic reporters, gave him the first taste of flight that would help define his later techniques and eye for the visual image. His mother’s school portrait photographer friend encouraged Davidson to take pictures while giving Davidson the criticism that every great artist needs to excel within their craft. The quality of his pictures today shows this fine tuning of his art.

The complexity of aerial photography requires the photographer to be aware of many things all at once. The natural geometric fluidity of Davidson’s aerial images conquers the obstacles that photographers face in the air. By using a gyro-stabilizer to stabilize the camera from the helicopter’s shaking, having flying experience, and knowing the pilot, Davidson is able to set up his shots and essentially direct the chopper where it needs to be at the exact moment.

The actual images are breathtaking in their graphic complexity and natural majesty. Davidson highlights the best of the North American landscape, including its major cities. His photographed landscapes are extraordinary in their graphic quality because they are full of texture, light, pattern, and color. The most interesting element is his use of long curved elements, such as a river, roadway, rooftop, or natural formation, to ground many of his shots. These curved snakelike elements enhance the natural subject by adding another layer to the image.

Davidson’s gorgeous aerial work has been in many national magazines such as Air & Space, Audubon, National Geographic, The Industry Standard, The Washington Post, and Preservation. He has also shot on location on annual reports, brochures, as well as other varied corporate and editorial venues. Some of his clients include: Dominion Resources, T. Rowe Price, Nova Chemical, US Airways, Choice Hotels, H.J. Heinz, Kimley-Horn, American Airlines, Discovery, Mobile Oil, Bell South, and Federal Express.

He currently has five photography books under his belt, A Moment of Silence: Arlington National Cemetery, Over Florida, DC from Above, Chicago from Above, Our Nations Capital: an Aerial Portrait, and currently working on others.