We were wondering what challenges Borja faces when shooting photos from an airplane. We learned that “Shooting a storm from a moving airplane is quite challenging. You are inside a moving object, sometimes very shaky, with extremely low light, and you cannot use any stabilization devices like tripods or gimbals. Additionally, storms are so fleeting that you cannot easily focus on them. These and many other challenges make it very difficult to capture them, and I often find myself missing great opportunities.”
Many of Santiago’s images capture fleeting moments and perspectives that are only visible from the air. He told us about some of the most memorable experiences he’s had while photographing from a plane: “At the beginning, many of these phenomena are surprising and often incomprehensible events. St. Elmo’s Fire is like very small lightning happening right on the windshield, just a few inches from the pilot’s face when flying into electrically charged clouds. Sometimes, a similar phenomenon occurs when water droplets appear as little sparks upon hitting the windshield. I remember feeling extremely amused and perplexed when first experiencing these events.”
Finally, Borja shared a tip for aspiring photographers who are interested in exploring aerial photography from airplanes, particularly those who may be new to this type of photography: “My advice would be to learn everything you can, but ultimately, you have to develop your own strategy and techniques. Don’t settle into the idea that photographic ‘rules’ are unbreakable. Discover your own limits.”
