August 27th 2024.
As we hover thousands of feet above the bustling city of London, I can't help but be mesmerized by the view below. The bright turquoise rectangle between the rooftops catches my eye and I wonder if it's one of the famous lidos of the city. I shuffle along the back of the helicopter, trying to get a better look over the shoulder of artist Donn Delson, who is leaning out of the open door with his camera in hand.
Despite the rush of wind through the cabin, I squint and take in the tiny yet vast view of the city. It's a perspective I've only seen before in satellite maps or through the small windows of airplanes. But this time, there's no reinforced glass separating me from the horizon. I'm strapped in with just a lap belt, in a doorless helicopter, hovering almost 2,000 feet above the ground.
As we land at the London Heliport next to the Thames in Battersea, I realize that the turquoise rectangle I saw earlier was actually the rooftop of the British Museum. It's a landmark that I've seen many times before, but only from below. Donn, an American artist who specializes in aerial photography, had asked the pilot to stop and hover above the museum, so he could show us how he took his famous photo, "Crown Jewel," of the blue-green dome glistening in the sun.
Donn, casually resting his feet out of the open helicopter door, gives us the thumbs up as we prepare for take-off. He has spent over 100 hours harnessed in open helicopters, leaning out to capture stunning shots from above. He invited us, The Agency, to join him and witness his creative process firsthand. Through our headsets, he points out different landmarks and shares interesting facts about the city, all while the deafening roar of the rotor blades fills our ears.
As we fly over the city, I can't help but feel in awe of the different perspective. In just twenty minutes, we pass from Greenwich to Putney, and I snap dozens of photos over Donn's shoulder, trying to spot anything that resembles art. I also try to catch a glimpse of my old apartment building near Waterloo and the park where I often take lunch breaks.
We see ribbons of lights threading across the streets of Chinatown, a line of luxury cars on a red carpet, and even an air ambulance parked on the roof of the Royal London Hospital. The streets below seem to have no particular logic, with curved roads and skyscrapers next to low-rise flats. It's a glorious mismatch, unlike newer and more regimented cities with their block-like layouts.
Donn, who is 75 years old and lives in Los Angeles, has come to London for an exhibition of his aerial photography at Cromwell Place. He tells us how he enjoys shooting in London and is still trying to capture the perfect twilight shot of Tower Bridge and the Shard, with the leading lines of the river and rail tracks.
His collection, "Points of Light," includes an image of the streets around the West End, mostly dark except for the doors and windows, with Piccadilly Circus shining like a beacon. Donn's canvas is a helicopter, and he captures stunning shots while flying high above the city.
One of his most famous works, "Circus Nights," showcases the dazzling lights of the West End. But Donn's eye is also drawn to more abstract scenes, where he finds patterns and symmetry in unexpected places. He even finds a whimsical resemblance to the retro game "Space Invaders" in one of his photos, aptly titled "Space Invader."
Some of his London photographs are nothing short of captivating, like "Feathered," which shows shipping containers lined up in zigzags. It may have been done for practical reasons on the ground, but from above, it looks like a bird's plumage with lines pointing in V-shapes. Another photo, "Turntables," captures a series of circles at the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in Newham, reminding Donn of records from his time working in the music industry.
As we debrief after the helicopter ride, I can't help but feel grateful for this unique experience. Donn has shown us a different side of London, and I am in awe of his talent and creativity. It's safe to say that I will never look at the city in the same way again.
As we hover 2,000ft above London in a doorless helicopter, I can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and fear. The wind rushes through the cabin as I peer over the shoulder of artist Donn Delson, who is leaning out of the open door. I shuffle along the bank of seats at the back, trying to get a better view of the city below.
From this height, London looks both tiny and vast, a view that I've only seen before in satellite images or through the small windows of a plane. But this time, there's no reinforced glass blocking my view. I'm completely exposed, with only a lap belt keeping me strapped in. It's a thrilling and slightly nerve-wracking experience, but I can't help but be in awe of the incredible sights before me.
As we make our way back to London Heliport near the Thames, I debrief with Donn and the pilot, only then realizing that the bright turquoise rectangle that caught my eye earlier was actually the roof of the British Museum. It's a familiar landmark that I've seen many times before, but never from this perspective.
Donn, an American artist known for his aerial photography, asked the pilot to stop and hover above the museum so he could capture his famous photo, 'Crown Jewel'. With his feet casually resting out of the open door and a safety harness keeping him secure, Donn gives us the thumbs up as we prepare for take-off.
He's spent over 100 hours harnessed into open helicopters, all in the pursuit of the perfect shot. And today, he's invited me and my colleagues from The Agency to see firsthand how he works. We listen to him through our headsets as he points out different landmarks and famous buildings, all while the deafening sound of the rotor blades fills the air.
As we make our way from Greenwich to Putney in just twenty minutes, I try to snap as many photos as I can over Donn's shoulder. It's a challenge to spot anything resembling art from this height, but I manage to capture some familiar sights, like my old apartment building near Waterloo and the park where I take my lunch breaks.
From above, we see the streets of London in a completely different way. The lanterns of Chinatown, luxury cars lined up on a red carpet, and even an air ambulance parked on the roof of the Royal London Hospital. It's a glorious mismatch of curved streets and skyscrapers next to low-rise flats, unlike the more regimented cities I've seen before.
Donn, who is 75 years old and lives in Los Angeles, is in London for a brief visit to showcase his photography at an exhibition in Cromwell Place. He tells us how much he enjoys capturing the city from above, and how he's still on the hunt for the perfect twilight shot of Tower Bridge and the Shard, with the river and rail tracks leading towards them.
His 'Points of Light' collection includes a stunning photo of the West End at night, with only the doors and windows lit up, except for Piccadilly Circus, which shines like a beacon. Donn's eye for detail and patterns also shines through in his more abstract works, where he finds whimsical resemblances in what he sees.
One of my favorites is 'Space Invader', which I can't unsee as the retro game after reading the title. And then there's 'Feathered', a photo of shipping containers lined up in zigzags, which may have been done for practical reasons but makes for a fascinating image with lines pointing in V-shapes like a bird's plumage.
Another striking photo is 'Turntables', which shows a series of circles at the Beckton Sewage Treatment Works above Newham. Donn saw the resemblance to records, which is personally relevant to him as he worked in the music industry for many years.
Overall, it was an incredible experience to see London from a whole new perspective through Donn's lens. And I'm left with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and complexity of this vibrant city.
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