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These stunning drone photos showcase England in all its glory over the past year, from the snowy plains of Salisbury to the orange haze of a Thames summer sunset.
Shot from heights of up to 400ft, the aerial images offer a fresh perspective on the country, as familiar sights from the ground transform into vast, dazzling landscapes from above.
They were taken by seasoned photographer Chris Gorman, 46, who, over the past year, has relied on fortuitous weather conditions or the cooperation of kind strangers to capture his striking portraits.
One shows two young Cirencester women enjoying a balmy Bournemouth day on the beach, while another captures Camp Bestival’s dazzling firework finale on a warm night in July.
The dynamic poise of a clay court tennis player cuts a lively contrast to the manicured confusion of Hever Castle’s historic Yew Maze in two of the snaps.
While the hurly burly of Brighton Pier sits harmoniously alongside a Saturday twilight over London’s Tower Bridge in two others.
Mr Gorman told the Standard he relied on carefully-calculated gambles and “a fair bit of luck” to capture his imposing pictures.
“You can often drive for miles with an idea in mind, but if the weather isn’t right, or the lighting is off, it just won’t work,” he explained.
The Guildford-based photographer also stressed the importance of obtaining consent before using a camera drone.
“Hyde Park, for example, is generally a no-fly zone,” he said. “So I needed to get permission from three or four separate authorities just to get that one shot of Winter Wonderland. Otherwise, I’d have been arrested.”
Yet, his favourite of the 22 photos was not actually taken from the sky. Instead, it was shot using a land-based camera on a tripod stand, with the help of some drone-assisted light effects.
“The ‘halo’ over St Huberts Church in Hampshire was actually created by the drone making a continuous loop with all its lights turned on,” Mr Gorman explained. “I then shot the effect from the ground.”
“I like how classic technology combined with new techniques on this one. It’s nice when everything works together so neatly.”
Having worked as a ground-based photographer for 25 years, the 46-year-old said he believes his future lies in drone photography.
“Mobile phones have diminished the value of normal photos to a degree,” he said. “But drone photography has introduced new aspects and skills to the art.
“We’ve all got to continuously embrace change or else we get left behind,” he added. “And what I like most about these photos is that they offer something new.
“Everything’s been photographed a million times from the ground, now it’s time to see them from the air.”
To see more of his work visit bigladder.co.uk.
