California Rice in Focus – Aerial Photography
By Brian Baer
I’ve spent my entire professional life as a photojournalist and have traveled to many nations and almost every state in the country telling stories with my camera for publications. Who knew that the Sacramento valley was rich with stories of its own? I‘ve devoted more than a decade photographing rice country in the Sacramento Valley and have made nearly 11,000 images, documenting dogs, farmers and their families, small towns, classic farm scenes, and all aspects of rice farming.
, Tuesday, October 17, 2017. Photo Brian Baer
During that time, I’ve had the great opportunity to spend several hours in aircraft doing aerial photography. This vantage point provides a unique perspective, showing the world you cannot see from the ground. Trees, canals, rice fields, and even roads all work together as graphic elements in a photograph.
Rice fields from the aire near Willows CA., Thursday Dec 13, 2012 Photo Brian Baer
With the wind in my face in the back seat of the piper cub, I can see out the open door to the world below. Using headset to communicate, I ask the pilot, Herb Holzapfel, to fly in a certain direction and altitude where the light is best for photographing the scenery. The space in the back of the piper cub is tight and noisy but the images are worth it.
Rice fields from the aire near Willows CA., Thursday Dec 13, 2012 Photo Brian Baer
I remember flying over a large flock of snow geese. It made an amazing photograph, one of my all-time favorites to this day.
The graphic lines of a simple water canal can be beautiful from the sky. Any time I get this opportunity I take it and have ideas for even more photographs from this unique and special vantage point.
Brian Baer is an award-winning photojournalist with more than 30-years experience photographing news and human events around the globe. Find out more at: https://www.brianbaerphotos.com/index
