Really Virtual - A Drone & Virtual Tour Co.

Floating between the people on the ground and the planes in the sky, at anywhere from 10 to 1,000 feet, Photo Blimp is well positioned to capture stunning aerial views of Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and beyond. The helium-filled balloon can float for hours while owner and operator Mike Clegg works his magic, capturing the views via remote control from the ground.

“Because it’s tethered to the ground, there is no need for clearances or special permits, and more importantly, I am able to focus all of my attention on the camera and the shots,” explains Mike, who says shoots can last up to eight hours. “We simply bring our equipment, set up and take the photos and, because we get instant results straight from the blimp to the monitor on the ground, we know the shot is perfect.

The brightly coloured blimp is custom-fitted with a cradle for one of the latest digital cameras, a Canon 5D Mark III, that has full, 360-degree rotation and 180-degree tilt from heights of 10 to 1000 feet. It means Mike can snap away at buildings or whatever is on the ground from specific heights.