Opportune views

Aerial survey work is often described as “mowing the grass,” methodically flying a grid to capture images at a constant altitude and airspeed. It requires skill and a steady hand to fly with precision, though the pictures are often not particularly exciting. Between those missions, a sharp-eyed pilot-photographer can find magic.

Steve Benner spent six years crisscrossing the continent on survey jobs, and kept his camera handy between “mowing” sessions. Benner shared some of his work with AOPA, ever modest about what he was able to achieve with aircraft and camera.

"All of the images are grab-shots of things that I was fortunate to see along the way,” Benner wrote in an email. “I guess it proves that if shoot enough, you eventually luck into some good ones.”

That brings to mind a famous quote attributed to various sources: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”