At 36 years old, photographer Édouard Salmon from Poitiers has made aerial drone photography his specialty, spending nearly a decade traveling the globe with an unconventional camera tool. His unique perspective allows him to immortalize the world through extraordinary viewpoints that break away from the ordinary, and now he's eager to share his passion with others.
On the basketball court, the photo session takes on a distinctly unique character. When PB 86 player Jean Vergez shoots baskets, Salmon photographs him from high above using his drone. "A drone is a complete camera in its own right, it's just that it's remote from the photographer," explains Salmon. "You find the same settings, the same techniques, the management of light, exposure, and framing."
The 36-year-old Poitiers native specializes in aerial sports photography, finding that this elevated perspective offers something special. "From the sky, we reveal things we don't suspect from the ground. It also gives a more graphic aspect, almost abstract," Salmon explains. While he's now attempting to diversify his work, the photographer has just released a book to share his passion: "The Secrets of Aerial Photography with a Drone: Equipment - Shooting - Aesthetics."
During photo sessions, nothing is left to chance. "You need to start your movement here, so we can clearly see your shadow," Salmon directs basketball player Jean Vergez. After several takes, the player begins to understand what's expected of him. "I don't really care if he makes the dunk. I ask him to amplify his movements so they appear well in the image," details the aerial photographer. Throughout the session, Salmon maintains constant communication with Vergez to explain his expectations.
The results seem to satisfy everyone involved. "This is the first time I've seen photos like this, it's really cool," responds PB 86 player Jean Vergez. This "step aside" approach particularly appeals to Salmon, who has made aerial sports photography his specialty. Since 2017, he discovered drone photography and became passionate about it, eventually leaving his career in international commerce.
"The particularity is that I'm not a photographer by training. I started with aerial photography. My first camera was a drone," Salmon smiles. Despite this unconventional beginning, he acknowledges that this photographic tool comes with unique constraints, far different from those of traditional handheld camera work. "You must not lose sight of the fact that you have to pilot it, that there can be obstacles, people around, and that it can be dangerous," he warns. "But in terms of sensations and shooting, it's almost the same thing as a classic camera."
On his drone, Salmon has three lenses, which allows him to vary his shots and create diverse perspectives. For him, sports provided a natural playground that he didn't hesitate to explore. "I started with surfing then basketball," he recalls. "It gives a much more poetic aspect to sports photography."
Over time, Salmon has developed his creativity through practice and experimentation. "The artistic approach, we have it naturally, but it's something you work on. I don't think it can be learned, but it can be worked on and it evolves," the photographer believes. His passion quickly gained recognition, with Salmon working with tourism offices while his work is also published in famous sports magazines like L'Équipe magazine.
"L'Équipe magazine for sports, that's really the pinnacle. I was very happy and proud," he recounts. His work has been published in several mainstream magazines as well as specialized photography publications. "Publications in mainstream magazines are really rewarding. But also having publications in magazines specialized in photography shows that the work is recognized in the photography community," Salmon acknowledges.
Now, the Poitiers photographer wants to share his passion and skills with others. This is why he published his book on drone photography techniques. However, Salmon doesn't want to confine himself to his domain. He's now exploring subjects beyond sports, such as landscapes, and has begun practicing "classic" photography. In recent months, he's been exploring the world and taking amateur photographers along with him, cultivating his desire to teach and share his knowledge with the next generation of aerial photography enthusiasts.
