A bird's-eye view
Stafford woman's aerial photos on display
By JENNIFER BUSKE
Friday, April 6, 2007
Stafford resident Susan Hedenberg finds herself on both sides of the
fence when it comes to the aviation business.
While she spends her nighttime hours directing air traffic anywhere
from Baltimore and Washington, D.C. to Richmond, her days are
spent in the air, following her latest interest - aerial photography.
"My passion lies with taking aerial pictures," Hedenberg said, noting
that when she retires as an air traffic controller in four years, she
plans to make this her full-time business. "I had never done
photography before, but have spent every waking moment of the last
year on the computer and taking tutorials to learn about photography
and Photoshop."
Hedenberg, along with her husband, Dan Hedenberg, began the
company Flying H Aerial Pictures last year. Dan Hedenberg, a retired
pilot, navigates the couple's four-seat aircraft while his wife takes
photos for clients that range from the Stafford County government to
local residents and businesses.
"We make a good team," Susan Hedenberg said. "He flies and I tell
him where I want him to be."
Susan Hedenberg is one of several award-winning aerial
photographers nationwide that has work on display at the recently
opened Aerial Photography Exhibition at Potomac Terminal Radar
Approach Control - the premier air traffic facility in the area,
according to a news release.
The exhibition, which was arranged by Susan Hedenberg and the
Professional Aerial Photographers Association International, features
about 14 different aerial pieces and will be on display at the
Warrenton facility through July.
"This is the aerial photographers' way of showing thanks to air traffic
controllers," Hedenberg said. "The PAPA people are so happy to be
able to give something to controllers. They want to show the
controllers what they have done and how they couldn't have done it
without their help."
Although the facility - which holds the radar approach controls for
Andrews Air Force Base, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
and Baltimore/Washington, Dulles and Richmond international
airports - is mainly frequented by its roughly 250 Federal Aviation
Administration employees, the exhibit is also open to the public 24
hours a day, Hedenberg said, noting that visitors will have to go
through security.
"There is usually always someone at the exhibit looking at the
photos, and usually with their jaw dropped because these photos are
amazing," said Hedenberg, who works in the facility, serving on the
evening and nighttime shifts.
Hedenberg, a licensed pilot for 30 years, switched to the air traffic
control business in the early 1980s. Her husband began flying in
1966 with the United States Marine Corps and just recently retired
and teamed up with his wife to form the aerial photography business.
"I saw a need for it here because there are not many aerial
photographers in the area," Dan Hedenberg said. "It is also a good
way to supplement flying."
The Hedenbergs do a variety of aerial photographs, working with
businesses like Silver Companies as well as Stafford's tourism and
economic development offices. Susan Hedenberg said she has
photographed the Falmouth interchange, Aquia Towne Center,
Boswell's Corner, the regional airport, Chatham, the Godspeed when
it was in Stafford over the summer and other regional landmarks and
developments.
"It's great to be able to have a local firm that can take high-quality
photos," Stafford's assistant director of economic development Bob
Carter said, noting that Flying H's services allow the county to have
very up-to-date photos of the ever-changing community. "It is really
a win-win situation because they help us and we are able to help
support a local business."
Hedenberg said she shoots a lot of construction photos over long
time periods in order to show the progress of a development. She
said she also does aerial photographs for houses, farms, golf courses
and businesses, including several car dealerships because it is a way
the owners can "show off" their entire lot. Hedenberg said she also
gets occasional requests from lawyers to take accident photos or
ones in boundary disputes.
"It's a lot of fun," Susan Hedenberg said about taking aerial
photographs. "We also do a lot of what I call 'Kodak moments.' We
just fly along and if I see something, start shooting. Once, for
example, we were over Norfolk and saw a long line of old ships. It
made a great picture."
The Hedenbergs do most of their work during the days and fly their
airplane directly off their property off Warrenton Road in south
Stafford. The property, which they purchased seven years ago,
belonged to a retired U.S. air pilot and came with a runway strip.
"I told my husband if we got the land, I could have my horses and he
could have his plane," Susan Hedenberg said, noting that she once
also had a working horse farm on the property.
Susan Hedenberg said each trip lasts about 20 minutes - depending
on location - and that she shoots about 25 images from high,
medium and low heights.
Photographs are taken out the plane's window, or, if a straight-down
shot is needed, the plane will be tilted on its side, Susan Hedenberg
said, adding that they always have to fly at least 1,000 feet above
populated areas, but shoot most photos from 3,000 to 10,000 feet.
Although most of their work is done locally, Susan Hedenberg said
they do work along the East Coast from Maryland to North Carolina.
The couple will also travel to Ohio this summer to shoot about 100
sites.
Susan Hedenberg, who has taken home a few awards over the past
year, said she never really did photography until this business
opened. She said she credits some of her success to her mentors at
PAPA International.
"Susan has worked so hard," Dan Hedenberg said. "She is also an
obsessive person and I think has learned more in the past year than
some people do in 10. She devours anything she can get a hold of
dealing with aerial photography."
Susan Hedenberg said the current exhibit at the Warrenton control
center will move to the FAA's national headquarters in Washington,
D.C. this summer. She then plans to bring in an exhibit featuring
more local artists' work in order to make sure there is, "always
something there for air traffic controllers" to view.
Subscribe to the Newspaper
© 2007 Media General. Part of the GatewayVA Network.
