Viewing our world from above is a unique experience; it forces our perspective to change. Aerial photography has been used for everything from geographic mapping to artistic endeavours to spy missions, giving people a realistic vantage of the world few had seen before.
Capturing complex and unique perspectives
Jackson Pang is the man behind the scenic photos of Kuching City on social media. Often sharing his artwork in ‘The Story of Kuching’ Facebook page and his Instagram (@jacksonpang5077), his aerial photos are astonishing and breathtaking, showcasing the beauty of the city from a different perspective.
Jackson revealed that his photos were usually of spots around Kuching taken during sunset. His favourite time to shoot is between 6.30pm to 7.10pm and he calls it “The golden hour”.
“If I wanted the photo to have a golden sky, I would shoot at this hour where it provides a classic sunset shot which everyone love,” he added.
The photo enthusiast also mentioned that during the golden hour, and the city starts to light up, which makes the ambience more romantic and calming.
The 28-year-old started his aerial shooting in December 2019, and usually spends an hour on-site. He would always conduct a site survey beforehand to ensure that he could fly his drone safely to avoid hazards such as buildings, trees, power lines and others.
Kampung Buntal with the majestic Mount Santubong. 
Damai Santubong.
Jackson would then spend the first 20 minutes to navigate and find all the possibilities and the best angles to shoot. After determining the best location, Jackson said that the last flight would usually be the final production shot.
Between these processes, the post-production is the most complex.
According to the engineer, he need to apply several processing techniques which include the blending of exposures, stitching and layering of multiple photos to produce the end result.
Currently with a day job, Jackson continues his photography hobby as he wanted to promote the beauty of Kuching and Sarawak to the world. This is also one of the reasons why his photos were mostly taken during the golden and magic hour. “This allows the mix of contrast to produce the best views of the city,” he added.
Telaga Air from above. Photos: Jackson Pang 
The Simpang Tiga roundabout during sunset.
Besides that, he also wants to open up a new perspective through the use of modern camera drones, “Drones can let us capture complex and unique perspectives that has never been seen before.”
Jackson shared that he started taking photos seven years ago when he bought himself a 12-megapixel pocket camera. “After a year with it, I upgraded to an entry-level DSLR and that was when I got more serious in photography.”
After three years, his love somehow subsided as he could not afford additional equipment such as lenses, which were quite expensive. He then sold his beloved DSLR to a colleague.
However, as technology evolves and the prices start to go down, the equipment became more affordable. “Last December was when I bought my first drone and it brought back my love for photography,” Jackson said.
A picturesque view of Kuching city. 
The Kuching City South Council (MBKS) building.
Focusing on aerial photography, he usually shoots during his leisure time, and that also depends on the weather. He would use Google Street View to survey potential locations. “If I imagine that it will look good, I will drive there then fly my drone.”
As the saying goes, a picture speaks a thousand words, Jackson aims to capture more aerial view of other cities, and towns in Sarawak. “I would love to shoot photos of remote areas and villages, where the scenery can usually portray dramatic effects, with mountains and nature surrounding them.”
