South African couple Jay and Jan Roode share a unique view of the African continent; it's a view from above. The husband-and-wife team operate Skyhawk Photography, and have flown to over 65 countries, sometimes risking their lives for the perfect shot from the air.
"There's no way to fly, especially over wilderness, and not be philosophical," says Jay, who takes the pictures while her husband, Jan, flies the plane.
"When you're up there, you step out of your everyday life, and you reevaluate everything that is important to you as a human being," she adds.
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
Through their unique vantage point, the Roodes gained a particular appreciation for wildlife, and have used their photography to highlight threats to the environment. They've partnered with conservation groups, including the Endangered Wildlife Trust, which receives a portion of the proceeds from sell of their photographs.
"We want to portray the landscape as an entity all its own, one that holds so much life," notes Jay, adding:
"Conservation is not just the face of the rhino or chimpanzee."
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
Jan says that he spends a lot of time in the air contemplating perspective.
"We perceive things as important because of the size of them. It sounds quite simple, but once you fly, you understand it," he says.
"As a normal human being, you'll easily look at ants and think that they're a very small insect, and without any real reverence, you would step on them and dismiss them. When you're on the ground, an animal like an elephant you'll revere because they happen to be very impressive. But when you fly, sadly, the elephant becomes the ant."
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
The duo say their passion doesn't come without its dangers. Jan recalls one time when Jay wanted to take a picture of an Oryx in a remote area of northern Namibia. The area was flooded with fog, which he says, "can wreak havoc on your engine."
"We have a very different perspective sometimes. I look out for the safety of us; she looks out for the image. It can create some interesting moments," he confesses.
To get the best shots, the pair have rigged their high-wing aircraft for the task, installing photographic windows in key places.
"Jan has had to put his foot down with me," confesses Jay. "When I asked him if we could cut a hole at the bottom of the aircraft he said 'no.'"
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
The pair have photographed many local fisherman from the air, particularly around Mozambique. The view, says Jan, is deceptively idyllic.
"When we shot these photographs to people, it looks like heaven because of the azure blues of the Indian Ocean," he says. "But one man's heaven can be another man's hell."
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
He notes that many of the local fisherman have a less serene view of their profession, often working 12-hour days in small dugouts.
"It's actually an extremely hard life in quite a harsh environment," notes Jan.
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
"It looks very romantic from our view, but the man in the dugout won't see the beauty. All he'll see is the hard reality of trying to fish every day and find food for his family," he adds.
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
"You do question your sanity when you do something like this," admits Jay.
"We'll be hundreds of kilometers from any civilization, just the two of us crazies in the airplane, and sometimes reality just hits you and we think we've lost our minds. But it's just a passion."
Jay Roode/skyhawkphotography.com
"I wish I could take everyone up and just show them how amazing this planet can be," says Jay.
"For us, it's just about showing a different perspective of this incredible planet and how wonderful it can be."
