Cover – National Geographic Serbia, August 2008

Product Description

Perhaps the most demanding and exciting assignment was the night aerial photograph of the Temple of Saint Sava. I knew I could not use any aircraft, as night flights were strictly prohibited. With the help of friends, I built a balloon filled with helium, attached a camera with a remote shutter release, and raised this improvised rig above the church.

The balloon was held at a fixed height using a strong Kevlar rope. At one point, a gust of wind carried it behind a tall tree — pulling it straight down would have caused it to hit sharp branches and tear apart, sending the expensive camera and lens crashing onto the concrete below.

In a moment of frantic problem-solving, I decided to attach a second, shorter rope to the main line. We lifted the balloon high enough for this secondary rope to clear the treetop, and my younger son Marko climbed the tree, caught the rope, and safely lowered the balloon.

The photograph of the Temple of Saint Sava was published on the cover of the August 2008 issue of National Geographic Serbia.