What angle is used for taking a high oblique aerial photograph?

A high oblique aerial photograph is typically taken at an angle of around 60 degrees from the horizontal. This angle offers a unique perspective, combining elements of both vertical and aerial viewpoints, allowing for a broader view of the landscape while still capturing specific details.

Photographs taken at this angle highlight geographical features and relationships over a wider area than straight-down (vertical) shots would provide, which can be useful for various analyses in geography, such as land use evaluation and urban planning. A 60-degree angle strikes the right balance between clarity of detail and the ability to capture the context of the environment, making it ideal for such purposes.

Angles such as 30 degrees or 45 degrees, while they can still capture oblique images, wouldn’t provide the same expansive context or might lead to distorted perceptions of scale and distance. A 90-degree angle, being directly overhead, is classified as a vertical photo and does not fall under the high oblique category. Thus, the angle of 60 degrees is the most suitable for high oblique aerial photography due to its effective representation of spatial relations and features.