Photography’s my art now—every sale feels humbling, like they chose my vision over countless others.
David Margolis
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David Margolis is soaring through the world of photography with his unique blend of aerial expertise and bold artistic exploration. With nearly three decades leading Skyview Survey, one of the East Coast’s oldest aerial photography companies, he’s captured stunning commercial landscapes from perspectives most never see. Now, he’s channeling that vision into fine art, creating vibrant, large-scale works that captivate audiences at top art shows.
This episode takes you on a dynamic ride through David’s fascinating career, from his roots in a family reprographics business alongside architects like I.M. Pei, to running Skyview Survey since 1996. We dive into his shift from film to digital, his wild tales of mid-flight chaos—like dashing to B&H Photo to replace a broken camera—and his passion for turning aerial views into art, from Staten Island pools to lenticular pieces inspired by anime.
We’ll explore how his classical training at RIT honed his craft, why aerial perspectives spark such wonder, and how he’s pushing creative boundaries at 67 with innovative mediums. David shares gritty insights on the challenges of aerial photography and his down-to-earth advice for blending commercial work with artistic fire.
David’s journey is all about chasing new heights and finding joy in the unexpected. Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:
- How David built a career capturing commercial aerial shots that shape real estate deals.
- The spark behind his pivot to fine art, crafting aerial images that sell for thousands.
- His unforgettable stories from 6,000 hours in the air, like watching the Concorde take off.
- Why he urges photographers to tap into the art market for a fresh creative outlet.
Buckle up for David’s lively tales, infectious energy, and knack for turning skies into art. We hope you love this high-flying episode, cheers!
Q: What would you say the most common use for aerial photography is in your work?
David: Well, probably asset sales—so assets being buildings, pieces of land—that’s probably the primary usage that I have. Now if you’re in the Midwest it could be farming issues, you could be looking at crops, running what we call FLIR systems to assess the health of the crops, that kind of stuff, but primarily what I do, what most of my friends do, it’s really for a sale or a mortgage commitment of a building, a little bit of planning and zoning, but really for sales. You want to buy a building? This is it.
Q: You said you were classically trained as a photographer—what was the plan? Was it aerial photography or did you have another niche in mind that you wanted to follow?
David: No, so growing up my father was a typical businessman and as a family we owned a reprographics business supporting architects and designers—this goes back to a pre-digital era when architects were doing blueprints and we had a big blueprint department, screen print department, and we did a lot of large format photography—shooting 14-by-17-inch black-and-white negatives, making six-by-twelve-foot prints—it was very industrial but our clients were the likes of César Pelli and Roche-Dinkeloo and I.M. Pei, so I thought, “Okay I’ll go into the family business at some point,” so instead of being a business major I started as a graphic arts major then became a photography major at RIT in Rochester—one thing led to another and for years I was in the family reprographics business and along the way we bought new businesses—one of which I’ve been doing for the last 28 years now—aerial photography—I bought a business that’s been around since 1946—probably the oldest in the country for oblique work, not mapping work.
Q: In your opinion what is it about this bird’s-eye view that resonates so deeply with people?
David: It’s all in the perspective—I’m 6’2”—if you were 5’6” or 5’7” your perspective would be different right off the bat—people don’t typically see from the air—if you throw a drone up and take a picture of downtown it’s just rooftops—who cares?—but in the countryside at 400 feet in October you see pumpkins, vineyards, orchards, all linear—people resonate with that because it’s a perspective they don’t see.
Key Links and Mentions From the Episode
David Margolis Photography
Discover David’s vibrant aerial and artistic work, from large-scale prints to innovative lenticular pieces, showcasing unique perspectives of landscapes and cityscapes.
Visit David Margolis Photography
Skyview Survey
David’s company, one of the East Coast’s oldest, specializing in commercial oblique aerial photography for real estate and asset sales.
Visit Skyview Survey
David’s Instagram
Follow David to see his latest aerial shots and creative explorations.
Visit Instagram
People Mentioned
César Pelli, Roche-Dinkeloo, I.M. Pei
Renowned architects whose work David supported in his family’s reprographics business, shaping his early exposure to large-format photography.
Tools & Techniques
Oblique Aerial Photography
David’s specialty, capturing angled aerial shots for commercial clients, offering dynamic perspectives unlike vertical mapping photography.
Lenticular Art
A cutting-edge medium David explores, creating dynamic, transformative images inspired by anime, adding depth to his fine art portfolio.
Pentax 6×7 Camera
The medium-format camera David used for years, pivotal in his early aerial work for its high-quality negatives suited for large prints.
Projects & Opportunities
Armonk Fine Arts Show
A top-tier art show where David’s aerial photography gained recognition for a decade, marking his transition into the fine art world.
Future Workshops
David plans to share his nearly 30 years of expertise through community college photography workshops, inspiring the next generation.
Places and Locations
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Where David honed his classical photography training, laying the foundation for his meticulous approach to aerial and artistic work.
New York City and East Coast
Key locations for David’s aerial photography, from Manhattan skyscrapers to coastal landscapes, featured in both his commercial and art portfolios.
Key Themes Discussed
Aerial Perspectives
David highlights the captivating power of bird’s-eye views, showing patterns like vineyards and orchards that resonate deeply with viewers.
Blending Commercial and Art
His journey reflects the rewarding balance of practical aerial work with creative fine art, encouraging photographers to explore both.
Resilience in Photography
From navigating FAA restrictions to mid-flight camera mishaps, David’s stories showcase the grit needed to succeed in aerial photography.
Evolving Creativity
At 67, David’s shift to bold, large-scale art pieces demonstrates a lifelong passion for learning and pushing creative boundaries.
Photography as Art
David celebrates the growing acceptance of photography in fine art spaces, finding fulfillment in seeing his work valued at prestigious shows.
