Aerial photography involves taking images from the air rather than from the ground. It has been practiced since 1858 and can be done using aircraft, helicopters, balloons, or drones. There are two main types: vertical photos taken straight down at a 90 degree angle, and oblique photos taken at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees. Interpretation of aerial photos is based on elements like shape, pattern, size, tone, color, shadow, texture, association, time, and stereo perspective.