AN SMA PHOTO PLT FLEW LOW TO GET A BETTER PICTURE.

Narrative

I WAS ASKED TO TAKE SOMEONE UP FOR A PHOTO SHOOT OF SOME CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS NEAR A SHOPPING CTR. THE AREA AROUND THE SHOPPING CTR HAS QUITE A FEW FIELDS AND OPEN AREAS SO I FELT THAT 500 FT AGL AND ABOVE WOULD BE A GOOD ALT THAT WOULD GIVE THE PHOTOGRAPHER A CHANCE FOR GOOD PICTURES AND A SAFE AND LEGAL ALT. THE FLT WAS LOVELY; THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAPPY WITH THE SHOTS. I NEVER WENT BELOW 700 FT AGL AND THOUGHT THAT WE WERE IN A SAFE POS AT ALL TIMES. ALL WAS WELL UNTIL ABOUT AN HR AFTER I HAD RETURNED FROM THE FLT. A CALL HAD BEEN RECEIVED AT THE FBO INQUIRING ABOUT 'HOW HIGH WAS THAT PLANE FLYING.' MY HONESTY GOT THE BEST OF ME AND I SAID 'BTWN 5700 AND 5800 FT.' (FIELD ELEVATION IS 5050 FT.) THEN AND ONLY THEN DID I THINK THAT MAYBE SOMEONE HAD FELT THAT I WAS FLYING OVER A CONGESTED AREA AND WAS VIOLATING FARS. I DROVE OVER TO THE AREA THIS MORNING AND STILL FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL A VERY CONGESTED AREA. HOWEVER; FROM NOW ON; I FEEL THAT AS LONG AS I AM ANYWHERE NEAR THE EDGE OF TOWN AND NOT RIGHT IN THE COUNTRY I WILL NOT GO LOWER THAN 1000 FT AGL JUST TO AVOID MY 'ANGUISHED MIND.' PLTS FLYING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE TO REALLY THINK THE SIT THROUGH AND BEWARE OF THE INHERENT NATURE TO HELP THE 'SHOOT' BY DIPPING DOWN TOO LOW.