Surfers catching waves at Manly Beach, sunbathers sprawled on the sand at Shelly Beach, a determined lone swimmer doing laps in an ocean pool, yachts moored on a glittering translucent sea... It's autumn in Sydney, but you wouldn't know it from these aerial photos, taken from a blimp.
Getty Images photographer Cameron Spencer boarded the Appliances Online blimp and flew quietly over Australia's largest city, capturing familiar landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, as well as a few Australians enjoying the great outdoors.
The Sydney Opera House from aboveCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesClimbers on the Sydney Harbour BridgeCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesThe Queenscliff ferry heading from Manly Wharf to Circular QuayCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesSpeedboats criss-cross Sydney HarbourCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople working out on the wall around an ocean pool on the Northern BeachesCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA swimmer doing laps in an ocean pool on the Northern BeachesCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesHouses and swimming pools in southern SydneyCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesAerial photo of surfers at Manly BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA bridge at Warragamba damCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople relaxing at Redlead Pool in Double BayCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople swimming laps in North Narrabeen ocean poolCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesHornby Lighthouse at South HeadCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesAerial view of a Manly Point from a blimpCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA stand-up boarder riding a wave at Manly BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA swimmer at Lady Bay nudist beachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesRocky Point at Balmoral BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesAn aerial view of children playing footballCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesAn aerial view of hundreds of yachts moored in PittwaterCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA swimmer at Reef BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA golfer putting at Terry Hills Pitch and PuttCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople walking at The BowerCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA yacht moored at Spring CoveCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesThe Sea-Cliff Bridge at Stanwell ParkCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA bare tree in Camden casts a long shadowCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA surfer walks down Palm BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA tanker refuelling HMAS Adelaide at Garden IslandCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesKimbriki Resource Recovery CentreCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople swimming at Boy Charlton poolCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA sea plane at Rose BayCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesThe Australian Baha'i TempleCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople sunbathing on Shelly BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople playing beach volleyball at Manly BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesSurfers at Avalon BeachCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesAn aerial view of boats moored in PittwaterCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA horse rider in southern SydneyCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesCars on the M5 freewayCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesPeople playing a round at Long Reef golf courseCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesA stand-up boarder riding a wave at Manly BeachCameron Spencer/Getty Images
The Appliances Online Legend Blimp is the only airship currently operating in the Southern Hemisphere. It is 11 metres wide, 13.4 metres tall, and 39 metres long (approximately the length of three buses). It is filled with enough helium to fill up 136,000 party balloons.
Its two engines use less fuel in two weeks of operation than a 747 uses to taxi to the end of the runway for take-off. The airship's usual maximum speed is 45mph (72km/h), though it has reached speeds of 57mph with a tail wind.
Chief Pilot Mark Finney prepares to launch the Appliances Online blimp from Camden Airport in SydneyCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesThe Appliances Online blimp makes its way down Sydney's eastern suburbsCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesDover Heights and central SydneyCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesThe Sydney Opera House and CBDCameron Spencer/Getty ImagesMark Finney flies and navigates the Appliances Online blimp towards Barrenjoey HeadlandCameron Spencer/Getty Images
The blimp is never deflated, and the 13-strong crew includes two qualified pilots, two licensed aviation mechanics, a crew chief and a clerk, as well as ground staff that includes watch keepers and ground crew. Its stability and slow-cruising speed make it perfect for capturing amazing aerial photography and video footage.
