Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

To capture these beautiful aerial photos of beaches from around the world, photographer Gray Malin relies heavily on an accurate weather forecast. He needs to, especially since he shoots from a door-less helicopter flying over the ocean.

“The weather is the most important factor to all of my photo shoots, especially wind,” said Malin. “You would think rain would ruin a shoot, but during rainy days I have captured beautiful shots of empty beach chairs.”

His photos capture the sun-drenched beaches of Australia, Europe and Africa, but Malin started shooting aerials after observing beach-goers from a Las Vegas balcony.

Weather in your inbox

Forecast Location

Sign Up

By signing up you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe at any time.

(MORE: World's Most Romantic Islands)

“I was standing on a top-floor hotel balcony in Las Vegas that happened to have a bird’s eye view of the pool below.” Malin said in an interview with Weather.com. “I became mesmerized by the spectacle of hundreds of sunbathers and swimmers splashing around in this gigantic pool. I took a photo of the scene, and it ended up being the creative spark that ignited the series.”

Malin shoots while dangerously leaning out of a rented helicopter over a beach. He looks for patterns, color combinations and repetition created by the scenes below before taking the shot.

“A truly great photograph is all about timing,” Malin explained. “When you’re flying in a helicopter at high speeds, leaning out the doorway into strong winds, you often only have a fraction of a second to capture the right shot.”

(MORE: America's Best Beach Bars)

For his next project, Malin plans to shoot beaches in Chicago and Italy this summer, followed by a winter trip to shoot the frozen terrain of Antarctica.

“I choose the locations based on hours of research online and if a helicopter is available to fly me around with the door removed,” said Malin. “Generally, each location is always a surprise, regardless of how much I think I know about the place before I arrive.”

Malin grew up in Dallas and learned about camerawork in high school. After pursuing college courses in marketing and photography, he started his own studio, Maison Gray. For more information on Malin’s work, visit his website.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Photographer Gray Malin's photos capture the sun-drenched beaches of Australia, Europe and Africa. He looks for patterns, color combinations and repetition created by the scenes below before taking any shot.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Malin shoots his aerials while dangerously leaning out of a rented helicopter over a beach.

He says, “When you’re flying in a helicopter at high speeds, leaning out the doorway into strong winds, you often only have a fraction of a second to capture the right shot.”

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

The photographer says, “I choose the locations based on hours of research online and if a helicopter is available to fly me around with the door removed.”

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

According to Malin, weather can make or break a photograph. “The weather is the most important factor to all of my photo shoots, especially wind,” he says.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Malin started shooting aerials after observing swimmers from a Las Vegas balcony.

“I was standing on a top-floor hotel balcony in Las Vegas that happened to have a bird’s eye view of the pool below,” Malin said.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

The photographer continued, “I became mesmerized by the spectacle of hundreds of sunbathers and swimmers splashing around in this gigantic pool. I took a photo of the scene, and it ended up being the creative spark that ignited the series.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Malin says, "Generally, each location is always a surprise, regardless of how much I think I know about the place before I arrive."

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

“A truly great photograph is all about timing,” the photographer says.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Here, Gray Malin captures a moment when two paddle boarders glide over sparkling waters at a beach in Dubai.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

A solitary swimmer crashes through waves at a beach in the Hamptons, and Malin catches the moment while leaning out of a helicopter overhead.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Gray Malin relies heavily on an accurate weather forecast. Shooting from a door-less helicopter that flies over the ocean, it's a necessity for the dauntless photographer.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

A similar shot to the one in Las Vegas that initially inspired Malin to create his series, this photograph gives a head-on look at a swimming pool and the deep green ocean that run beneath it.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

A rocky crag in Lisbon, Portugal makes for the perfect sunbathing and swimming locale.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Colorful kayaks line the beach in the affluent beach community of Malibu, California.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

"You would think rain would ruin a shoot, but during rainy days I have captured beautiful shots of empty beach chairs," Malin says.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Despite shooting from such an elevated height, Malin manages to capture a real sense of movement and excitement in his photographs.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Here, Malin spotlights the white sandy shores of Florida's Miami Beach.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Malin pays attention to color combinations and repetition when taking his photographs, evident here in the repeating orange and white beach chair pairings.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

The perch from Malin's helicopter gave him just the right perspective on the lively swimmers in North Bondi, Australia.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Stunning Aerial Photos of Beaches

Vibrant colors always play an important role in Malin's beaches series.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

The series of aerial beach shots is titled called "À La Plage, À La Piscine," which means "At the Beach, At the Pool."

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

For his next project, Malin plans to shoot beaches in Chicago and Italy during the summer.

NEXT: More Amazing Beach Photos

Upcoming for the photographer is a winter trip to shoot the frozen terrain of Antarctica.

NEXT: Looking Down at More Beaches

Gray Malin grew up in Dallas and learned about camerawork in high school. After pursuing college courses in marketing and photography, he started his own studio, Maison Gray.

NEXT: More Beaches Photographed from Above

For more information on Gray Malin’s work, visit his website.

(MORE: America's Best Beach Bars)