It’s all in the name – this shot is filmed from the air and is often used to establish a location (usually exotic and/or picturesque).
A shot taken from an airborne device, generally while moving. Backlighting (lighting design) The main source of light is behind the subject, silhouetting it, and directed toward the camera. ... High-angle shot (the camera is higher than its subject)
An aerial shot is a shot of a scene or photo taken from a higher vantage point than what is being filmed. This gives a greater understanding of what is happening in the scene as you get a virtual 360 degree view of what is going on rather than just the angle the camera is shooting.
Aerial shooting has been around for a long time. In fact, here is a 1919 short video of a fly over during WWI of a battle field. Technology has come a long way sense then. The use of drones during war has become common place and they are all equipped with video equipment. Aerial shooting isn't only used in war however. It is still used in film making today, and they have new technology for that as well.
Remote helicopters are one of the most widely used methods of filming aerial shots now days.
ICONIC EXAMPLE: The opening of The Sound Of Music (1965).
