Even experienced drone photographers sometimes take to the skies in a single-engine airplane, weaving around the maze of airports and air traffic — airplanes, helicopters, and even other drones — to capture a bird’s-eye view of the Los Angeles basin. Our one-hour flight began at Cable Airport, looped past the Santa Monica Pier, and returned home. The only downside: photographing from a plane is far more difficult due to the cockpit’s tinted windows. Courier photos/Peter Weinberger

We made a tight turn in Pasadena as the plane hovered around the Rose Bowl before sunset. Not for the faint of heart.

Most ground views of the Hollywood sign mask the true layout of the terrain below. The mountain also hides the mass of humanity behind to the north.

The 5 Freeway in one of the busiest roads in the U.S. heading south toward Orange County. Seeing the amount of traffic commuters endure is stunning from the air.