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Posts Tagged ‘drone’

Video: How to create ‘mind-bending’ drone photos with a little creative thinking

19 Oct

The Cooperative of Photography, better known as COOPH, has shared ‘Droneception,’ a quick tutorial video that breaks down how to create ‘mind-bending’ drone images using two-shot, three-shot and more advanced multi-shot methods.

The video is three-and-a-half minutes long with only visuals and text overlays for instructions, but it’s succinct and manages to effectively convey the steps required to get the shots and make the final compositions. These methods should work with nearly any drone, so whether you’re using the newest DJI or a few year old no-name brand, the magic happens with the creative thinking ahead of time and the post-processing done afterwards.

For more videos, head over and subscribe to COOPH’s YouTube Channel.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Slideshow: Winners of the 2020 Drone Photo Awards from Siena Awards

30 Sep

Winners of the 2020 Drone Photo Awards from Siena Awards

Winners for the 6th edition of the Drone Photo Awards competition, affiliated with the Siena International Photo Awards competition (you can view winners of the Creative Photo Awards here), were recently announced. Entries were sent in by drone photographers from 126 countries. ‘Love Heart of Nature’ by Australian photographer Jim Picôt, which depicts a shark swimming inside a heart–shaped salmon school, was recognized as the Overall Winner.

The awards are divided into 9 categories: Abstract, Empty Cities: Life during COVID-19, Nature, People, Sports, Series, Urban Architecture, Wedding, and Animals. All 45 winning images will be displayed at the ‘Above Us Only Sky’ exhibition, scheduled from October 24th to November 29th at the ‘Accademia dei Fisiocritici’ museum in Siena, Italy.

Overall Winner: ‘Love Heart of Nature’ by Jim Picôt

Location: Avoca Beach, NSW, Australia

Description: In winter, a shark is inside a salmon school when, chasing the baitfish, the shape became a heart shape.

Winner, Wedding: ‘Tropical Bride’ by Mohamed Azmeel

Location: (Not given)

Description: I used the flowers and the leaves leftover from the decoration of a wedding, to make something creative.

Winner, Abstract: ‘Swirl’ by Boyan Orste

Location: Pink Lake, Australia

Description: An abstract shot of a Pink lake chemical reaction in Western Australia.

Winner, Nature: ‘Coffee or Tea’ by Yi Sun

Location: Brazil

Description: (Not given)

Winner, Wildlife: ‘Outer Space Flamingos’ by Paul McKenzie

Location: Lake Natron, Tanzania

Description: (Not given)

Winner, Life Under COVID-19: ‘Black Flag’ by Tomer Appelbaum

Location: Israel

Description: Thousands of Israelis maintain social distancing due to Covid-19 restrictions while protesting against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rabin Square on 19 April 2020.

Winner, Sport: ‘On the Sea’ by Roberto Corinaldesi

Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom

Description: An aerial view of swimmers, where the sea becomes the place to take refuge, between the blue carpet and the white foam of the waves.

Winner, People: ‘Frozen Land’ by Alessandra Meniconzi

Location: Eurasian Steppe

Description: With temperatures of minus 30°C, winters in the Eurasian steppe can be brutal. But life doesn’t stop, and local people move from one village to another with a sledge, crossing icy rivers and lakes.

Winner, Urban: ‘Alien Structure on Earth’ by Tomasz Kowalski

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Description: Sometimes we need to change the perspective to feel the strength of the structure stronger than we’ve ever thought. The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers, are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur.

Winner, Wedding: ‘The Wedding Crashers’ by David Gallardo

Location: Turks & Caicos Islands

Description: (Not given)

Winner, Life Under COVID-19: ‘Lonely Guardian’ by Mauro Pagliai

Location: Siena, Italy

Description: (Not given)

Winner, Sport: ‘Ball Up’ by Brad Walls

Location: Sydney, Australia

Description: The physical motions of the tennis player against the clean abstract lineage of the court created a harmonious effect to the eye.

Winner, Abstract: ‘Fishing At Jamuna River’ by MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan

Location: Bogra, Bangladesh

Description: (Not given)

Winner, Urban: ‘Sunrise on the Top’ by Rex Zou

Location: Shanghai, China

Description: At 4:30 in the morning, mysteriously shrouded in clouds, this is what the second tallest building in Shanghai looks like.

Winner, People: ‘Mountains of Salt’ by Igor Altuna

Location: Thi Xa Ninh Hoa, Vietnam

Description: An aerial picture taken on a saltern near a small town on central Vietnam’s coast.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Report: Air Force One nearly collided with a drone, investigation launched

19 Aug
US Air Force C-32A (80001), captured by Kentaro Iemoto and used under CC BY-SA 2.0

On Sunday night passengers aboard Air Force One (AF1) spotted a small object, resembling a drone, flying in close proximity to the right of the plane as it was making its final descent. President Trump, First Lady Melania, and their son Barron were all on board. The modified Boeing 757 landed without incident at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland but White House military officials have opened an investigation into the sighting.

Described by witnesses as yellow and black, and shaped like a cross, the unmanned aerial vehicle nearly collided with AF1 as it was making its final descent. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which receives thousands of reports, annually, regarding drones operating in restricted areas and close to manned aircraft, referred questions on this particular incident to the U.S. Air Force. It’s 89th Airlift Wing along with the White House Military Office stated they were ‘aware of the report’ and the ‘matter was under review,’ according to Bloomberg.

Most civilian drones weigh only a few pounds and aren’t capable of taking down an airliner. However, government research reveals that a similarly-sized bird is could potentially destroy a jet airliner’s engine or shatter its windshield. The FAA does not permit flight above 400 feet unless a remote pilot has obtained their Part 107 certification (in the U.S., similar laws apply in most other countries) or has acquired a special waiver.

As we reported back in December 2019, over 1.5 million drones have been registered in the U.S. and 8,700 incidents of unmanned aircraft flying too close to planes have been reported to the FAA. Of those reports, two collisions between a drone with a helicopter and a hot air balloon have been confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board. Remote ID, the concept that all drones need a digital license plate, took comments from the public through March of this year.

‘Remote ID technologies will enhance safety and security by allowing the FAA, law enforcement, and federal security agencies to identify drones flying in their jurisdiction,’ said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. The rulemaking is currently in development and is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.


Update (August 18, 2020 at 5 PM ET): The original version of this article incorrectly had the modified 747 as the header image when it was in fact the modified 757 plane that was involved in this incident.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Case dismissed against George Steinmetz, whose drone was confiscated for documenting mass burials

18 Aug

Back in April, an award-winning National Geographic and New York Times photographer, George Steinmetz, had his DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone confiscated by the New York Police Department (NYPD) while documenting mass COVID-19 burials on Hart Island. Steinmetz was issued a desk ticket for violating NYC Administrative Code § 10–126, which prohibits the takeoff and landing of drones within New York City.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for early August. During that time, the NYPD held onto Steinmetz’ Phantom 4 Pro as ‘evidence.’ After an unsuccessful attempt to get it back, he went on to purchase two DJI Mavic 2 Pro drones. ‘I need to get back to work,’ Steinmetz explained. ‘The Mavic 2 Pro is in a real sweet spot for me. I prefer the optics and files from the big bird, the Inspire 2 with the X7 gimbal. But the Mav 2 flies really well, has a decent file…the compactness is quite revolutionary.’

View this post on Instagram

Preparing for burials of what appear to be more COVID-19 victims this morning on Hart Island, New York City. For over 150 years this island with no public access has been used to bury over a million souls who’s bodies were not claimed for private burial. With the morgues of NYC strained, the pace of burials on Hart Island has increased dramatically. I was cited by NYPD while taking this photo, and my drone was confiscated as evidence, for a court date tentatively scheduled for mid-August. #keepthememorycard

A post shared by George Steinmetz (@geosteinmetz) on

Steinmetz’ story has a happy ending, after all. ‘My case was spontaneously dismissed last week [the week of August 7th, 2020], so I went down to the Bronx Police HQ on Wednesday and recovered it. During the time it was confiscated I had to buy a replacement to keep working, and don’t know if I will pursue any further legal action,’ he tells DPReview.

We will keep you updated if any new developments come about.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Drone filmmaker Nathan McBride on DJI Mavic Air 2: ‘it’s like nothing else’

10 Aug

The DJI Mavic Air offers 48MP stills and 4K/60p video recording in an ultra-compact, folding body. A significant update to the original Mavic Air, the Air 2 is DJI’s smartest drone to date, and includes HDR capture, scene recognition to optimize the look of footage depending on your subject, as well as a suite of safety features, including front, rear and underside object avoidance sensors. Meanwhile, Spotlight 2.0 keeps the camera locked on a subject, and ActiveTrack 3.0 keeps subjects automatically centered, letting you concentrate on flying.

Should your flight still somehow get into trouble, DJI Care Refresh* (available separately or bundled with the Mavic Air 2 on Amazon for a special price of $ 1,049) covers up to two replacement drones per year.

Adventure filmmaker Nathan McBride was one of the first people to use the Mavic Air 2, and had just started working on a promotional video when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US. In this interview he talks about the challenges of working with the Mavic Air 2 as the country shut down around him.

* DJI Care Refresh+ is also available, covering one more replacement drone for an additional year, for a small surcharge. Click here for more details.


What’s your background in photography and videography?

I started working in video about four or five years ago, doing action sports and story-based content. I also worked in the short film world for a while and then moved into commercials. For the last five or so years that’s been my full-time job.

The last two years I started diving into drone photography and videography pretty heavily.

Nathan McBride is a photographer and videographer based in Phoenix Arizona. He’s been using drones in his filmmaking for several years, and recently had the opportunity to create a launch video using the new DJI Mavic Air 2.

See more of Nathan McBride’s work on his website, Instagram and on YouTube.

What are the primary ways in which the technology has evolved since you’ve been using drones?

Size is the obvious one, and it’s so important. These days, so much filmmaking is run-and-gun style. How fast you can get up and running, and how safely, is really important. With these new drones, you can be hiking up a volcano with it in your backpack, pull it out, and you can be filming in minutes.

Build quality has improved over the generations, and battery life, too. Drone operators five or six years ago did not have the same flexibility and mobility as we do now. And it’s so much more affordable now, to become a drone pilot. It’s unreal.

Put a drone up in the air, and you can get a whole different perspective

What does working with a drone let you do, that a conventional camera rig wouldn’t?

Drones are cameras in 3D space. You can put a drone wherever you want. I love the potential you have with drones for movement. I started diving into the drone space just thinking ‘what could this look like?’ And instead of the conventional kind of drone shot, from high up, moving slowly, I decided that I was going to fly my drone like it was a gimbal, or get footage that looks like a hyperlapse.

There are only a certain number of angles you can get from ground level. But put a drone up in the air, you can get a whole different perspective. It’s like nothing else. You can put the camera wherever you want. That’s what I love about drones, and I want to keep pushing my filmmaking using that technology.

Nathan pictured in the desert near Hanksville, Utah.

How does preparing for a drone shoot differ from preparing for a normal stills or video shoot?

Weather is a massive factor. If the weather isn’t right, you can’t fly. There’s a lot of planning involved. I’m very much an ‘on the fly’ kind of creative, and I like working quickly, but it’s important to have a general sense of what you want to get out of a location before you go.

I’ll often do discovery flights. For example I went to a spot in Texas recently, and we shot a video there. I had the Mavic Air 2, and I knew I wanted to get really low to the water, through the trees. There were certain textures I was looking for, so I did a discovery flight, just to look around, see what looked good, where the sunlight was coming from, and to get a feel for how safe it was to fly, where the gaps were between the trees and things like that. Once I’ve done that, I’ll put in a fresh battery and start filming.

I ended up with three weeks to shoot, and decided I was just going to have to use every single day, and hit every location I could

What’s your favorite of the drone projects you’ve worked on?

Probably this video, with the Mavic Air 2. I was originally meant to fly to Brazil to shoot, but then the coronavirus hit, and things got really bad, really fast. The project turned into a road trip around the US – Arizona to Utah, then Oregon, then down the California coast. That was the plan, but then everything started falling apart.

Often I’d drive for hours to shoot at locations that ended up being closed, but I didn’t want to fail, so I decided just to do as much as I could, wherever I could. I ended up with three weeks to shoot, and decided I was just going to have to use every single day, and hit every location I could until I got what I needed. A lot of it was very last-minute.

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is a tiny, powerful drone which folds up to be very compact. This makes it ideal for travel and outdoor adventure work.

In the video you describe shooting in your ‘back yard’. That’s a big back yard!

Yeah! I live in Phoenix Arizona, and I was shooting everywhere from within a few minutes from my house, all the way out across the state. I think the farthest I went was about seven hours north. People see the video, and see that part of it was filmed in the snow, and part was filmed in the desert, and they don’t believe that it was all shot in the same area, but those two locations were probably only about 45 minutes away from one another.

It was fun to have a month, basically, where I didn’t shoot anything else.

The snow was just good luck – I had driven to Flagstaff to get my buddy back to the airport, and we woke up to about three feet of fresh snow. So we made the most of it. Because I was shooting every day, I knew I’d win eventually!

It was fun to have a month, basically, where I didn’t shoot anything else. I didn’t pick up my DSLR, I didn’t pick up my other drones, I just shot with the Mavic Air 2. The first time I took the Mavic Air 2 up, I was amazed by how smooth it was, and the quality of the footage, especially at night. The handling is so good, it doesn’t feel like a consumer product.

Nathan’s road trip took him across the southwest states of the US, shooting with the Mavic Air 2.

Where’s your favorite location to shoot?

Bali, Indonesia. It’s one of those spots where you can find shots everywhere you look. It was a real eye-opener. I was able to get so many different shots there. I’d say that Nusa Penida, which is an island just off the coast of Bali, is my favorite place.

What’s your advice for someone just getting into drone shooting?

Always shoot H.265 if you can. There’s definitely a difference when it comes to post-production. And make sure you have enough light. Get a good set of ND filters – hitting your optimal shutter speed is key. And if it’s safe, and you’re not around people, fly as low as you can. Having foreground detail in your shots is a game-changer. The motion blur from having foreground elements makes the footage look so filmic. Obviously it’s risky, and you’ll need to practice.

Droning is all about immersing yourself in the environment that you’re in

Also don’t rush – leave yourself enough time. Droning is all about immersing yourself in the environment that you’re in. Slow down, actually take a breath, and find the angles that you want to explore. And do it safely.

Always have someone with you, to be a spotter, and be respectful. Don’t fly near people, and don’t go where you’re not meant to go. But most importantly, go out and explore and have fun because in the end that’s what it’s all about.


This is sponsored content, created with the support of DJI. What does this mean?

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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This Drone Photography Checklist will Ensure You Never Miss Your Shots

11 Jul

The post This Drone Photography Checklist will Ensure You Never Miss Your Shots appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

drone photography checklist feature

Capturing stunning images with your drone is incredibly exciting. But with so many things to think about before you take off, there can also be some nervousness wrapped up with that excitement. The first few times I flew my drone, I struggled to remember everything. Did I put a memory card in the drone? How strong would the wind be? Did I charge all the batteries? Did I need permission to launch my drone at the beach?  Trying to keep track of all these issues was exhausting, but the one thing that made my life much easier was keeping a drone photography checklist with my backpack.

Drone photography by Matt Murray
A drone photography checklist can help you get the most out of every flight.

The process of checking through this list the day before a planned flight – as well as just before I left home – helped me to be calmer and better prepared.

Below is my drone photography checklist to ensure that you don’t forget anything and are flying as safe as possible.

1. Before you leave the house

Planning for your flight should start before you leave the house, preferably the day before the flight. There are three things I typically check: air space, location and the weather conditions.

Drone photography by Matt Murray
Make sure you have permission from the landowner to launch your drone.

a. Airspace

This is quite possibly the most important check you’ll need to do: are you legally allowed to fly your drone in the airspace above your launch location? And if so, to what height can you ascend to? Do national limits apply or is there a local restriction?

Making sure you understand the laws that govern airspace where you fly your drone is incredibly important and can potentially save you a lot of trouble.

Drone photography guide
Even if you are allowed to legally fly in the airspace, it’s important that you keep watch for other aircraft.

If you are able to fly in that airspace, you also need to check who else could be flying there too. Take a look at your proposed launch location using Google Maps – are there any helicopter pads, airports or airfields in the vicinity? Are there any model aircraft clubs or paragliding locations nearby? Is it a popular place that other drone enthusiasts might use? You need to take all these issues into consideration when planning your flight.

b. Location

As well as considering the airspace where you plan to fly, you also need to take into account what local laws govern the flying of drones in the city, state, or region you’re in. Even if you can technically fly in the airspace, local laws or rules may ban drones flying at those locations. For example, many national parks in Australia do not allow drones.

Another factor to consider is if you need the landowner’s permission to take off at your proposed launch location. Many local councils publish information on their websites regarding places you can and can’t launch your drone from. It’s always best to check beforehand well ahead of time, especially if you need to apply or seek permission before your flight.

c. Weather conditions  

It’s always a good idea to check the forecasted weather conditions ahead of time. Many weather websites predict wind speeds for the next few days – this is invaluable for drone owners. If the predicted wind speeds are too high, it may be necessary to delay your flight.

Drone photography checklist
Weather websites can predict wind conditions for the next few days, which invaluable for drone owners.

Also, keep an eye on other weather conditions. For example, is there any rain on the radar map? Are thunderstorms predicted? For morning flights, what are the chances of fog limiting visibility?

Also, think about the possibility of bright sunshine impairing your ability to see your drone in the sky or view the device that controls your aircraft.

2. Equipment

A drone photography checklist is also very handy for keeping track of your equipment. A checklist can help you to remember to pack everything you’ll need, as well as making sure your equipment is ready for your flight.

Drone photography checklist
Your drone photography checklist can also include a list of accessories you need to take with you such as launch pads and neutral density filters.

First of all, check that all of your batteries are fully charged the day before the flight. This can take some time, so doing it half an hour before you plan to leave the house is not a good idea.

Next, check your drone over to make sure that it’s in perfect working condition. This includes making sure the propellers are not damaged or have nicks in them.

Next, check that you have all of your accessories packed and ready to go. The accessories I pack include a set of neutral density filters, a launchpad, and, of course, at least one memory card.

Make sure your memory cards have enough space on them to record multiple videos and images during your flight. Also, check that you’ve copied the contents of the memory card to your hard drive if you decide to format it beforehand.

Drone photography checklist
Keep your drone software up-to-date: check for any updates 24 hours before your planned flight.

Finally, check that the device you use to control your drone (smartphone or tablet) is fully charged and that you have the latest drone software updated on it, ready to go.

3. At your launch location

When you arrive at your launch location, it’s important to have a good look around and assess the area where you’ll fly. Even after you’ve done your homework about the airspace, the location and the weather, there still can be significant risks.

Take a look around when you arrive at the location: what risks are present? Are there any power poles? Are there groups of children playing nearby? Check if there are any dogs off leash in the vicinity. Here in Australia, we also have the possibility of birds swooping you or your drone.

Drone photography checklist
Make sure you keep watch around you while flying for other distractions such as children and animals.

If you have a launch pad, set it up somewhere flat away from other people. Some people also carry bright cones to mark out a small area to warn other people that a drone will be taking off and landing in the vicinity.

Start your device and your drone. Make sure you calibrate your compass before the flight and that the drone records the home point at your launch location.

Double-check your memory card is inside the drone – there is nothing more annoying than going to take a photo or a video before realizing it’s in your bag on the ground. Take a look at the lighting conditions: do you need to use an ND (neutral density) filter? If so, which one is best suited to the light today?

Before you take off, also make sure your smartphone or device is set to “do not disturb’ mode.

Drone photography by Matt Murray
Take into account that bright sunshine during your flight can impair your ability to see your device effectively.

As you fly your drone, keep an eye out for other aircraft in the airspace, the weather conditions, and people or animals on the ground near your location. If it’s safe to do so, try to take a range of different shots with your drone. If you need ideas, check out my article, 7 shots to incorporate for better drone photography.

4. Post-flight

After your flight is completed, ensure everything is turned off correctly in the right order. Inspect your aircraft and propellers for damage.

Have a checklist of the items you brought with you and tick them off as you pack everything away. Drone ND filters are very small – you don’t want to leave one behind at your launch location.

When you get home, have a regular routine of how you pack your kit away. If you plan on flying again soon, put your batteries on charge again.

Copy your images and videos from your micro SD card ready for your next flight. If you have two or three verified copies of the images, at that point, you may wish to format your memory card, ready for your next flight.

Drone photography checklist
Have a shot list of images you’d like to capture during your flight.

Conclusion

A drone photography checklist is a great idea to keep you prepared and to ensure you are taking reasonable steps to fly safely and legally. Instead of worrying that I have forgotten to do something while driving to my location, I now head out confident that I have taken steps to prepare for the flight.

I start working through the checklist 24 hours before any planned drone activities. This gives me plenty of time to get things sorted, as well as providing me with some reassurance that I am a responsible drone flyer. My checklist is also a big help when packing my gear before the flight, and when packing up afterward.

I’d encourage you to create your own list to print out and keep with your drone backpack, ready to check before you take to the skies. What else would you add to your drone photography checklist? Tell us in the comments below.

Drone Photography Preflight Checklist Feature Image

Drone checklist summary

You can download the PDF drone photography checklist here to keep and print out. That way, you will never miss getting your shots. Alternatively, you can just refer to the list below.

Airspace

  • Am I legally allowed to fly my drone in the airspace above this location?
  • What is the maximum height I can fly my drone at this location?
  • Will other aircraft be in the vicinity? (planes, helicopters, hot air balloons, drones, model aircraft, paragliders).

Location

  • Do I need the landowner’s permission to launch my drone at this location?
  • Will there be a lot of people at this location? How will I keep my drone away from other people? Will there be distractions such as dogs, children or birds?

Equipment

  • Are all of my drone batteries charged?
  • Does my memory card have enough space for images and videos for my next flight?
  • Is my smartphone or device fully charged? Does it have the latest version of the drone operating software on?
  • Is my drone in perfect working order? Are the propellers clean with no issues?
  • Do I have all the accessories I need? E.g. Cables, launch pad, ND filters.

Weather

  • What is the estimated wind speed for the time of my flight? Will I need to take any extra precautions due to the wind speed?
  • Are any storms or extreme weather events expected? Will bright conditions make it difficult to view my device?

Pre-flight

  • Risk assessment at the location.
  • Calibrate compass and record home point.
  • Check memory card is in the drone.
  • Check shot list.

During flight

  • Continually monitor conditions (weather, airspace, ground issues).

Post-flight

  • Examine equipment for any issues or faults.
  • Ensure all items (drone, ND filters, propellers) are accounted for.

The post This Drone Photography Checklist will Ensure You Never Miss Your Shots appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.


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7 Shots to Incorporate for Better Drone Photography

02 Jul

The post 7 Shots to Incorporate for Better Drone Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.

better drone photography tips

Flying drones has become an extremely popular pastime in recent years. It can be both incredibly exciting (and also a little nerve-wracking) to see your drone take to the skies for the first time. As your flying skills grow and improve, it’s time to think of the range and variety of aerial images you shoot. Whether you’re coming to drones from a model aircraft background, a photography background, or with no previous experience, here are seven types of aerial shots you can incorporate in your repertoire for better drone photography.

Seven shots for better drone photography

So why seven different shots? The truth is, there’s no magic number of image taking techniques in any photographic situation, but I have highlighted seven different shots that I use on a regular basis that you can try out the next time you’re out flying.

One thing is for certain: buying a drone (like buying a camera) is not a sure-fire way to produce stunning images. It takes hard work and experimentation to get it right.

1. The horizon shot

This is one of the most common images beginner drone photographers take, where the drone is high above the ground and points straight ahead for a spectacular horizon shot. As with all photography, lighting is important for these shots – I’ve seen many horizon shots taken at the wrong time of the day, which does not flatter the landscape.

It’s also good to keep in mind the rule of thirds (and other compositional rules) for your shots – try to remember them when you position your drone camera angle.

I often see images with both the sky and land taking up half of the frame each. However, all rules are meant to be broken – I didn’t stick rigidly to the rule of thirds when I took this image of a remote beach in New South Wales.

Horizon shot of the stunning coastline in northern New South Wales.
Horizon shot of the stunning coastline in northern New South Wales.

When you’re taking your horizon shots, also make sure you take them in both portrait and landscape orientation for maximum versatility. You can even consider doing a large panorama of the horizon made up of multiple images while your drone is at that height.

2. The long overhead shot

Another common photo many beginners take is the long overhead shot. Ascending up to the maximum allowable height limit, pan your camera down towards the ground and take an overhead shot straight down towards the ground. Objects such as cars and boats appear tiny and you will barely be able to make out people in the image.

Long overhead shot at low tide on Brisbane's Bayside by Matt Murray - better drone photography
Long overhead shot at low tide on Brisbane’s Bayside.

Although these first two shots are an important part of your repertoire, there are many other possibilities for better drone photography, so remember to take a range of images when you’re flying.

3. The short overhead shot

Many drone photographers, especially beginners, think the higher up the better. This is not necessarily the case, as stunning, unique perspectives can be had from quite low altitudes.

Having your drone at even just 5-10 meters above the ground provides an opportunity to take an image with lots of interesting detail from a completely different perspective than you would usually see.

The image below is a close up of boats on Brisbane’s Bayside. I had just finished taking the long overhead shot and decided to bring the drone down to capture a close-up of boats from a much lower height. With a short overhead shot, you can capture a lot more detail of objects in the scene.

Better Drone photography by Matt Murray
Short overhead shot of boats on Brisbane’s Bayside.

People in the landscape

People in the landscape can often make captivating images. By placing one or more people in your scene, it adds interest and variety to your landscape images. With the added impact of having the unique aerial view from a drone, this is one way for you to create stunning drone images.

In the first image below, I watched as my daughter took her surfboard out into the sea off Iluka in New South Wales. Her presence adds interest to what would otherwise just be a shot of the beach.

a person entering the surf at the beach taken by a drone
Figure in the landscapes add an extra dimension to landscape photos.

In this next image taken in neighbouring Yamba, I took an overhead shot of the historic Ocean Baths. The image shows someone enjoying a morning swim, and a surfer heading across the beach.

Matt Murray's drone photo of Yamba Ocean Pool. Better Drone Photography
Figures in the landscape at Yamba’s Ocean Pool.

Leading lines

Leading lines are a common compositional technique. It’s where a line or lines lead your eye through the various elements of the photograph. I took this image of Urangan Pier in Hervey Bay, Australia an hour after sunrise. The lines of the pier lead your eye through the image to the mainland in the distance. The rule of thirds is also in play here.

There are lots of leading lines that you can use in your compositions for better drone photography – both natural and human-made. Look for them next time and make them work for you.

Leading lines in action - Urangan Pier at Hervey Bay in Queensland.
Leading lines in action – Urangan Pier at Hervey Bay in Queensland.

Textures

Sometimes when you fly your drone over repetitive landscapes, you may feel like there’s nothing worth photographing, but that isn’t always the case. Keep your eyes open for scenes that show textures in the landscape, such as the pine forest in the image below.

When I flew my DJI Mavic Pro over this area in rural Queensland, I was amazed by the textures of the pine needles on the trees below me, punctuated by the brown soil and the tree trunks.

Look for areas with repeating patterns of trees, sand, crops, anything!

Textures of a Queensland pine forest. 
 Brisbane drone photography by Matt Murray
Textures of a Queensland pine forest.

Abstract shot

One of the fantastic things about flying a drone is that it opens up new ways of seeing our beautiful world. I am constantly amazed by how landscapes look from an aerial perspective. With this in mind, look for better drone photography opportunities via abstract shots where there is a mix of colors, lines, and shapes on the ground below.

I took the image below at the beach in New South Wales. I love the yellow, whites and greens of the sand and sea.

Better drone photography
Beautiful abstract colors, shapes and textures of the beach in New South Wales.

Conclusion

Better drone photography is a combination of many things. Not only do you need to build your skills and confidence by improving your flying, but you also need to add variety to the types of images you take with your drone.

In this article I’ve featured some of the different types of shots I like to take when I’m flying my drone. Horizon shots are a staple among many drone photographers, as are long overhead shots. If you haven’t already, look for opportunities to take short overhead shots, textures, abstract images, and use leading lines. If it’s safe to do so, also look to incorporate people in your landscape images to add more interest and variety.

What other types of shots do you like to take for better drone photography? Tell us in the comments below. And if you haven’t bought a drone yet, be sure to check out my photographer’s guide to buying a drone.

The post 7 Shots to Incorporate for Better Drone Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Matt Murray.


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Google Street View is unavailable in Mauritius, so one resident created his own using a DJI drone

27 Jun

On the island of Mauritius, which is about 1,200 miles (2,000km) southeast from the mainland continent of Africa, Google has never sent a car for gathering street view data. Considering the remoteness of the island nation and its relatively small – but dense – population of nearly 1.3 million, Google’s neglect makes fiscal sense. However, Mauritian resident Reuben Pillay wanted to address the situation himself and he started his ReubsVision project.

Over the last year and a half, Pillay traveled around Mauritius with his DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone. As you can imagine, it’s a large undertaking. He told PetaPixel ‘We’re a small island – driving from my place to anywhere can take at most an hour and a half since I’m pretty much centered.’ Pillay also noted that the constantly changing weather on the island added a lot of difficulties.

A screenshot from ReubsVision showing Grand Sable. Image credit: Reuben Pillay, ReubsVision

Pillay stitched the photos from his drone together to create a 360-degree image of each location he visited, covering the entire coastline of the island using more than 220 high-resolution photos. Each image took Reuben about 10 hours to create.

In addition to spending a huge amount of time and effort to capture and stitch together his images, Reuben also needed to learn how to code and set up the website for ReubsVision. He tells PetaPixel, ‘[It] was actually the first website I ever built…I had no prior experience in doing any of that.’

A zoomed-in view of the same location as above. Image credit: Reuben Pillay, ReubsVision

It was an expensive project in terms of cost and time. ReubsVision is completely free to access and explore, and is a really great way to learn more about Mauritius. Pillay says, ‘All I want for now is that people discover my island.’

If you’re interested in capturing your own 360-degree images using a drone, you can refer to the following video tutorials from Atti Bear and Ben Claremont.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Interview: Dirk Dallas of ‘From Where I Drone’ shares what it takes to create excellent photos

27 May

Interview: Dirk Dallas of From Where I Drone shares what it takes to create excellent photographs

Anyone can curate photos, but not many have built a successful brand out of it. Dirk Dallas has dedicated thousands of hours to From Where I Drone (FWID), a website and online community that aggregates aerial images from all over the world. FWID has made such a profound impact, with its 266,000 active followers and counting, that Dallas was approached by an established publisher to create a book.

He is also a professor, photographer and ambassador for top brands including PolarPro, an instructor for Adorama TV and a judge for competitions including the Paris Aerial Photography Awards. Dallas credits DPReview for guidance at the start of his journey, saying:

‘DPReview was of the sites I remember always checking when I was going to look up my first camera. I would read all the reviews, there were hi-res photos and I would zoom in to examine more details. You were one of the first sites to feature photos where I could do that and actually see the product clearly.’

We got a chance to catch up and learn more about the steps he took to build a robust online community, his thoughts on what makes a photo stand out in a sea of millions and his new book Eyes Over the World: The Most Spectacular Drone Photography — featuring 20 of his images plus 170 more from 125 aerial photographers seen on FWID. Anyone looking to improve their skills, or simply be inspired, is encouraged to read on.

All slideshow images appear in the book and are shared with permission from Dallas and the publisher.

Tell us a bit more about your background. How did you get started in photography?

Right before I went to college, I was really into video. I wasn’t a great skateboarder but my buddies were. I remember my grandpa had a Hi8 camera and I asked him if I could borrow it to make skate videos. I was using Windows Movie Maker in the process and I loved it.

I never thought of it as a career, though. My parents are all teachers so I thought ‘I’m just going to be a teacher, it’s a safe job. I’ll never have to worry about getting fired, teachers will always be around.’ At the time my girlfriend, who is now my wife, knew I wasn’t really into what I was studying in school. She told me ‘I’d rather have you do something that you love than have a super-safe job that you hate.’

That was a big moment of freedom for me. I didn’t know what my career was going to look like but I knew I was interested in video. I changed schools and started taking an editing class. They handed us cameras, I think I got a Canon XL and started in with that.

Fast-forward to 2007, I got the iPhone when it came out. I remember thinking ‘this thing’s pretty impressive for a camera phone.’ I decided to start taking a picture every day and practice my eye for composition. This was purely for video reasons, not for photography.

A screenshot of the iPhone photography group Dallas was a part of on Flickr.

Then I started getting into photography and I uploaded my work to Flickr. That is where I found a community for iPhone Photography which, at the time, was really weird to outsiders. I would share my iPhone shots to other groups and people would tell me ‘that’s not real photography. You’re not using a real camera.’ Our group was definitely niche and we felt like a band of rebels that were trying to push the camera as far as we could.

What’s interesting about that is now it’s not weird at all to take a good photo with your phone. You even see Apple put ‘Shot on iPhone’ on their billboards. But I remember getting made fun of for that on Flickr at first. I got really into photography and that same iPhone Photography community introduced me to Instagram when it first came out. I was one of the first 5,000 users and the community there is what inspired me to keep pursuing photography.

What inspired you to move into aerial photography, particularly drones?

To be honest with you, in 2014 I was getting tired of my photography. I could go to the beach and take a picture of a pier which I’d already done a thousand times. I was getting burned out, losing the spark. The fun disappeared. I knew I needed to mix things up. I remember seeing someone fly a Phantom drone with a GoPro attached to it and was instantly intrigued.

In the 2000s, I was into flying electric helicopters and airplanes. They’re so hard to fly, I’d always crash and barely be able to get any flight time. I’d spend a bunch of time and money fixing them. The drone looked like it was pretty stable and it had a camera on it – two things I enjoy. So I got a Phantom and stuck a GoPro on it. I could now shoot all the spots that I go to and was tired of, like the pier, from a new perspective.

It was a new challenge, especially since the early days of drone photography were so hard. I would set the GoPro on timelapse mode and then guess. I would fly over something and count in my head, because the intervals were 5 seconds and then think ‘all right, I got the shot.’ But I wouldn’t know until I got home and watched the footage from the memory card.

The challenge of something new, combining my two loves, is how I got into aerial photography.

What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you while flying?

In Chicago, I was flying at a park and I remember drones weren’t really common yet. You didn’t really them often. Someone approached me while I was flying and started asking me questions. I’m answering them and in the meantime, they also have a dog that’s running circles around us. I completely lost track of the time and realized that while I’m talking to this guy, my drone’s in the air and about to land any minute.

I start looking for it because it drifted away during the flight. I located it as it’s losing power and going straight into these trees. It gets stuck in one about 30 feet up. I could see it but couldn’t climb the tree to get it. What made the situation even more difficult is that my flight to California was leaving in 4 hours. I’m was quickly running out of time.

I found these guys playing football. I approached them and said ‘guys, I will give you $ 100 if you can help me get my drone down. Maybe we could throw the football at it and knock it out of the tree.’ They looked at me as though I was crazy and one of the guys threw his football at it and misses. They tried for 30 minutes and finally knocked it down. It smashed to the ground but everything ended up still working.

Why did you launch FWID?

In 2014, I started to share my work on Instagram and people were asking how I got these unique (at the time) angles. I would tell them it was from a drone and then they’d ask how they could get one, and so on. I would be helping everyone through messaging and emails. I realized, early on, that the same questions were being asked so maybe I should just start a website. I could send everyone seeking answers to the same questions there.

I couldn’t find anything else like it. No one was really helping people. There were some super-techie questions in there but I’m more creative. Still, I shared tips, and what I was learning along the way with the goal to help people. Then I started sharing stuff from the community.

Before FWID was a website, it was a hashtag – and it was a joke.

Before FWID was a website, it was a hashtag – and it was a joke. There’s that popular hashtag ‘#fromwhereistand,’ and I thought of that except I was taking a photo with a drone. So I tagged it and people immediately got the joke. One day I clicked on it and there were a bunch of photos from people with drones. I realized back then that more people had a drone than I was aware of.

None of my immediate friends were flying drones so it was great for me to see all these people using them and capturing places in ways I’d never seen before. I started an Instagram account for it, just to share photos. That’s where I got all the messages at first and then started the website to point people to for answers.

You’ve created a substantial online presence. Do you have any tips for community building?

Community building is really important to me, in general. I’m also a professor teaching photography, motion design, and graphic design. I spend a lot of time during my semesters building those communities because I’ve seen the value of how it pushes us, functions as a support system, and keeps us accountable.

In some ways that’s translated online. Everybody matters, in my opinion. In the early days, it was so easy to give comments to people, check out feeds, message people, and reply. It would take forever but it mattered to me because there was someone out there reaching out and I would reach back. I think those small gestures went a long way.

One of the things going for FWID is consistency (Dirk took a brief hiatus from posting late last year). I showed up everyday for 2 posts, or a minimum of 1 post, at least, for 4 years. Everybody’s striving for perfection, but it’s not obtainable. I would encourage people to strive for consistency. How are you improving every day?

The fact that FWID showed up almost every single day with something new in the feed made it top-of-mind for a steadily growing audience. Once you know you’ll see it, you come to expect it. People ask me why I post at 9:00 PM every night (PST). I would get my kids to bed, finish our routine. The night was done so then I could post. That’s my habit, that’s my routine.

I spend a lot of time finding photos. My book hadn’t come out yet as I’m telling you this but someone, when they discovered all the photos in there weren’t mine, emailed me and said ‘these aren’t all your photos? Anyone can curate a photo book.’ I had to laugh because I spend so much time seeking out an epic image, something inspiring or unique, something you’ve never seen before. The point is, I put a lot of work into it and don’t post anything random.

There needs to be something of value or people are going to stop showing up. For people reading this, ask yourself ‘what is the value I’m giving people?’ For me, for FWID, the value is inspiration. As soon as that’s lost, FWID will go down. There’s a lot of pressure with that realization.

For example, with Nike, when we think of that logo, it’s actually kind of lame. What makes it so cool is you associate it with Michael Jordan. You associate it with Kobe Bryant. Because those people do amazing things, that’s what makes the brand recognizable. Because the people in the FWID community are incredible, I’m able to share their work and grow.

I’m great at promoting other people’s stuff, by not my own if I’m being honest. It’s not natural to me. Sometimes I feel late to the game or that I should be doing some stuff sooner. This is because I want to help others, that’s my goal. Not everyone’s going to make it onto the feed. And I feel bad because I don’t want to leave anyone out. This is what’s great about Stories. If you tag me with something that’s great, I’ll feature you there and you’ll get tons of views on your work that way.

You have well over 1 million photos to choose from in the FWID community. What is it about a photo that stands out to you enough to make worth featuring?

One of the things I try to do is look for a clear subject. There’s got to be a point, what am I looking at? For example, in the photo below, there’s a person standing next tot the boat and I’m thinking ‘wow, they’re in the middle of nowhere. How did they get there, they’re all alone, and where are they going?’ There’s all these questions that start to pop up.

What they also did is introduce scale. What I’m looking for is some basic photography principles. Scale is one of the biggest things that draws me in. This one (below) interests me because when do you ever see a stadium in the shape of a circle? I’ve never seen one. I always gravitate toward something unique. The lightest part is the tennis court and it’s in the center, so the composition is very focused. The crop is tight.

Pops of color are always a winner. Contrast is always something I look for too. If I click on the #fromwhereidrone hashtag, images that have a color scheme that isn’t blues or greens, something really typical, tend to stand out. Now I want to check it out and see if the image is sharp and crisp. If so, I’ll bookmark it.

I never really see warm, orange-hued photos. These are rare. Everything I see is typically blue, green, and brown. One things a lot of drone pilots forget about is the photography principles. They get so caught up in taking the drone up high that those are an afterthought. The people who get featured and do well, in general, take everything we know about photography on the ground and apply it in the air.

Those are the strongest images to me. A great edit. Light is important for creating atmosphere. If you shot this image (below) 2 hours before, it wouldn’t be interesting. How is this unique? Is there a little bit of fog or does the light come in at the right time? Being mindful of the time of day makes all the difference. The people who will wait for hours until the lighting is just right, who make that extra effort, are striving for excellence.

The top photographers will make more of an effort, most people don’t. It’s your commitment to striving for excellence that separates you from the rest.

You have a new coffee table book out. Tell us more about it.

I’ll start by saying that being able to connect digitally is awesome. I now have friends through FWID from around the world that I wouldn’t have otherwise known. That said, we’ve lost this sense of touch and tangibility. What I set out to do is put together some of the best photos at the time of when this book started, back in Summer of 2018, put it in your hands, and inspire you.

I’ve seen these photos on the feeds, I’ve looked at them on my computer, in InDesign, and in drafts and proofs. Once I actually touched and held the book, it was magical. What this book does, I believe, is inspire. Right now we’re in lockdown so it feels like a little vacation, a little trip around the world. It’s a bucket list that makes you think ‘I want to go there when this pandemic is done. I want to shoot that place.’

Once I actually touched and held the book, it was magical. What this book does, I believe, is inspire.

The beautiful thing about FWID is the community. I would have never met or known about all these amazing photographers if it wasn’t for an app (Instagram).

The beautiful thing about FWID is the community. I would have never met or known about all these amazing photographers if it wasn’t for an app (Instagram). What this book represents is a community, people with a shared vision. Now the FWID community has something tangible and lasting. I could delete a photo, close the account, go dark, but the book is out. It will live on, it’s an artifact that will be in the world forever.

When I’m on Instagram or anywhere else online, I may like a photo, but I’ll take it in for half a second. As an author and a curator, I’ve had to pause with these photos and really take them in, ponder in that moment. Those are some feelings I didn’t expect, to be honest.

There have already been quite a few drone and aerial photography books released — What makes yours stand out?

For me, it represents the community. I looked at thousands and thousands of photos that I curated over the years and painstakingly whittled it down to what I thought were the best, most unique images. There are some books that put an image in simply because it’s a drone shot. With this book, I considered the question of ‘why does this shot deserve to be included?’

The book is broken down into 5 categories (Water, Arid, Lush, Urban, and Ice). At the beginning of each category, I wrote photography tips – it’s called ‘Photography Insights.’ For Arid, for example, ‘with extreme temperatures, blowing sand, and broad expanses of land and sky, these landscapes provide challenges to photographers. The drone pilot should be prepared to protect their gear from the elements while being persistently observant. These environments are often devoid of life. It’s crucial to scan the area for compelling subjects to tell a story and give context to a location.’

I give some examples of what you should look for, how to think of capturing lines and curves. I also give some insights on shooting in different climates but I want to make it clear that this is not the focus of the book. Another thing, and I think this makes the book unique, but I’m not entirely sure, is that all 7 continents are represented – including Antarctica.

Were you approached by a publisher or did you pitch this book?

I had been asked 2 times in the past to do a book but I either didn’t know the publisher or it seemed like they were trying to make a buck. Then I got approached by Rizzoli and it just so happened that 3 weeks after I got an email from them, I was going to be in New York where they have an office. I asked if I could meet with them.

My whole motivation for FWID is not to get rich but if I’m going to do something, it has to be done well. I really want it to be something that I can be proud of and can put my name on. COVID has caused some delays. I got my first copy of the book a few weeks ago, even though it was completed in February. That’s not normal. I should have gotten it back then, when it was printed.

I couldn’t start promoting a book until I saw it and held it. It needs to be good. If it’s not, I won’t promote it. I looked at Rizzoli’s work, they produce beautiful books and my editor was really awesome. The collaboration started through an email from them and we decided to collaborate from there.

What photography and drone gear to you use the most?

Drone-wise, I’m shooting a ton with my (DJI) Mavic 2 Pro. I love how small it is, how quick it boots up. That’s a huge thing, it boots up so fast. I also love how quiet it is, that’s a bonus. My next drone that I use is my Phantom 4, but that’s only when I don’t have my phone charged. I hate that I have to use my phone. I know DJI has a Smart Controller but it’s $ 800. I don’t know how I can justify purchasing one.

I use my phone and I hate it on the Mavic so if the phone’s not juiced, I bring my Phantom 4 with a tablet. Also, if I’m shooting during the day, a larger screen is better. For regular photography, I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark IV.

Who are the artists that inspire you the most?

I’m blown away by the work of Costas Spathis. He finds the most unique places, and I ask myself ‘where does this even exist on Earth and how does he find it?’ Another is George Steinmetz. I remember seeing his camel photos for the first time, and I was blown away. The subject wasn’t the camels, it was their shadows and that’s what made me realize what was possible with aerial photography.

Chris Burkard, who did the forward for this book, inspired me years ago when I saw his photos of surfers in the snow. I had never seen anything like that in my life. He challenged me to go for those unexpected moments like people surfing in frigid temperatures around Iceland.

Those are the photographers who have shown me to look at the world in a different way, and to think differently. On a non-photography level, I’m really inspired by Van Gogh. As I continue to learn about his use of symbolism, it becomes clear that for him it’s more than just a painting. Everything had meaning, and you can tell he put so much thought into every decision he made when creating. It makes me want to do things with purpose and excellence.

What tips do you have for people starting out in photography or are looking to improve their skills?

My biggest recommendation is consistency and discipline. So many people think FWID just happened or a print that wins an award or gets featured somewhere big just automatically happens instead of being the result of a lot of work, time, and effort. It takes a lot of failures before you get to a certain level.

One of the things I miss about being a newbie is not caring. I would create something and put it out there. I wouldn’t care because I didn’t know any better. Now that’s disappeared a little bit. I’m cautious, and I ask myself if something is worth sharing or not. It’s good in some ways, bad in others.

If people want to get better, but you don’t have a plan, how are you going to accomplish that? You’re going to be like all those people who make New Year’s resolutions and then a week later, nothing comes out of it.

The point is, when I started taking pictures with my phone, I didn’t care if it was a good photo. I was practicing. I was showing up every day in a discipline, I was in a habit. I made the thing I wanted to get good at a habit. If people want to get better, but you don’t have a plan, how are you going to accomplish that? You’re going to be like all those people who make New Year’s resolutions and then a week later, nothing comes out of it.

You have to be disciplined. You have to have habits. For me, consistency is the biggest factor. Show up, even on the days when you don’t want to, even when you’re tired. Figure out a discipline. For me, that was a photo every day. I don’t know what that means for someone else. The point is, I had a plan and I saw it through.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Swift action from FAA, US Navy follows Detroit Blue Angels drone incident

17 May

Earlier this week, the Blue Angels flew over Detroit, Michigan, to honor frontline workers. There wasn’t a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place but the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) always issues a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) whenever a major event involving manned aircraft is planned. One remote pilot decided to fly his drone dangerously close to the fleet and is now in trouble with the FAA, U.S. Navy, and local authorities.

The drone community was outraged, as well. One individual who felt their wrath, for simply re-posting footage that wasn’t his, is Vic Moss of Moss Photography. ‘My take is that those people who are so vitriolic to me did so out of passion for the industry. While I most certainly did not appreciate it, and its caused no end up exasperation to me, it was all done out of passion for the industry,’ Moss tells DPReview of the thousands of threats and complaints he received over the past few days.

Besides illegal activity, the author of the original footage used copyrighted music in his clip from the classic film “Top Gun.”

Even with the title ‘REPOST! THIS IS NOT MY VIDEO…,’ Moss was compelled to remove the clip, that was viewed over 133,000 times, not only to stop harassment but also for a Copyright claim over the soundtrack the original author chose for the footage – ‘Danger Zone’ by Kenny Loggins from the movie Top Gun.

This is how close the drone got to a fleet of Blue Angels flying over Detroit. Some experts are speculating that is was as close as 100 feet away from the nearest aircraft.

The original minute-long clip, where a drone propeller can be seen buzzing in the corner frame, and in close proximity to the planes, featured credits including the social handle @GIOLUCIA that syncs up with the name Giovanni Lucia on Instagram. The account has since been removed and Lucia has denied taking the footage. He claims he uploaded it for a friend. Regardless of who played what role, posting the footage in a public forum was almost as unwise as taking it.

Dean Greenblatt, who recently secured a victory for the Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators in an unrelated case, commented to DPReview about this incident: ‘FAA regulations mandate operators of sUAS comply with right-of-way limitations. Social media provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to incriminate themselves.’

‘I’ve handled several FAA enforcement actions against sUAS operators. Typically, the FAA becomes aware of violations through electronic publication. Videos can establish flight in restricted airspace, flight over people, or in proximity to emergency service providers. Such documentary evidence makes it difficult to mount a defense to FAA enforcement actions,’ Greenblatt concludes.

An investigation is already underway. Sources claim that even though it may be someone else besides Lucia who captured the footage, both parties face significant legal repercussions for their actions.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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