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Posts Tagged ‘drone’

Drone footage of aurora over Iceland is just what your weekend needs

27 Aug

Maybe it’s unreasonably hot where you live, like it is here. Maybe you just smashed your phone screen on a sidewalk (and you KNEW you should have paid for that Apple Care). It’s none of our business why, but if your troubled mind needs soothing, we found just the thing for it: this video of the Northern Lights shot from a drone soaring over Iceland. 

The footage comes from OZZO Photography and a Sony a7S II with Sigma 20mm F1.4 strapped to a DJI Matrice 600 (that’s a $ 4600 pro-grade drone, for those keeping score at home). It all adds up to one sweet, nerve-calming minute and a half.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DJI opens drone flying and training arena in South Korea

24 Aug

Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has opened a new facility in South Korea that allows drone owners to learn more about flying their craft. The DJI Arena offers 1395 square meters/15016 square feet of dedicated space for education as well as obstacle courses for those wanting to show off and practice their aerial navigation skills. Situated in Yongin 20 miles south of Seoul, the arena will host an academy for pilots between the ages of 8 and 16, as well as individual and group sessions for adults, schools and businesses.

DJI claims it wants to ‘make aerial technology more accessible, reliable and easier to use for anyone who wants to use it’ and to ‘play an important role in building a healthy UAV ecosystem in Korea.’ The company provides drones for those on education programs while others will need to bring their own. Members of the public can book three-hours sessions that cost the equivalent of $ 13.50 per person.

For more information see a translated version of the DJI Arena website.

Press release:

DJI Arena Officially Opens in Korea

Providing a safe and fun environment for new pilots and aerial enthusiasts DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, officially opened its first DJI Arena in Korea to the public today. The facility aims to provide a gathering place for aerial enthusiasts as well as a practice venue for those who are learning about aerial technology such as first time pilots.

“The DJI Arena will help foster the local drone culture and play an important role in building a healthy UAV ecosystem in Korea,” said DJI Korea Country Manager Moon Tae-hyun. “

He continued, “The opening of the DJI Arena is our commitment to the development of the local UAV market. There is huge potential in how UAV technologies can change the way people see the world and create positive impact to people’s lives. Our goal is to make aerial technology more accessible, reliable and easier to use for anyone who wants to use it.”

The 1,395-square-meter arena offers an adjustable LED-lit circuit for pilots who want to test their skills, LCD TVs that show spectators the first-person view from the drone, and a maintenance room equipped with charging docks and workstation for minor repairs.

Details on the Different Programs, Fees and Availability:
* Individual & Group Booking: Visitors are required to make reservations via an online application form (http://blog.naver.com/djiarenakorea). For those visiting from outside of Korea, reservations can be made via djiarena.kr@dji.com by including their full name, expected date and time of arrival, and number of participants. The reservation will be confirmed upon confirmation of the venue’s availability. Each booking session is for three hours and the entrance fee is 15,000 KRW (USD 13.50) per person per session. The maximum capacity of each session is 12 people and will be given on a first come first serve basis. The availability of individual and group booking is 7pm to 10pm on weekdays and 10am to 8pm on weekends.

* Corporate Event Rental: Rental for corporate and special events is available between 10am-8pm all week. The minimum venue rental fee is 500,000 KRW (USD 452) for 30 people and 30,000 KRW (USD 27) per additional participant. Booking must be made two weeks in advanced.

* Flying Academy: Children between ages 8 to 16 can also learn about DJI’s aerial technologies and become a skilled pilot. As part of the program, participants will learn the features of the Phantom 4, safety tips and best practices, and complete a total of eight practice sessions during the course of one month. The Flying Academy will commence later in September.

* Private Training: DJI’s professional pilot will be available for 1:1 training if participants prefer a more tailored program. To start, participants will learn how to fly the Phantom 4, one of the most intelligent and easy-to-fly consumer drone with features such as ActiveTrack, TapFly, Obstacle Avoidance and a Sport Mode.

* School Tours: DJI Arena is the perfect place for students to learn about UAV technologies and a great venue if schools are looking for an educational and fun experience for their students’ next field trip. The program can be tailored for the school with booking done in advance. Each session usually runs for two to three hours depending on the number of participants.

Visitors are required to bring their own drones for individual and group bookings while DJI will provide the Phantom 4 for participants in the educational programs. For corporate events and activities that require special set-up, please contact djiarena.kr@dji.com for more information and availability.

The DJI Arena is located at 441 Mabuk-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The venue will be open for public tours between 5pm – 9pm this Thu Aug 18 and Fri Aug 19.

For more info or reservations, please email djiarena.kr@dji.com or visit http://blog.naver.com/djiarenakorea.

DJI expanded its retail business in Korea just earlier this year with the launch of its first overseas flagship store in Hongdae, Seoul. The Korea Flagship store has become a gathering place for aerial enthusiasts across different demographics, from recreational users to those seeking to start their own business using DJI’s platforms to retirees looking for their next hobby.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Aerial Views of Apartheid: Drone Photos Show Rich vs Poor Divides

04 Aug

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

aerial apartheid

Though the apartheid ended decades ago, many physical barriers remain in South Africa, highly visible in the built environment … especially from above.

dividing line

Roads, rivers and strips of open land captured by Cape Town-based photographer Johnny Miller illustrate the divide in a photo series dubbed Unequal Scenes.

rich versus poor

Details give way to patterns in these birds-eye views, highlighting a landscape-scarring history of institutionalized segregation and inequality. Haphazard and densely packed shacks may fall on one side of a line while organized and expansive homes can be seen on the other, often separated by nearly-invisible lines.

wrapping shacks

south africa

“During apartheid, segregation of urban spaces was instituted as policy,” explains Miller, with “buffer zones of empty land, and other barriers were constructed and modified to keep people separate.” Even today, “communities of extreme wealth and privilege will exist just meters from squalid conditions and shack dwellings.”

housing patterns

housing divide

rich and poor

“My desire with this project is to portray the most Unequal Scenes in South Africa as objectively as possible. By providing a new perspective on an old problem, I hope to provoke a dialogue which can begin to address the issues of inequality and disenfranchisement in a constructive and peaceful way.” Miller has an upcoming show this fall in Johannesburg for those who want to see his work large and up close, to be announced on his social feeds (via Colossal).

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[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

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Voyager 4 Drone comes with 16x optical zoom and 4G connectivity

25 Jul

Most camera drones come equipped with wide-angle lenses. For most use cases this makes sense from an image framing point of view but it also helps keep camera shake at bay. That said, thanks to improved gimbal and stabilization technologies we are now seeing the first consumer drone cameras with optical zoom appear on the market. The recently released Zenmuse Z3, DJI’s first zoom camera, offers a 7x zoom. The new Walkera Voyager 4 drone is now more than doubling the DJI’s zoom range by offering a 16x optical zoom lens that tops out at 1500mm. 

The camera records 1080p Full HD video, can rotate 360 degrees and is stabilized by a gimbal. Drone and camera can be controlled from up to a mile away via a mobile app using the drone’s built-in Wi-Fi network. In addition the Voyager 4 offers a new 4G connectivity feature which means it can, as long as a mobile network is available, be controlled across much larger distances. 

Both new features, the 16x zoom and 4G connectivity, won’t help to alleviate the privacy concerns related to drone use, but we will have to wait and see how the new technologies will be used. The Voyager 4 also comes as a 4K version with wide-angle lens. At this time pricing information has not been released. A product video is available on the Walkera website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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We’re Giving Away a Photo Drone!

21 Jul

It’s time to take your photography to new heights, cuz we’re giving away a drone!

Yup, a Phantom 2 Vision+ Drone with a built-in 14MP, HD, wide-angle camera.

We’ve got five ways to enter. So, enter! Five times.

(…)
Read the rest of We’re Giving Away a Photo Drone! (10 words)


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Hasselblad and DJI announce 50MP medium-format drone kit

13 Jul

The first product of the collaboration between Chinese drone maker DJI and Swedish medium-format camera manufacturer Hasselblad will be a long range drone fitted with the same 50MP CMOS sensor that is used in a number of current medium-format cameras, including the new X1D mirrorless camera.

What the companies are calling a ‘fully integrated aerial photography platform’ will combine DJI’s industrial Matrice 600 drone with Hasselblad’s recent A5D aerial camera. The camera, which has no moving parts of its own, will come with an adapted HC 50mm F3.5 lens that has its focus set to infinity. When used with the 50c sensor the lens offers a view similar to that which we would expect from a 42mm lens on a 35mm system camera.

DJI’s M600 can carry a maximum of 6kg/13.2lb which the company says means it can carry the Hasselblad A5D and a Ronin-MX gimbal ‘with ease’ – together the camera, lens and gimbal will weigh just over 4kg/8.95lb.

As both products are already on sale the bundle deal is available now priced $ 25,999/€24,400/¥189,999 (Chinese yuan) – all before tax. The UK price has yet to be announced. For more information see the Hasselblad and the DJI websites – below are a couple of official samples from Hasselblad.

ISO 100, F6.3, 1/500sec
ISO 100, F4.5, 1/800sec

Press release:

DJI and Hasselblad introduce first joint aerial photography package

First fully integrated aerial photography platform combines DJI’s M600 with Hasselblad’s A5D.

DJI and Hasselblad today announced a fully integrated high-end aerial camera-platform bundle made up of Hasselblad’s aerial medium format camera A5D and DJI’s professional flying platform M600.

The A5D-M600 bundle is the first joint product following DJI’s recent investment in Hasselblad. The combination of the M600 and the A5D provides users with today’s most advanced aerial optics and sensors integrated with one of the world’s most reliable aerial platforms. In addition, the two companies are looking at additional joint products for the future.

‘Combining best-in-class aerial optics with the world’s most powerful aerial platform is a natural development for DJI and Hasselblad. We are delighted to provide this unique bundle to professional photographers, surveyors and mappers’, said Perry Oosting, CEO of Hasselblad.’

DJI’s M600 is designed for maximum performance and smart flight safety. The M600 is fully compatible with DJI’s advanced gimbal system the Ronin-MX. It comes fully equipped with 6 intelligent batteries, A3 flight controller, Lightbridge 2 Professional HD transmission system, a dust-proof propulsion system and powerful app control.

Hasselblad’s A5D camera combines the world’s best optics and sensors with a modern, compact design. The sensors are almost twice the size of those used in today’s best 35 mm DSLR cameras and the A5D lens comes in 50 mm.

Hasselblad’s Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) comes standard and helps optimize difficult color gradations straight out of the box. The A5D has a strong seal on the camera body and sensor unit preventing dust in the optical system.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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3rd annual International Drone Photography Contest winners announced

09 Jul

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Dronestagram has announced the winners of its third annual International Drone Photography Contest. Three winners were selected in each of the following categories: ‘Travel,’ ‘Sports Adventure,’ and ‘Nature Wildlife.’ According to National Geographic, which was one of the contest’s sponsors, Dronestagram received 5900 entries from photographers across 28 countries.

The Dronestagram contest seeks out the best photographs taken with a drone, and deliberately looks for images that couldn’t have been taken any other way. According to Dronestagram marketing and development head Guillaume Jarret who spoke with Nat Geo, ‘A great drone picture is a picture that you immediately identify as a drone photo. It is taken at a low altitude, near the target of the picture.’

The winners are:

Travel category: 

  • 1st place: Francesco Cattuto’s “Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Umbria, Italy”
  • 2nd place: Todd Kennedy’s “Cable Beach”
  • 3rd place: Karolis Janulis’ “Summer camp of Gran Canaria”

Sports Adventure category:

  • 1st place: maxseigal’s “Moab Rock Climbing”
  • 2nd place: losmanesdeldrone’s “Complejo Acuático Norte de Santander”
  • 3rd place: High Angle Shot’s “Chugach Mountain Range, Alaska”

Nature Wildlife category:

  • 1st place: mbernholdt’s “Kalbyris forest Denmark”
  • 2nd place: Szabolcs Ignacz’s “Swarm of sheep”
  • 3rd place: Jonathan Payet’s “Piton de la fournaise, Volcano”

Via: Dronestagram

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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The FAA finalizes commerical drone use rules, is fine with your drone photography business

23 Jun

The FAA has finalized a rule regarding commercial use of drones, and the organization is a-okay with individuals profiting from aerial photography – provided that operators follow some guidelines.

The update to Federal Regulations has been available for public comment since February 2015, and has now been finalized to provide guidance for commercial UAS (unmanned aircraft system) use. The guidelines are much the same as when they were first proposed, stating that your drone and everything attached to it must weigh less than 55lb/25kg, and the pilot must remain within line of sight of the aircraft.

Flying over crowds is a no-no, unless everyone in the crowd is participating in the shoot or under a reasonable amount of cover. As initially proposed, drone operators must be at least 16 and have a ‘remote pilot certificate’ or be under direct supervision of someone who has one.

The rule goes into effect in August 2016, so you’ve got plenty of time to study up and get your certificate.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Think Tank Photo launches Helipak backpack for DJI Inspire drone

11 Jun

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Bag manufacturer Think Tank Photo has announced a new backpack designed for users of the DJI Inspire drone and other quadcopters of a similar size. The Helipak is capable of holding a single DJI Inspire craft as well as its gimbal, three lenses, spare propellers and six batteries, according to Think Tank Photo. There are also compartments for a 17in laptop and a pair of 8in tablets.

The idea of the Helipak is that it makes transporting the drone to ‘scenic’ locations much easier than via a hard flight case as it features shoulder straps that allow the whole thing to be carried on the user’s back. The backpack straps can also be stowed away to make the Helipak into a normal case with top and side handles.

While the case is made with soft materials it uses ‘twinwall’ reinforcement via a pair of ABS plastic shields within the outer construction that add extra rigid protection for the drone. The exterior is made with nylons and polyester that the company says provides a hardwearing and water repellent barrier, while zips are YKK RC Fuse and feature metal ‘hardwear’. In a promotional video Think Tank Photo claims that DJI’s own $ 200 case for the Inspire has poorly made zips that are prone to failing.

The bag is available now and costs $ 339.75. For more information see the Think Tank Photo website.

Press release

Think Tank Photo’s Helipak™ for DJI Inspire Backpack

Offers Superior Organization, Comfort, and Travel Portability

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA –Think Tank Photo has released the most well thought-out, comfortable, and protective backpack for users of DJI Inspire or other similarly sized quadcopters. The Helipak for DJI Inspire easily holds a DJI Inspire (parked with gimbal and rotors detached), Zenmuse gimbal with 3 lenses, 6x batteries, 2x controllers, 2 x 8” tablets, lots of extra propellers, and a 17” laptop and charger.

Movable dividers allow users to customize the fit of their gear in this fully featured backpack. The contoured tuck-away harness with lumbar support, cut-away air-channel, the adjustable sternum strap, and the removable padded waistbelt allow for extreme comfort while trekking into remote areas or simply pulling it from the car.

“The backpack’s ABS twinwall reinforcement provides a rigid shell that protects sensitive gear from impacts, bumps and scrapes,” said Think Tank Photo’s president and
lead designer, Doug Murdoch. “It also features YKK™ RC Fuse zippers, 1680D Ballistic nylon bottom panel, metal hardware, and nylon webbing that are the most durable, longest
lasting materials on the market. The last thing drone users want to worry about is if their backpack will hold up in rigorous outdoor conditions.”

ADDITIONAL KEY FEATURES

  • Large front pocket fits auxiliary items for the day’s outing: light jacket, 17” laptop pocket or a large tablet
  • Lockable zippers
  • Internal see-through mesh pockets for small accessories: propellers, screwdriver, cables, etc.
  • Deluxe organizer for smart phone, wallet, pens, keys, business cards, etc.
  • Water bottle pocket on side
  • Height adjustable sternum strap
  • Elastic pockets on shoulder straps for phone, energy bar, etc.
  • Robust handles on three sides ensure rapid and easy retrieval from airline overhead bins, car trunks, etc.
  • Seam-sealed rain cover helps to protect gear and stows away inside backpack when not in use

MATERIALS
Exterior: For superior water-resistance, all exterior fabric has a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating, plus the underside of the fabric has a polyurethane coating. It also has YKK® RC Fuse (abrasion-resistant) zippers, 1680D ballistic nylon bottom panel, 600D polyester, 420D velocity nylon, 3D air mesh, ultra-stretch pockets, Y-buckles, antique finish metal hardware, nylon webbing, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

Interior: 6mm ABS twinwall, removable closed cell foam dividers with PE board reinforcement, 200D polyester, polyurethane-backed 3-layer velex liner, 2x polyurethane coated nylon 210T seam-sealed rain cover, Belly-O mesh pockets, and 3-ply bonded nylon thread.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Exterior Dimensions: 19.3” W x 24” H x 9.4” D (49 × 61 × 24cm)
Interior Dimensions: 17.3” W x 21.7” H x 7.9” D (44 × 55 × 20cm)
Laptop Compartment: 12.6” W x 16.9” H x 1.2” D (32 × 43 × 3cm)
Weight (with all accessories): 8.5 lbs. (3.9 kg)

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Urban Jungle: Dizzying Drone Photos of Hong Kong from Above

08 Apr

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

drone photo hong kong

Hong Kong has inspired so many iconic images of urban density shot from the ground or horizontally across buildings, but seeing it from above via drone footage gives the city an entirely fresh dimension.

drone density china

drone repeating buildings

In this series of vertigo-inducing snapshots, photographer and unmanned aerial vehicle pilot Andy Yeung captures both the chaos and order, colorfulness and monotony, of one of the world’s most stunning urban centers.

drone aerial city

drone view above

Shot from hundreds of feet in the sky, the resulting views exceed even the relatively awesome ones attainable by tripping up to the top of the adjacent hillsides. An onlooker starts to get a sense of the combination of  rigorous order and organic evolution of the city.

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