How to do Aerial Photography
Aerial images that speak a thousand words never fail to dazzle. Professional photographers and hobbyists with selfie addictions make taking them their ultimate goal. All aim to capture perfect moments from the air.
Since you have invested in a drone, you should take full advantage of it. You need tips to record images that stop a person mid-breath.
Provoking this reaction takes tremendous skill, and it has prerequisites. This video from Flite Test will show you what they are.
Requirements for aerial photography
Before you can master the fine art of aerial photography, you must become a competent drone pilot. You should have an efficient quadcopter and camera on hand.
1. Get a steady drone and learn to fly it
You must get a drone with “training wheels” before you can capture perfect aerial shots. The term describes a drone that has stability features.
Cyclists start honing their skills on tricycles, which have stabilizing training wheels. Pilots, too, have to develop their techniques by flying quadcopters that have stability features.
The Blade 350 QX3 is an ideal experimental tool for new pilots. It comes with Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope technology, which allows you to fly it in two modes.
In SAFE mode, the quadcopter stabilizes itself and hovers in place when necessary. In Agility Mode, it does flips and rolls that will make jaws drop. The technology gives you avenues to develop your skills.
Once you are competent, you can fly your drone in different positions. Take stunning photographs from alternate perspectives.
2. Pick a drone with user-friendly transmission controls
Transmitters with retractable controls are annoying. They affect a drone’s stability.
Pick one with user-friendly controls that give your drone a good altitude hold.
3. Choose a drone with a powerful camera
No photographer can work without his tools. Select a drone with a capable camera. A camera with a higher resolution will allow you to take clear pictures. There are many cameras with resolutions of more than 10 megapixels.
A camera should also allow you First Person View. You should see what it does. When it comes to taking long range shots, the FPV system is an advantage.
4. Buy a gimbal
No matter how skilled a photographer is, he cannot keep an aerial camera stable when rough winds blow.
Buy a drone that has a gimbal. The gimbal stabilizes the camera and allows it to take photos without a shaky effect.
Experts reflect that the gimbal on the Blade 350 QX3 locks the camera and keeps footage clear.
Tips for taking sharp aerial shots
The prerequisites aside, these tips will help you to record to-die-for aerial shots.
1. Choose a suitable location
When it comes to aerial photography, location is paramount. Go to a site without tall buildings that will block your camera’s view. It should be free of birds and trees that will do the same.
2. Keep propellers balanced
Propellers affect a drone’s stability. Balanced propellers mean steady drones.
To find out how level they are, put them on a scale. The one that tips the scale is not balanced. Apply sand to its base, and then put the propellers on the scale again. Neither should tip the scale.
3. Put your camera in the correct position
Learn to fly your drone at different angles. Being able to maneuver your drone allows you to take pictures via alternative perspectives.
4. Learn to track moving subjects
The most stunning aerial shots are of people and objects in action. Learn to fly your drone at reasonable speeds and track subjects that move.
5. Make sure that objects are within your line of sight
It is tempting to allow a drone to take photographs on its own. You take for granted that it will record subjects which are not in your periphery of vision.
A photographer should always be able to see what is in front of him. Make sure that objects are always within your line of sight.
6. Take note of the elements
The wind is a natural enemy of quadcopters. It causes them to veer, no matter how well their manufacturers built them. Watch the weather report and avoid taking your drone out if there is too much wind.
7. Keep your landing gear out of focus
Landing gear can stick out and block footage. Try different landing gear that will stay out of your camera’s line of sight.
8. Master foreground movement
Mastering foreground movement is a must. Having a moving object in front gives life to your shot. Learn to fly past objects close to you so that they appear in the front of the footage.
9. Play around with faraway objects that are above you
Anything that is on the horizon makes a good photography subject. Move your drone above them and record them in various ways.
Conclusion
With suggestions from Flite Test, your aerial photographs will always blow an audience’s mind.
Great article and very well explained. I believe in professionals so this is a very useful article for everyone. Many thanks for your share.
Shut up just buy the most expensive one specially if you never flown before turn on the camera and gun it baby now thats photography
It was fascinating that you mentioned how cyclists start honing their skills on tricycles. My brother is looking to hire an aerial photography service for a music video but needs tips. I’ll be sure to talk to him about finding a service that has been through the “tricycle” stage.
It is also important to choose the right weather when doing aerial photography. I have read an article saying that we shouldn’t pray for a good weather instead, pray for cloudy ones coz that would make the photos more dramatic. But we should always not try to risk our drones.
It’s undoubtedly a great article for its information and tips is instructive enough. Thanks for this.
A very great tips thanks Still a beginner and great learning I can have in this article Nice!
Thank you, Manson!
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Thank you very much.. it makes me knew more about everything with drone technology..more power to you..