Drone Photography

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

I thought that there used to be a thread for sharing drone photography, but couldn't find it anywhere. So thought I'd get one going again. Please, feel free to add your images here too.

Taken on Monday night down at the local beach when it was blowing 45-50 km/h winds with squalls up to 65 km/h.

I have basically swapped my Canon 6D body for the drone I went with, the Parrot Anafi. It uses a Sony sensor that takes 21 MP RAW file images with great dynamic range & stabilisation. I'm really looking forward to flying it through & over some decrepitude & abandoned places for a completely different perspective!

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I thought that there used to be a thread for sharing drone photography, but couldn't find it anywhere. So thought I'd get one going again. Please, feel free to add your images here too.

Taken on Monday night down at the local beach when it was blowing 45-50 km/h winds with squalls up to 65 km/h.

I have basically swapped my Canon 6D body for the drone I went with, the Parrot Anafi. It uses a Sony sensor that takes 21 MP RAW file images with great dynamic range & stabilisation. I'm really looking forward to flying it through & over some decrepitude & abandoned places for a completely different perspective!

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That first shot looks like it could be an official Apple wallpaper.

 

[Donka]

Loving the first shot Alex - I'm a big fan of those kids of shots and the colours are just lovely. I did sell my drones last year but have been tempted to pick up a Mavic 2 with its larger sensor for still images - will see what happens when the better weather arrives and if drones are still legal in the UK by then!

 

[aka-47]

Your drone photography is perfect!

 

[akash.nu]

That’s awesome. Not sure how many of us actually use drones on a regular basis though.

 

[mollyc]

I don't have a drone. I have seen some amazing images from them and think they are really cool. However, I am pretty sure I would crash one almost immediately, thereby essentially throwing away a couple thousand dollars.

 

[Donka]

I don't have a drone. I have seen some amazing images from them and think they are really cool. However, I am pretty sure I would crash one almost immediately, thereby essentially throwing away a couple thousand dollars.

They are really easy to fly, if you do nothing they will essentially just hover and a single tap will have it come back and land autonomously. I initially pick up a cheaper DJI Spark due to the same fears to try and quickly moved up to the Mavic Pro as it was a piece of cake.

 

[mollyc]

They are really easy to fly, if you do nothing they will essentially just hover and a single tap will have it come back and land autonomously. I initially pick up a cheaper DJI Spark due to the same fears to try and quickly moved up to the Mavic Pro as it was a piece of cake.

My son got a cheapy Parrot for Christmas. He's 11 and can fly it like nobody's business. However, I am a complete and utter klutz. I'm sure I'd find a way to crash it, lol.

 

[akash.nu]

My son got a cheapy Parrot for Christmas. He's 11 and can fly it like nobody's business. However, I am a complete and utter klutz. I'm sure I'd find a way to crash it, lol.

Why not have a training session with your son just to see if you do manage to crash it.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I technically have one, but it’s a junk mini one that would get blown away in a light breeze!

 

[rayriceroni00]

Beautiful! Just started with a Spark myself. I wish it did RAW, but the 12mp JPGs aren't bad at all. Video is only 1080, but I'm not really a video guy.

Will use this for a while and determine if I want to jump to the Air or Pro 2. Since I'm a pilot, apparently I can just get the commercial drone license for free? Imagine that, the FAA actually saving people money!

 

[Donka]

Beautiful! Just started with a Spark myself. I wish it did RAW, but the 12mp JPGs aren't bad at all. Video is only 1080, but I'm not really a video guy.

Will use this for a while and determine if I want to jump to the Air or Pro 2. Since I'm a pilot, apparently I can just get the commercial drone license for free? Imagine that, the FAA actually saving people money!

The Spark is capable of very nice photos as long as the light is decent. If upgrading just for the still image quality, I would consider the Pro 2 instead of the Air or Mavic Pro. The Air and original Mavic Pro will give you RAW support but they still use a smaller sensor than the Mavic Pro 2 so the amount of additional information captured will be limited. Image quality between the Spark, Air and Mavic Pro is very similar although the Spark has a slightly narrower field of view.
The main reason to upgrade to the Air or Mavic Pro would be 4k video and for me at least, the improved transmission range - Air is better than the Spark but the Mavic Pro bests them both in this regard.

 

[kenoh]

That’s awesome. Not sure how many of us actually use drones on a regular basis though.

I got a Spark to try it out and used it twice then stuck it in the cupboard. I should get it back out and try again

 

[akash.nu]

I got a Spark to try it out and used it twice then stuck it in the cupboard. I should get it back out and try again

I haven’t seen many people trying it out just like that. Only noticed in some wedding photographs. I want to try it myself but feel like it’s too much hassle when I go on my outdoorsy trips.

 

[rayriceroni00]

The Spark is capable of very nice photos as long as the light is decent. If upgrading just for the still image quality, I would consider the Pro 2 instead of the Air or Mavic Pro. The Air and original Mavic Pro will give you RAW support but they still use a smaller sensor than the Mavic Pro 2 so the amount of additional information captured will be limited. Image quality between the Spark, Air and Mavic Pro is very similar although the Spark has a slightly narrower field of view.
The main reason to upgrade to the Air or Mavic Pro would be 4k video and for me at least, the improved transmission range - Air is better than the Spark but the Mavic Pro bests them both in this regard.

Thanks for the info. What's the difference between pro 2 and pro 2 zoom?

I'd probably keep the Spark for trips. It doesn't fold like the air, but I can deal with losing/destroying a $350 drone on a trip instead of $700.

 

[kenoh]

I haven’t seen many people trying it out just like that. Only noticed in some wedding photographs. I want to try it myself but feel like it’s too much hassle when I go on my outdoorsy trips.

Yep exactly my feelings too...

 

[Donka]

Thanks for the info. What's the difference between pro 2 and pro 2 zoom?

Pro 2 features a larger 1” sensor. Pro zoom has a smaller sensor like the previous gen but features an optical zoom. You are trading image quality for creative flexibility.

 

[themumu]

It’s too bad there aren’t more entries. Now you’ll have to sit through what I managed to find of mine on my phone.

This is a view of the town of San Ignacio in Baja California. I find that in the US it’s trickier to use a drone due to the federal regulations prohibiting the use in national parks and national forests, but I got some interesting footage in Mexico recently. This is a mavic air, and I find that it’s really quite perfect for compact traveling. I’m considering buying a load of batteries and taking it on a 10 day backpacking trip. I’ll have to see if my legs and back agree with that idea after some shorter trial trips.

 

[F-Train]

I get drones for video but I fail to see the point for still photography unless it’s for something like a real estate commission.

People like Ed Burtynsky are making effective use of aerial still photography, but that’s kind of a different league than 99.999% of people would be involved in. Plus, Burtynsky is using 100MP Hasselblad cameras, aircraft and a crew, not a DJI drone.

Edward Burtynsky, Salinas #2, Cádiz

 

[baypharm]

The Spark is capable of very nice photos as long as the light is decent. If upgrading just for the still image quality, I would consider the Pro 2 instead of the Air or Mavic Pro. The Air and original Mavic Pro will give you RAW support but they still use a smaller sensor than the Mavic Pro 2 so the amount of additional information captured will be limited. Image quality between the Spark, Air and Mavic Pro is very similar although the Spark has a slightly narrower field of view.
The main reason to upgrade to the Air or Mavic Pro would be 4k video and for me at least, the improved transmission range - Air is better than the Spark but the Mavic Pro bests them both in this regard.

Yes, from what I understand about the Mavic 2 - it will fly 15000 ft up and across 8 miles from point of departure. Those are awesome specs - especially for surveillance

 

[tizeye]

Have resisted the urge but as a real estate photographer would be very valuable...if Realtors were willing to pay for it rather than ""included" in the shoot vs an add on. There is also the issue of a second trip as the weather was not flyable The other issue, while I wouldn't be going that high there is an airport with a control tower that the 5 mile radius encompasses a huge chunk of premium homes. I have looked at taking the exam required for commercial use (FYI - the FAA considers any YouTube videos that are monetized to be commercial) as a former private pilot would simply be a refresher, but also as a private pilot a perhaps higher sense of respecting the rules and controlled airspace. Still may, but also would need the larger 1" sensor in the premium drones, of which the newest Mavic 2 Pro just became viable where previously the larger Phantom 4 Pro/Advanced established the baseline.

The other issue holding me back is that I will probably 'officially' retire in a year and other genre of photography - travel, landscape, street, nature etc - will become primary with just the occasional commercial gig. That would impact the return on the drone investment - but it would be tax deductible now, as will be the planned purchase/upgrade to the A7RIII in after my trip in March. (Sony has their twice yearly "trade-in" bonus sale coming mid Feb through March 30. I wouldn't trade in an the A7RII, selling it separately to offset cost, but find a working entry level DSLR at Goodwill or a pawn shop to trade getting back at least the cost of the unit itself but gaining the $200 or $300 trade-in bonus (depending on model) that is in addition to the general consumer sale mark-down running concurrently.

 

[akash.nu]

Can someone recommend a solid drone for a new starter?! I don’t want to spend a lot but just want to learn shooting from that perspective.

 

[themumu]

I find my mavic air to be a decent starter drone because it’s super portable, not too expensive - if you know where to look for discounts - and quality wise, I’d say it’s somewhere between my iPhone XS and a DSLR (how is that for a range?)

I got it at a local apple store first, because of easy return policy in case I didn’t like it. Unfortunately for my wallet, I liked it.

 

[compasiune11]

Awesome drone images! Good work!

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

I get drones for video but I fail to see the point for still photography unless it’s for something like a real estate commission.

People like Ed Burtynsky are making effective use of aerial still photography, but that’s kind of a different league than 99.999% of people would be involved in. Plus, Burtynsky is using 100MP Hasselblad cameras, aircraft and a crew, not a DJI drone.

Edward Burtynsky, Salinas #2, Cádiz

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Each to their own. I do happen to see strong merit and value in UAV's for anybody to utilise. The opportunity for photographic captures providing perspectives not available otherwise is but one reason that enthusiasts turn to using UAV's for their photography.

Are you implying that unless an aerial photograph is captured using a 100MP Hasselblad whilst utilising a full flight crew it isn't worth capturing? I have to politely disagree if that is what you are saying in your response.

If any photographic image tells a visual story that engrosses and elicits curiosity within the viewer it is in my eyes worthy of having been captured and shared through exhibition format. But that shouldn't discount the common persons sharing of photographic imagery just for the sake of their enjoyment and perhaps even their sense of community formed with others of a kindred ilk.

Again, each to their own. I'd be interested to see, or hear rather, whether you still hold this stance three years later.

Aerial images from way on high, such as Burtynsky's were and still are marvels to behold, with the endless forms of reference to the natural worlds form and design. Something many of us admire when ever we may find ourselves jetting across the sky. That doesn't necessarily need me to be able to look at it from five centimeters away to admire it though!