Photo Active
Lauren Scott explains UK drone flying laws and shares handy tips to elevate your images
10 things to try today, including aerial shots and rainy-day projects
Drones have (ahem) taken off in recent years, and we know that many readers proudly own one. Whether you use yours to shoot video clips or still images, they’re a fantastic tool to have – as long as you’re following the rules. Here, I’ll cover the basic laws that you need to know, but also how to set your drone up to create powerful content.
If your drone weighs less than 20kg and you’re not going to profit from your content, you don’t need a licence in the UK. However, if you want to use your drone for business purposes, you’ll need to attend a PfCO course approved by the CAA with the National Qualified Entity (NQE). Check out the Civil Aviation Authority website (www.caa.co.uk) if you think you fall into this category. Many people just fly drones as a hobby, but there are still some elementary rules to follow to make sure you don’t get in trouble with the authorities. It’s mostly commonsense stuff, such as not flying your drone within 1km of an airport and ensuring you keep a direct line of sight with it at all times. You also need to make sure your drone stays under 120m (some models have a height limiter built-in) and keep a distance of at least 50m from buildings and people.
Boring bit over – now you’re familiar with the laws, turn over the page for some tips on how you can take your drone images up a level…
Download the app
Drones are directed either by their own advanced controller, or in the case of entry-level models, by linking to a smartphone device to display a live video feed. A mobile device tends to provide flight controls, GPS and mapping, so it’s a good idea to keep the drone controller firmware up to date. Before flying, make sure you have the latest version of the app.
Settings and power
Head to the relevant menu on the controller or app, choosing raw for stills (if available) and a high-quality video output. 4K is preferable, allowing you to crop in on footage but still output in Full HD. Fly time is limited with consumer drones as it takes a lot of power to keep them up in the air. (Our DJI Spark lasts around 16 minutes.) Invest in spare batteries and you’ll be able to shoot for longer.
Learn special modes
Drones like DJI’s Spark have modes such as gesture control, target tracking (see below) and panoramic shooting. It’s worth reading the manual and getting to grips with the modes specific to your model. Before concentrating your efforts on photography, practise taking off and landing, hovering close to the ground as you get used to the controls.