TIPS FOR USING A CAMERA DRONE

The first thing you need to do before operating a drone (also known as an “unmanned aircraft system,” or UAS) is to register it. Go to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website (registermyuas.faa.gov) and follow the online instructions. Drones are so numerous that, last year, the FAA started the registration system for any UAS weighing more than 0.55 pound. The registration fee is $5 and must be renewed every three years.

HERE ARE SOME POINTS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:

Before flying over something to take photos, be sure to get the property owner’s permission.

Always shoot the sunlit side of your subject. This means keep the sun to the back of the drone. Shooting into the sun or the shady side of the object will produce dark images.

Because digital photos are free and there’s no film to develop, experiment with different camera settings, camera angles, and altitudes to find interesting and unusual images.

If your controller or FPV screen does not have a sunshade, make one out of cardboard to shade the screen. This makes it easier to see the images.

Keep the camera lens clean, and use only photography-grade lens paper or a micromesh cloth to avoid scratching its surface.

Don’t fly in any national or state parks. These are restricted areas.

As with any type of equipment, it takes time and lots of practice to get good at operating your drone. With all their built-in features, however, you’ll find that even though they are relatively large and complicated, they remain some of the easiest multirotor craft to fly.