Using a drone
Taking photos in nature is a great way to escape, but also to be fully present in the moment
Janek’s images are taken in remote spots, and he often uses his drone to scout out locations before hiking there with kit…
Considerate flying
”When you’re flying, safety must always be your top priority. It’s your responsibility to find out about the local laws surrounding drone flight,” says Janek, who was able to fly in this unpopulated mountainous region with ease. If you’re scouting out an area that’s closer to settlements, be sure to check out the regulations. In the UK, for example, hobby fliers have to obey certain safety restrictions, and can’t go above 400ft or within 1km of an airport. If you’re planning on using your drone commercially, you’ll need a drone licence (called a PfCO) from a CAA-approved provider.
Taking off
The best place to launch your drone is in wide, open spaces away from people, buildings and official no-fly zones. Although our shoot was planned, Janek will usually check the weather and conditions in the days leading up to a shoot. We were very fortunate that the golden sun was set to appear, but he explains to me that mist and fog is equally atmospheric in woodlands, as it breaks down the clutter of a busy scene. “You need something for the eye to focus on. Mist simplifies a scene, reduces colour and contrast, and emphasises shapes.”
We reach the top of the ridge by 6.30am, and the sun has just started to peek over the horizon. Janek says it’s still slightly too early to head into the forest, so he takes the chance to launch his drone into the air and capture some wide landscape shots of the area. He is scanning the video screen as he does so, looking for new shoot locations.
The DJI drone that Janek uses has a 20MP camera that’s able to shoot 4K 60fps video and 14 still images per second. Although it’s not necessarily the same quality as a specialist camera, Janek says that it’s very useful for scouting locations. “Flying is very intuitive. I carry plenty of spare blades, in case I lose any while flying.”
Our conversation falls naturally to the photographer’s favourite common subject: gear, kit and accessories. Janek brought his Olympus E-M1 Mark II on the shoot, which he only switched to a few months ago. He was previously using Nikon DSLRs, but Olympus offered him the chance to try out a new system, and he did. “I’m really surprised and impressed by the quality, but the smaller size and weight is also significant for me”.
Although he doesn’t have long-term experience with the new gear, he’s already found the sweet spot of the lenses he’s using, thanks to practice and some sound YouTube advice. The 7-14mm lens was his first choice for shooting a wide-angle image of the forest paths. “The optimum aperture for this lens is around f/8, which makes sure the scene is nice and sharp anyway.”