Flights of fancy vacation photography, courtesy of drones
IMAGINE your favourite vacation photo: That perfect sunset shot with waves gently crashing and an amber crescent reflecting off the ocean’s glassy surface. Now imagine it from above. Drone sales in the United States doubled in the year that ended in February, according to consumer trackers at the NPD Group. Researchers at Gartner project that the category will draw US$6 billion (RM27 billion) in global market revenue in 2017, partially thanks to the popularity of personal drones. Photos and videos taken from drones’ unique perspective have begun invading our social media feeds.
“The cue for me was when consumer drones started offering features and verbiage like ‘takes selfies’ or ‘captures sound,’ “said Dirk Dallas, founder of the website FromWhereIDrone.com.
“You can now be the star of your own picture or video clips, and there are selfie or automated modes that make capturing yourself easier . . . . You don’t have to bring a crew with you anymore.”
Dallas started his site after he purchased his first toy drone in 2013. He hoped to meet other hobbyists and professionals, and create an outlet for inspiration and advice.
The name is a play on the popular shoe selfie hashtag
The cue for me was when consumer drones started offering features and verbiage like ‘takes selfies’ or ‘captures sound,’ Dirk Dallas, founder of the website FromWhereIDrone.com.
#FromWhereIStand because. he said, “I look down as well, but from a few hundred feet up in the air.”
He flies a DJI Mavic Pro because its compact design makes it easy to take on planes. (“It fits in the small pocket of my backpack,” he says.) And his followers have grown beyond professionals and commercial drone pilots to include amateurs looking for that “epic vacation photo.”
He noted that the price of drones has come down and manufacturers have added userfriendly features. “Before that, to create imagery was cumbersome; you had to connect different parts and Jerry-rig parts,” he said. “The (DJI) Phantom 3 was when things came together as seamlessly as it comes together now.”
DJI dominates the consumer drone market; its most popular models sell for between US$900 and US$1,200. Pricey - but let’s remember: A 1.3-megapixel digital camera cost US$20,000 in 1995. And loyal owners are quick to remind you that the price tag comes with lots of bells and whistles.
“Those smaller US$100to-US$200 ones aren’t good enough for travel,” said Elena Buenrostro, a San Franciscobased videographer who has taken her Mavic Pro through Europe, Asia and North America. “It has a feature where you can tap on a person (from the console) and it follows you. I had my drone follow me as I was riding my bike.”
Thanks to a tool called a Katana, which acts as a mount and a tripod for on-the-ground use, Buenrostro has also replaced her regular digital single-lens reflex camera with a drone.
“It shoots in 4K 1080 already - it’s an excellent camera,” she explained. “My Mavic or my cellphone, those are the only cameras I use now.”
The experience of shooting with a drone offers the rush of a new perspective to even the most accomplished travel photographers.
“It’s a whole new world,” said Emily Kaszton, a photographer from Newport Beach, California, who uses her drone for jobs around the world.
“It’s similar (to shooting on the ground) - in terms of looking for composition and focus - but it’s a new way to frame it all.”
Also new to the travel photographer: Federal Aviation Administration rules that restrict drone flight in certain locations, times and conditions.
“I’ve seen people flying in national parks a lot and it’s a huge no-no,” Kaszton said. “I always try to review no-fly zones before I go out. For myself, especially as a professional, I can’t be seen in a light where I’m doing risky things.” — WPBloomberg