VIEWFINDER

THE ART OF AERIAL IMAGING … AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Since the beginning of time, mankind has been fascinated with flight. The 8th-century Berber merchants heading for Timbuktu most certainly observed the occasional tawny eagle overhead, envisioning its view of their camel caravan marching across the Sahara.

Leonardo da Vinci’s obsession with the subject prompted him to sketch human-powered “ornithopters” (winged flight); and, as the science of photography evolved in the 1800s, it was only natural that cameras would accompany lighterthan-air dirigibles and blimps.

Aerial photography hit the fast track when Orville and Wilbur Wright launched the “Wright Flyer” in 1903, finding its place in military reconnaissance aircraft such as the World War I-era B.E.2c and

the Cold War Lockheed U-2.

Fast forward to today, and the work of centuries of dreamers and technological innovators has made its way to the average Joe. The compact, little packages we call “drones” or “small, unmanned aerial systems” (sUAS) now allow us to provide friends and family with a bird’s-eye view of our adventures.

Rules of the Sky

Before we jump into the fun stuff, we need to discuss some general housekeeping items.

As a commercial operator, I’m licensed under FAA Part 107 regulations, carry appropriate insurance and so on, but this isn’t required for personal use. However, when you pull back on the joystick, and your aircraft departs terra firma, it enters federally managed airspace. So, it’s vitally important that you understand the rules.

Are you encroaching on a military training route (MTR)? Is there a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) or Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that prohibits flight? Are you under an airport traffic pattern? To what altitude and distance can you fly? Do you need to register your drone, and what’s

the process if it’s lost or has crashed?

While this might sound complex (and yes, some of it is), there are some great resources available to help you fly safely.

Airspace Classification Chart

The Airspace Classification Chart provides a visual representation of what we don’t see when we look up. We call Class G, or general, “good” airspace, because this is where we can fly without a special-use permit.

Skyvector.com and vfrmap.com provide free digital sectional charts that contain most of the information you’ll need for your next sortie.

Interested in a commercial certification? I used Drone Pilot Ground School. Because I’m a previous fixed-wing pilot, I found its online course comprehensive and easy to use. If digging through volumes of FAA regulations isn’t your idea of fun, you’ll enhance your flying experience and safety by first understanding airspace and adhering to the following limitations.

You’re NOT allowed to fly—

• more than 400 feet above the ground;

• at night;

• from a moving vehicle (unless you’re in unpopulated rural areas);

• over people not protected by a structure or vehicle;

• beyond your visual line of sight;

• in a national park or monument; or

• within a 5-mile radius of tower-controlled airports.

TIP: Always know what airspace you’re operating in; and check for NOTAMs and TFRs.

“AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY HIT THE FAST TRACK WHEN ORVILLE AND WILBER WRIGHT LAUNCHED THE ‘WRIGHT FLYER’ IN 1903, FINDING ITS PLACE IN MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT SUCH AS THE WORLD WAR

I-ERA B.E.2C AND THE COLD WAR LOCKHEED U-2.”

Getting Started and World-Class Selfies

My buddy, Doug Stanley, an Emmy Award winner and producer of Deadliest Catch, told me, “Before you spend big bucks, buy a cheap toy and practice until you stop crashing it.”

Those were wise words: Accidents are expensive. All my equipment is from DJI, one of the leading innovators in the genre. The Phantom 4 Pro is my go-to unit for most work, but the compact Mavic is perfect when space is limited. If a shoot requires speed, such as chasing a race truck across the desert, the Inspire 2 is put to task.

The cameras on prosumer (for professional consumers) offerings are amazingly good these days. Most capture 4k video and offer 10-plus megapixel stills, image stabilization and notable dynamic range. Higher-end drones have multi-direction obstacle avoidance, longer flight times and impressive transmission connectivity. Intelligent flight modes, such as Active Track, provide incredible latitude when following a moving subject and allow for top-notch selfies. Each of these attributes should be considered before making a purchase.

Your aircraft will be equipped with many systems (GPS and tracking, battery and IMU monitors, collision avoidance and more), and it’s important to understand how they function.

Set them up before you fly and do a preflight prior to each operation. For example, one-touch return-to-home (RTH) can be a beautiful thing. However, if you don’t indicate a specific altitude, the drone will take the shortest possible path. If there’s an obstruction between you, it could be an expensive day.

Lastly, the connection between the controller and sUAS is line-of-sight. Don’t fly behind a building or hill … and re-read RTH-setting procedure.

With all these electronics onboard, you can probably guess that they’re sensitive to humidity, temperature and radio interference. Cold weather, such as subzero temps in the Arctic, will require you to warm up your drone before use (I keep mine in my vehicle) and sap the life out of your batteries at a greater rate (this equals reduced flight time). Tropical humidity can be a problem, and rain is a no-fly condition.

Most systems operate in the 2.4GHz band; thus, microwave antennas, high-voltage transmission lines and cell towers can interrupt connectivity and cause erratic behavior. Lastly, birds have a tendency to attack threats in their air space. Stay frosty, keep an eye on your unit, and be ready to take evasive action if—or when—bogies are on the horizon.

TIP: Read the manual and set system preferences in advance.

Eye in the Sky

Now that I’ve beaten you up with the rules (and emptied your wallet), let’s dive into the fun stuff.

I keep my drone handy during a typical backcountry trip, because aerial capture has become a key element in my routine. An image that was once inconceivable or required considerable time and effort, such as an establishing shot of camping on the Baja coastline, can now be nabbed in a few minutes. I’m always analyzing what my next subject might be—a Nevada ghost town or friends snorkeling with whale sharks—and often, that subject is ... me. Yep, drones have become the ultimate selfie sticks.

The creative side of aerial imaging follows the principles we’ve discussed in previous “Viewfinders.” Look for interesting composition of your subject—low (you might only need 10 feet), medium and high altitude or directly overhead. And don’t forget to use

your “eye in the sky” to do a 360-degree pan and take a look around. I’ve used my drone to recce routes, look for camels in Australia’s Simpson Desert and get close to dolphins in the Sea of Cortez.

About camera settings: Unless you’re a manual-mode DSLR shooter, I suggest starting with auto white balance and exposure and the highest resolution in RAW (or DNG).

While drones have expanded our reach, they aren’t necessarily the be-all and end-all of bird’s-eye photography. They’re noisy (and will most assuredly annoy other campers), prohibited in some areas and anything but stealthy.

Case in point: During a trek through Mozambique, I noticed locals on a riverbank under a bridge I was approaching. I parked, walked out with my DSLR until I was directly over their position and peered over the rail. A teenaged boy was trolling the ochre-green water with a bamboo fishing pole as his younger siblings learned his craft. It was magic.

On another occasion, while waiting my turn to bungee off Zambia’s Victoria Bridge, I tethered myself to the edge of the platform and captured the adrenalin-induced emotion of fellow daredevils hanging by a thread.

TIP: Practice envisioning your surroundings from a bird’s perspective.

Make it Happen

As photographers, unless we’re patiently waiting for wildlife at a Kalahari water hole, we need to be opportunists: Make things happen, and don’t linger. Get away from your vehicle, grab a ride in a plane or helicopter, stop on a bridge or … launch your drone.

The Berbers dreamed, da Vinci drafted, and

Tournachon demonstrated that viewing the world from a bird’s-eye view was, indeed, possible. Lastly, did I mention video capture?

Well, aerial cinematography is simply remarkable. But that’s a subject for another “Viewfinder.”

“... WE NEED TO BE OPPORTUNISTS: MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, AND DON’T LINGER. GET AWAY FROM YOUR VEHICLE, GRAB A RIDE IN A PLANE OR HELICOPTER, STOP ON A BRIDGE OR … LAUNCH YOUR DRONE.”

Below: Gaspard-Félix Tournachon is said to have taken the world’s first aerial photograph from a balloon over Paris in 1858.

03. If you want to step up your “selfie” game, a drone will allow you to capture camp scenes worthy of your next Christmas card.

01. Sky Vector provides free FAA sectional charts of the entire United States, with links to airport information and TFRs. The red circle around Washington, D.C., indicates an active TFR; and, if it’s clicked, it will find specific details.

02. The skies above us are partitioned into various air space classifications, each of which is defined by specific dimension and altitude.

03. Capturing images from an elevated position adds dimension and allows you to include elements unavailable to a land-based photographer.

04. Keeping an eye out for unique perspectives is paramount for compelling imagery. While snorkeling with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez, I climbed into the boat and launched my drone to capture my wife and a friend courting one of these magnificent creatures.

01. All of the author’s aircraft are by DJI, and the Phantom 4 Pro is an excellent choice for a high-quality sUAS.

02.Cold temperatures negatively affect performance and battery life. When working in regions such as the Arctic, keep your sUAS warm (in your vehicle) until you’re ready to launch.

02. Drones aren’t always the ticket for aerial imagery. While the author awaited his turn on a 300foot “rubber band,” he captured a series of shots of other thrill-seekers as they rebounded from the river below.

01. A bridge can be an excellent way to gain a stealth bird’s-eye view. For example, without a buzzing drone overhead, these teenagers were unaware of the author’s presence as they fished along a river in southern Mozambique.

03.During an expedition to Angel Falls, Venezuela, the author had the opportunity to jump into a helicopter and photograph some of his teammates fording the flooded Gran Sabana. This image can now be captured with an sUAS for a fraction of the cost of a Huey.