On Wednesday May 10th at 7pm Madrid Spain time (10am Pacific Time), join us LIVE in a super detailed Class on How to Photograph the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) with the always fantastic Rachel Jones Ross.
Rachel will show us her workflow to create such beautiful photos of the Aurora Borealis. This class is a complete Northern Lights photography tutorial. So get ready to receive tons of Aurora photography ideas, tips, settings, gear and more!
And of course, she will answer all your questions too.
Rachel Jones Ross:
By: PhotoPills Title: How to Photograph the Northern Lights (Auroras) with Rachel Jones Ross | Live Class Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH2Mx4F6Srg
Look at the 3 most popular drones on Amazon Today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the laws governing drone photography?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drone flights. Local laws could also be applicable to drone flights. To find out which drone flight rules apply to your state, check with the transportation department.
In most cases, drone owners are required to obtain a license from the FAA. Guidelines for licensing have been established by the FAA. You can learn more about these guidelines here.
Some states require drone operators to register their drones with the government. Learn more about drone registration in our Guide to Drone Registration.
What is the best way to capture drone photography?
Drone photography goes beyond just using a drone to take pictures. When planning and executing a drone shoot, there are many things to take into consideration. The right location is key to making sure you have enough insurance to cover your aerial shoot.
The most important thing is to ensure you have permission to fly drones in the area you plan to shoot in. This means finding out whether there are any restrictions on where you can fly and where you can operate your drone. If you find that there are restrictions, you might need to apply for a license in order to fly them.
It is important that you check your country's regulations. Some countries require drone pilot permits, while others restrict the number of flights that can be made within a certain time frame.
Not only will you need permission to fly drones but also where to safely land your drone after each flight. Many local businesses offer landing pads to rent for a fee. You will also get storage space. Alternatively, you could buy a dedicated landing pad.
Before you begin shooting, you must decide on the type of drone you want. Different drones come with different features and capabilities. Fixed-wing drones are cheaper and easier to control, while multirotors are more powerful, stable, and reliable.
Once you have decided what type of drone you want, you will need the equipment. A drone camera typically includes a gimbal and remote controller, batteries, memory card, and batteries.
The camera is stabilized by the gimbal during flight. The gimbal attaches directly to the drone's body to keep the camera steady.
Remote controllers let you control your drone remotely. These devices have buttons and joysticks that allow you control your drone from afar.
Batteries power the drone's motors and cameras, and memory cards store photos taken by the drone. You will need to ensure enough battery life so that your drone can take clear photos.
Once you've chosen the equipment that you need, it's time to plan where you want to shoot. Will you be taking photos indoors or outdoors? Are you going for architecture or landscape photography? Which part of the world are you going? All of these factors affect how you'll need to prepare for your shoot.
You'll need to consider lighting if you're planning to shoot inside. Multiple lights are the best way of lighting a room. One large light should be placed above the subject, one near the middle and another closer to the floor.
Outside, you need to be aware of wind conditions. Drone pilots may experience problems if they are blown off course by windy conditions. Take off only when the weather permits.
When selecting your location, think about whether you'll need to bring in extra equipment, such as tripods or stands. These items will allow you to keep your drone level so that you don't lose high-quality shots.
Outdoor shoots can be done between 10 AM and 4 PM. There won't be many people around during this time, but there will still enough light to make great photos.
To conclude, drone photography isn't just fun and incredibly useful for capturing stunning aerial photographs. By following some simple steps, you can start creating amazing images today!
Can drones be used to take night pictures?
Answer: Yes. But it's been a long-standing tradition. We've been taking pictures at night for decades.
But there is a catch. Night photography requires sophisticated equipment. With a camera costing less than $10k, there is no way to do night photography.
When light strikes an object, it bounces back in various wavelengths.
These wavelengths can be combined to form white light over very long distances.
This is why our eyes can see colors even though the sun is millions of miles away.
Instead, light reflects narrow bands of wavelengths when it strikes objects that are close to the source. These wavelengths bounce directly back to us and do not overlap.
That means that the closer the object is, the brighter it appears. This is why objects can glow under black lights.
The amount of light reflected depends on how much energy the object absorbs. Therefore, if light hits an object, it might reflect more blue than red light.
Because the human eye is most sensitive to blue light, objects look bluer when viewed under black light.
So what does this have to do with drones? A very bright light source is required if you are trying to capture dark areas, such as a forest, or cave.
A normal lamp will not be strong enough to illuminate the whole scene. It will only provide a shadowed view and not much else.
You will need a strobe if you want to take great photos. Also, a small flashgun won't be as convenient for you.
Speedlights are also known for their flashes of light that create a stroboscopic effect.
The light pulses across the screen when "stroboscopic" is used. The higher the speed, the better the picture.
We won't cover how to set-up a Speedlight. But there are plenty of tutorials online.
We will tell you that to capture a clear picture, you must ensure that the subject is illuminated evenly.
For this to happen, aim the beam at 45°. You can adjust the flashgun's intensity by moving its head.
Once you have chosen the best setting, hold your gun steady while you press the shutter release.
Just before the flashlight reaches your subject, you can press the shutter button again. This will trigger the flashgun to fire another burst of light.
The first burst is the most visible, and the second captures the moment after the burst has ended.
This results in a continuous exposure that records both bursts and steady light.
Now that you are able to take photographs during the day, let us move on to night photography.
So far, I have told you everything you need to know about photographing things at night.
One thing is left to cover, however: the color harmony.
Most people assume that nighttime images will not be dark enough.
And that's true - but it's also true for daytime pictures.
The camera will always record darker images regardless of whether you are taking photos at dawn and dusk.
What are the drawbacks to drone photography?
Drone photography allows you to capture stunning images and video. There are downsides to flying a small plane.
The main disadvantage to flying drones is their high cost. You can spend hundreds, thousands or even millions depending on the drone you choose.
To fly a drone safely, you will need certification and training.
Safety is another problem. Drones can be dangerous as they need to be repaired and maintained constantly. It is possible to injure or cause property damage by losing control of your drone while you are taking photos.
You might find yourself spending more time controlling a drone that actually shooting photos or filming. You may also have restricted airspace in which you can fly your drone.
You can only fly your unmanned air vehicle within certain areas. You can't fly over 400 feet or within 5 miles of stadiums or hospitals, schools, prisons or other military bases, as well as nuclear power plants and dams.
Finally, drones aren't for everyone. Flying these machines is not for everyone. Some fear they might fall or crash out of the sky. Others worry that they might accidentally hit another person or object.
If flying a drone is not something you are comfortable with, you might want to stick to traditional aerial photography techniques and videography.
Which hour is best to photograph drones?
A drone could capture aerial images during sunrise and sunset hours when there isn't much activity on the ground.
Drones make great tools for photographing beautiful landscapes and the skies above them. Some drones cannot fly at night and you may miss amazing views.
To ensure you don't miss out on any potential photo ops, consider flying during sunrise and sunset hours. These times are more conducive to stunning photos of nature, as there are less cars on the road and less people walking about.
You'll find that you can shoot at lower levels of light, which makes it easier for you to take pictures without worrying about overexposing.
In addition, you won't have to deal with strong winds, rain, snow, or fog. All these factors make daylight ideal for taking photos with a drone.
However, if you want to capture some nighttime scenes, consider flying during moonlit nights. This will offer you a unique view of your cityscape.
Is it possible to make money from drone photography?
If you want to make money flying drones, the problem is that there isn't a product that will solve your problems. A lack of quality equipment and software makes the experience enjoyable.
You also have to worry about insurance costs and liability issues, so most photographers will stick to taking pictures from the ground. You could get paid for your efforts if you use a totally new method of photographing images.
Drones are very much like video cameras in how they capture light. So why not use the same technology to create amazing photos?
Companies have already made great strides to create photo-quality images from above. We've already spoken about DJI, GoPro. We're seeing more companies in the space.
These cameras are great for ground photography even though they were made for aerial photography. Every major manufacturer is investing heavily in the development and maintenance of their imaging technologies.
This means you will eventually be able purchase a drone that can shoot 4K videos and take amazing photos. We might already be witnessing this happening. DJI and other companies have released higher resolution versions of their Phantom drones.
DJI recently launched the Inspire 2, a 12-megapixel camera capable of taking photos at 5120x3456 pixels. If you prefer to shoot in RAW format you can capture 8-bit files at 30 frames a second.
It is possible to make money with drone photos.
Statistics
Among the biggest improvements, the Skydio 2+ has over the standard 2 is a 20% longer battery life, longer range if you add the Beacon, and a neat AI video creation tool called Keyframe. (thedronegirl.com)
A grey card is just a piece of thick paper that is a specific shade of grey (18%), which will be the foundation on which we choose our color temperature. (dronegenuity.com)
Compared to the old days of the Phantom, this drone is super small, but it will likely require you to check a bag, the way a Mini 3 Pro could easily stow away in an oversized pocket. (thedronegirl.com)
60 second video with branding, captions, contact information, and music Strip / Convenience / Neighborhood / Community Centers pricing per center (up to 400,000 sq ft) PLACE ORDER (dronebase.com)
Again, no stabilization is applied, and the 50% throttle stick position cuts the power to the motors. (photographypro.com)
Drones are flown at night by people for two reasons: curiosity and to capture images of the surrounding world.
Drone pilots love to observe the world around them. Drones are also used to take photographs of the urban landscape at night.
This is known as urban photography, and it is growing in popularity among drone enthusiasts.
Photographing at night has many benefits, including capturing more detail and better lighting conditions.
Many photographers prefer night photography to avoid the constraints of daytime photography.
These benefits make urban photography attractive, but people fly drones at night to capture stunning nighttime scenes.
They love how the lights change as the sun sets. Many people are now posting videos online of drone pilots flying at night.
Although the drone technology isn't the most advanced, the quality imagery is stunning.
The best thing is that you don't need special equipment to make it happen. All you need to do this is your smartphone camera.
If you don't have a smartphone, that's perfectly fine. Plenty of high-quality cameras available on the market today would allow you to produce great drone videos.
You will find some models that offer night vision capability if you're thinking of buying a DSLR camera.
Canon, for example, offers the EOS5D Mark III with an integrated infrared LED that allows it see in low light conditions.
Other manufacturers include Pentax, Pentax and Olympus.
However, not all smartphones are capable of recording drone footage.
iPhones can't use their front-facing camera for aerial footage, so they cannot. Instead, they must rely on the iPhone 8 Plus's dual rear cameras.
Once you've decided what kind of camera you'd like to use, you'll need to decide where you want to film your video from.
You could film your drone footage at one location or follow your subject.
Make sure that your subject is visible in the frame when filming drone footage. You should aim your drone at your subject.
You should be able achieve good results as long as you keep within the range.
When filming your drone footage, it's important to remember that the closer you are to your subject, the sharper the details will appear.
Try to move as fast as possible towards your subject.
Now that we know how to capture drone footage, let's discuss how to edit it.
