Join RGV Aerial Photography's Mauricio and CSI Starbase lead agent, Zack, along with fellow RGV Aerial Photography team members and CSI Starbase agents, Indnstar, Jake, Nate as we review the aerial and ground photos Mauricio took on Thursday, July 13th, and Friday, July 14th!
Ringwatcher extraordinaire, Jax often makes an appearance live on stream where he educates commentators and viewers alike, on the different parts of Starship and Booster and the difference between the different iterations as he reviews photos taken of the Build site.
Thank you for supporting the weekly flyovers.* Your contributions go towards RGV Flyovers and all associated expenses.
Starbase Weekly Live Streams Join us for the Starbase Weekly Live stream, where we discuss ground and aerial* photos taken during the week. Starbase Weekly Live occurs at 12pm CT every Saturday.
Additionally, Patreon and YouTube tiered members receive additional perks, including the exclusive invite to join us in Discord before, after, and during the live stream and Show & Tell events.
Appreciation & Gratitude Thank you again for supporting RGV Aerial Photography. Without your support it would be almost impossible to complete a flyover each week as it is your support that allows RGV Aerial Photography's owner and photographer, Mauricio, to be wheels up each week. And for his YouTube and Patreon supporters, Mauricio is able to provide over 500 aerial and ground photos combined each week!
All Flyovers photos are taken above 10,500 ft. while flying in a Cessna 150 or Cessna 180 aircraft.
*All flyovers are subject to change based on weather conditions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can drones take pictures at night?
The answer to that question is yes. But we have been doing it for years. Since decades, we have been taking night shots.
There is one catch. Night photography requires specialist equipment. Any camera under $10k is not capable of night photography.
When light strikes an object, it bounces back in various wavelengths.
These wavelengths overlap and combine to form white light at very long distances from the source.
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 back directly to us without any overlap.
This means that objects appear brighter when they are closer to each other. This is why objects appear to glow under black light.
The energy that an object absorbs will determine how much light is reflected. Therefore, if light hits an object, it might reflect more blue than red light.
The human eye is sensitive to blue light the most so objects appear brighter when viewed in black light.
What does all this have to do about drones? If you want to photograph something dark like a forest or cave, you will need a very bright source of light.
An ordinary lamp won't be powerful enough to illuminate the entire scene. It will only provide a shadowed view and not much else.
A strobe is better for taking great pictures. Also, a small flashgun won't be as convenient for you.
These lights are known as speedlights because they produce flashes of light so fast that they create a stroboscopic effect.
The light pulses across the screen when "stroboscopic" is used. The picture will be better quality if it moves at a faster rate.
We won't cover how to set-up a Speedlight. There are many tutorials available online.
We will tell, for clear pictures, that you need to ensure that the subject is evenly illuminated.
The beam should be aimed at a 45° angle in order to achieve this. The flashgun can be moved to adjust the intensity of the light.
Once you have chosen the best setting, hold your gun steady while you press the shutter release.
Then, just before the light reaches the subject, press the shutter again. This will cause the flashgun's flash to go off again, causing it to send out another blast of light.
The subject will be illuminated by the first burst. The second burst will capture that moment.
The end result is a continuous exposure with both bursts light and recorded.
Now that you're comfortable taking photos during the day let's get to night photography.
I've covered everything you need about night photography.
However, there is still one thing that needs to be addressed: the color balance.
Most people assume that any images taken at night will look too dark.
It's true. But it also applies to daytime photographs.
The camera will always record darker images regardless of whether you are taking photos at dawn and dusk.
What kind of drones do professional pilots use?
Drones offer amazing opportunities for aerial photography. Drones are extremely useful in capturing aerial images and video footage. Drones are also useful for surveying land or taking measurements.
These devices are often used for commercial purposes such as mapping large areas or checking construction sites. There are many uses for these devices beyond their business purposes.
Drones, for example, can be a great way to entertain friends and families. You have many options to fly these machines, and even explore new areas. Drones also make it easy to take photos and video of special events.
The sky is the limit when it comes to using drones. If you've been wondering how to make the most out of your flying machine, keep reading to learn more about these incredible tools.
Which drone can hold a DSLR camera?
Drones can be used for everyday tasks. Drones already have cameras that allow for aerial photography.
Although drones have existed for many years, they haven't been used much by most people because they aren’t practical. Drones are difficult to control, noisy and expensive.
Drone-A1 has been created to address this need. It's the first quadcopter fully autonomous in the world, specifically designed for photographers.
The Drone-A1 is equipped with an HD camera capable of taking stunning photos and videos. Thanks to its powerful onboard processor, the Drone-A1 is able to follow a subject with no human intervention.
This allows you to focus solely on the capture of great images, while Drone-A1 does all the flying, hovering and following your subject.
The Drone-A1's Smart Follow feature makes it easy to take amazing photos. Point the Drone-A1 toward your subject. It will automatically track them and maintain distance between you.
With the Drone-A1, you'll enjoy freedom and convenience when shooting. There's no need to be a steady hand or know where your subject is.
The Drone- A1 has a GPS integrated that allows you and your family to share your pictures. Everyone can see your photos from any location in the world.
The Drone-A 1 is a great choice for anyone who loves to take photos for fun or as a professional photographer.
Is a photography drone worth it?
A great product is the most important thing if you want to start your own business. A killer product is essential if you are going to market yourself.
Most photographers aren't selling their work. They try to convince someone else to purchase their stuff rather than convincing them to do it.
But when you're running your own company, you won't be able to afford to wait for someone else to permit you. You will need to get out there and find customers immediately.
It is necessary to tell a compelling tale that explains why people should choose your products.
Also, you will need to create a strategy for marketing these products. Even if you do all of that, it's possible to fail because you don't know how to correctly price your products.
You might decide to charge too little. You could decide to charge too low. Either way, if you don’t know what your charges are, you’re most likely making a mistake.
This will help you avoid making costly mistakes. However, this doesn't mean you must become a businessman. It means that you need to learn how value your time, money and effort.
Also, you must develop strategies to measure your business' success.
Once you understand the pricing of your product, you can then focus on building the best product. It should be a product that can make sense creatively and financially.
A product that solves your problems and gives you real benefits.
One that is different from all others.
Once you've finished building the product, launch it. Then you can start building your brand.
You can take aerial photos with your drone. It will make it easier to start your career as a photographer. It will help you improve your skills. And it will help you grow your business.
What drone is the best for shooting photos?
Drones are an exciting technology used in various ways, from aerial photography to filming movies and even delivering packages. What makes drones so useful? Drones have two main advantages. Firstly, they are incredibly versatile tools. Drones can be used for thousands of purposes. These drones can be used to perform nearly any task you use a conventional camera for. They are also easy to operate. If you have flown a quadcopter before, you already know how simple it is to fly a drone.
Drones can also capture incredible images. The drone can take amazing photos of places you may not usually visit. These include remote areas in which you could be put in danger.
Drones are simple to use, and anyone can quickly learn to fly one. Once you learn the basics, you will be able to use your drone to capture amazing photos from anywhere you happen to be. Take a look at our drone selection if your goal is to capture better photographs.
What are the disadvantages of drone photography?
Drone photography is a great way to capture images as well as video. But there are also downsides when choosing to fly a small aircraft.
Drone flying is expensive. It could cost you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars depending on the drone that you buy.
To fly a drone safely, you will need certification and training.
Safety is another issue. Drones pose a danger because they are constantly in need of repair and maintenance. It is possible to injure or cause property damage by losing control of your drone while you are taking photos.
You might find that you spend more time operating a drone than actually capturing photographs or recording footage. You may also have restricted airspace in which you can fly your drone.
Some local governments have restrictions on where you can fly an unmanned aerial vehicle. You cannot fly higher than 400 feet, or within five miles of any stadiums, hospitals or schools.
Finally, drones aren't for everyone. Some people feel uneasy about flying these machines because they fear they might crash or fall out of the sky. Others are concerned that they may accidentally hit someone or something else.
If you don't feel comfortable flying a helicopter, you may want to stick with traditional aerial photography and videography techniques.
You can make money with drone photography
The biggest problem for any photographer trying to make money off drones is that there aren't any products out there that solve the problems that come with flying them. You can enjoy the experience by using quality equipment and software.
Photographers also need to consider liability and insurance. Many photographers will choose to shoot from the ground. This is a completely new way to capture images, and you might get paid for it.
Drones capture light in a similar way to video cameras. Use the same technology to take amazing photos.
Companies are already making strides in creating photos that can be captured from above. We have already discussed DJI & GoPro. But now we're starting to see more and more companies enter the space.
These cameras are great for ground photography even though they were made for aerial photography. All the major manufacturers are investing heavily to develop their imaging technologies.
This means that one day you might be able to purchase a drone with 4K video and incredible photography capabilities. This could be already happening. Companies like DJI have been releasing higher-resolution versions of their Phantom series of drones.
DJI has just released the Inspire 2 with a 12-megapixel sensor that can shoot at 5120x3456 pixels. The Inspire 2 can also be used to record RAW files at 30 frames/second.
It is possible to make money with drone photos.
Statistics
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)
Here's proof: according to an analysis of FAA drone registration numbers by drone market research and data group Drone Industry Insights, DJI had a 76.8% market share in the U.S. (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)
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)
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)
A good distance for a drone is when it becomes an extension of yourself. If you start to see the drone as an entity separate from you, it becomes difficult to recognize its physical boundaries.
A drone that is able to fly at a reasonable distance will allow you to be fully immersed in the surrounding environment without worrying about its next destination.
It also has psychological benefits. It gives us a feeling of control over the environment and allows us to feel more connected to nature.
There are downsides, however. We are more likely to get wind and weather conditions from flying close to the ground than we are from flying further away. This could cause damage to the drone. How far from the ground can you fly?
The answer depends on the type of drone you are flying. The rule of thumb for aerial footage and filming landscapes is to hover at least 500ft above the ground.
You might keep your cityscape at 1,000 feet if you're filming it. You can avoid trees and buildings that could block your view.
Low-light conditions are a problem for drones. Lowering the altitude can help reduce hover time in dark conditions.
Also, ensure your area is clear from any obstructions, such as power lines or traffic signs.
Also, you might consider flying during daylight instead of at nights. This helps you avoid reflections caused by street lights and shadows.
The drone's size is another important consideration. The closer the drone is to the ground, the greater its size. For example, a large quadcopter will usually require a minimum height of 300ft.
For great drone footage, look for the golden hour.
This is the time period between 3pm and 6pm. You have the best visibility due to the direct overhead sun.
It's also known to be the "magic hour," and is ideal for capturing beautiful images.
You should not fly your drone between sunset and sunrise. These times are known to cause poor-quality footage.
Now that you've got all these tips, it's time to start creating amazing drone videos.
