This is a really in-depth tutorial looking at how to shoot stunning landscape photographs using your drone. This tutorial is split into three sections:
Preparing for your shoot: 0:00 Location shooting: 3:07 Editing: 10:31
*** My new drone of choice ***
I used the DJI phantom 3 professional for this shoot but the principles are exactly the same regardless of what UAV (drone) you are using.
Getting the most from your drone photography really is about putting in the legwork in the preparation stage and selecting the right location and the right time of day. Once you’re at the location spend time before getting your drone into the sky, scoping out what you want to shoot and dialling in the settings to your camera so you maximise your flight time. Aim to get 1 or 2 really good shots per flight. You’ll then want to spend a decent amount of time editing your drone photographs to get the best possible results.
A huge thanks to Toby Russell who very kindly helped me film the location shooting section.
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Jonathan J Scott is a freelance filmmaker with over a decade of experience within the industry. Follow me on twitter
By: Jonathan J Scott Films Title: Ultimate Drone Landscape Photography Tutorial Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5N9Ej-yHUI
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which drone is best for beginners?
These drones are great for beginners as they don't require any advanced skills. These drones are equipped with an "FPV" camera which allows the user to control the drone remotely via a smartphone app.
Some quadcopters are specifically made for aerial photography. Multirotor models are better suited for advanced features like obstacle avoidance and autonomous flight mode.
There are two types in price of drones: cheap drones under $100, and more expensive drones over $300.
The cheapest models tend to have a limited range, battery life, and flight time. The more expensive models feature greater performance and longer flight durations.
The majority of beginners prefer to start with the cheaper options, as they are more easy to use and manage. However, you may consider purchasing a higher-end model if you plan to spend hours flying your drone.
How can I get started in drone photography?
There are several ways to start photographing using a drone. You can start by buying a drone kit. This will include everything you need to get started. They vary in price from $200 to $500 depending upon the model.
The other option is to build your drone. Although this is not an easy task, it is possible to still create a drone capable of taking decent photos and videos.
For those who want to try building their drone, we recommend starting with a quadcopter. Quadcopters have four propellers (or rotors) as opposed to two like traditional helicopters.
A quadcopter is easier to assemble and maintain than a helicopter. It is also more affordable to buy and easier for you to transport.
First, choose the right parts. You will need props, motors, batteries controllers and controllers. It is important to choose the correct size and weight.
Next, you will need to choose which type of controller you want. There are many options available. These include joysticks, touch screens and remote controls. We recommend purchasing one with a built-in camera, so you don't have to attach a separate device to your drone.
Once you've picked the right parts you can start assembling your drone. To make things easy, we recommend buying a preassembled kit. You can build your drone on your own by following these steps.
Step 1: Attach the battery pack
You'll need to connect the battery pack to the motor to start building your quadcopter. First, remove the cover plate from the bottom of the battery pack. Next, slide your battery into place.
Step 2: Connect the motors
Next, mount the motors to the right slots. Each motor must be placed in the appropriate slot. Install the motors facing forward, perpendicular and in the designated slot.
Step 3: Install the propeller
The propellers will need to be attached to the frame. Make sure they are at the same distance apart.
After completing all these steps, you're finally ready to test your new drone! If the engine does not move, ensure that the propellers are facing forward. Make sure there aren't any obstructions between the propellers.
What is the best drone for photography?
Drones are an exciting technology used in various ways, from aerial photography to filming movies and even delivering packages. But what makes drones such an useful tool? Drones have two main advantages. Firstly, they are incredibly versatile tools. There are many uses for drones. This means you can use them to do almost any type of task you normally use a camera for. Secondly, they are very easy to operate. A quadcopter is very simple to operate if it has been flown before.
Drones are also great because they can capture amazing images. The drone can take amazing photos of places you may not usually visit. These include remote areas where you could potentially fall into dangerous situations.
Drones require very little skill to operate. Once you know the basics, you can fly your drone anywhere and shoot amazing photos. Take a look at our drone selection if your goal is to capture better photographs.
Which time of the day is best to take drone photos?
A drone could capture aerial images during sunrise and sunset hours when there isn't much activity on the ground.
Drones can capture beautiful photographs of landscapes and the sky over them. However, drones may not be allowed to fly at nights so you will miss out on some spectacular views.
Consider flying at sunrise or sunset to ensure that you are not missing out on any photo opportunities. These times allow for stunning shots of nature and are often more popular because there are fewer cars on roads and fewer people.
You'll also find yourself shooting in lower light levels, making it easier to shoot without worrying about overexposing your image.
In addition, you won't have to deal with strong winds, rain, snow, or fog. All of these factors make daylight perfect to take photos with drones.
Consider flying at night if you want to capture nighttime scenes. This will give you an unrivalled view of the cityscape.
How can I fly my drone safely?
It takes practice to fly a drone. Even though drones are very stable compared to regular aircraft, it takes time for pilots to gain experience. For beginners, we recommend practicing indoors or close to home.
To fly a drone you will need to have three fundamental skills. These are taking off, hovering and landing.
Take off
Simply lift the drone in the air to take off. You can do this by pressing the button on controller until the drone begins moving upward. Stop pushing the button when the drone reaches a desired height.
Hovering
Hovering refers to keeping the drone in midair. To hover, hold down the right or left trigger while pressing on the throttle. To tilt the drone, hold down both triggers and press the throttle.
Landing
Landing refers to returning the drone safely to Earth. To land, release the throttle and tilt the controller downward toward the ground. This will cause the drone's speed to drop and eventually land.
If you feel comfortable flying your drone, take it out of the house. Be careful not to crash into any object.
Can drones shoot nighttime photos?
That's the right answer. But it's been a long-standing tradition. For decades, we've been taking photos at night.
There's a catch. Night photography requires special equipment. It's impossible to achieve night photography with a camera less than $10,000.
Light bounces back when it hits an object in a series wavelengths.
These wavelengths are combined to produce white light at very far distances from their source.
This is why your eyes can see colors even if the sun is many millions of miles away.
On the contrary, when light strikes an object close to its source, it reflects in a narrow band of wavelengths. These wavelengths bounce back straight to us, without overlapping.
This means that objects are brighter if they are closer together. This is why objects seem to glow when they are exposed to black light.
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.
The human eye is sensitive to blue light the most so objects appear brighter when viewed in black light.
This has 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.
An ordinary lamp won't be powerful enough to illuminate the entire scene. It will give you only a shadowed picture and nothing else.
A strobe will give you a great shot. And since you don't want to carry around a huge flashgun, you'll need to buy a small one.
These lights are known as speedlights because they produce flashes of light so fast that they create a stroboscopic effect.
If we say "stroboscopic", you can see the light pulse across the screen. The picture will be better quality if it moves at a faster rate.
We won't discuss how to set up a Speedlight here. There are many tutorials available online.
We will tell that it is important to have a bright and even lighting source in order to capture clear images.
You should aim the beam at a 45 degree angle to achieve this. You can adjust intensity by moving the flashgun head.
Once you have found the right setting, hold the gun steady while pressing the shutter release button.
Press the shutter once more, just before the flashlight reaches the subject. This will fire another flashgun burst.
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 are able to take photographs during the day, let us move on to night photography.
I have so far covered everything about how to photograph things at night.
One thing is left to cover, however: the color harmony.
Most people assume that nighttime images will not be dark enough.
That's true, but the same applies to daytime photos.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting at dawn or at dusk. The camera will always record a darker shot.
What are the laws concerning drone photography?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drone flights. Local laws might also apply to drone flight operations. To find out which drone flight rules apply to your state, check with the transportation department.
Most drone owners will need to apply for a FAA licence. The FAA has established guidelines for licensing. These guidelines can be found here.
In some states, drone owners must register their drones with government. To learn more, visit our Guide to Drone Registration.
Statistics
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)
Greater than 50% throttle stick position generates positive thrust, but less than 50% throttle stick position reverses the direction of the motors, allowing upside-down flying! (photographypro.com)
Homes with aerial images sold 68% faster than homes with standard images. (alexdronephotography.com)
Regional & Super Regional Centers pricing per center (400,000+ sq ft) PLACE ORDER (dronebase.com)
Though the Mavic 3 is about 50% heavier than the Mavic Air 2, it's still conveniently sized. (nytimes.com)
The best distance for a drone to travel is when it becomes an extension or part of you. The drone becomes an extension of you and you lose sight its physical boundaries.
For drones, a good distance allows you to fully immerse your self in the environment without having to worry about where the drone is going next.
It also has psychological benefits. It gives us a sense of control over our surroundings, making us feel more connected with nature.
There is however a downside. We can damage drones by flying near the ground. How far are you able to fly?
It depends on the drone type you have. If you are trying to film a landscape or capture aerial footage, a good rule of thumb is to stay at least 500 feet above the ground.
You might choose to film a cityscape at 1,000 feet, for instance. You can avoid trees and buildings that could block your view.
Low-light conditions can make drones less agile. You can decrease the time spent hovering if you fly in darkness by lowering your altitude.
You should also ensure that the area where you fly is free from obstructions such as traffic signs or power lines.
It may be a good idea to fly during the day, rather than at night. This prevents reflections from streetlights and shadows.
A second thing to consider is the drone's actual size. 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 when you have maximum visibility between 3pm-6pm. You have the best visibility due to the direct overhead sun.
It is also known by the "magic hours", which makes it ideal for creating beautiful images.
However, you should avoid flying your drone at sunset and sunrise. These times are known for producing low-quality footage.
Now that you've got all these tips, it's time to start creating amazing drone videos.
