Last week, I posted some thoughts about the quad copters/drones that have become really popular lately. I mostly posted about how I personally didn’t find them useful for landscape photography. This time, I wanted to post a few follow up thoughts.
1) Bill Fortney (amazing photographer, amazing guy, awesome friend of mine) also posted a comment on something he learned while writing/photographing for his America From 500 Feet books. I remember talking to Bill about this and he mentioned that when he started the project, he envisioned shooting these large sweeping landscapes. But when he got up in the air, and really got in to the project, he realized so much of it was about patterns. Patterns in nature and outdoors that you’d never seen while on the ground. And if you’v ever seen his books, you’ll know that his photos are stunning, but many of them are indeed patterns, rather than really wide sweeping landscapes from above. That brings me to another thought….
2) Mike (blog reader) posted a really cool link in the comments to a video done with a drone. I gotta say, it makes me want to rethink my initial “I don’t think I’ll use it” thoughts I posted from last week. And it goes right along with what Bill mentioned about photographing from up above.
First, watch the video if you have a few minutes. And hit the pause button every once in a while to realize the possibilities with still photos.
The video is a perfect demonstration of what I mentioned on how these drones are game changers. I never questioned that point though. The video coming from these things is amazing, and it puts camera in places that were once impossible or too expensive for most to ever consider. Last week though, I was referring to photographers who are taking landscape photos with them and posting some, well, “blah” results (in my opinion anyway). But I picked up something else from the video (at Mikes urging in the comments from Monday). I paused the video on certain scenes, and it fits right in with what Bill Fortney said about patterns. There’s some amazing ariel landscape photos in these scenes – in just the patterns alone. Views that the person on the ground would never be able to get.
Anyway, just something to think about. I supposed the only problem now is scouting locations. It’s hard to see what the patterns on the ground are like while you’re still on the ground. But hey, maybe a little Google Earth will help out. I kinda want to get one now though… see, it’s like I said at the end of my last post. I may change my mind… or not… but maybe 😉
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Much of what a photographer puts into any shot is seeking out a perspective that helps him or her better express their vision. The drone technology is just another (and awesome!) tool to help do that, much like, for instance, macro lenses. Granted, in doing so, you lose a bit of the hands-on process that appeals to many photographers. But the advantages, as the video demonstrates, can be worth it. Just like the transition from wet chemistry to digital removed a lot of the hands-on experience of photography, in the end, the new technology has given rise to greater avenues for artistic expression.
So, I hope you’ll give it a try Matt. Bringing your landscape techniques to this platform could help the rest of us imagine greater possibilities for our own work.
Also, this would be a great technology for covering sports that encompass great spaces with limited vantage points – extreme skiing, sailboat racing, etc.
I’d also point you to Julieanne Kost’s book “Window Seats”, in which she shows many very interesting images of natural and man-made patterns….photographs taken from upwards of 37,000 feet.
Thanks for the kind words, I need to get back in the air!!!!
Intriguing discussion Matt. The videos look great. It would be interesting to see how clear a still shot could be gotten at a location like a Steptoe Butte or a Second Beach. Yes, I would love to have one just for the cool factor!
Way cool video. Gives me a lot of ideas of what could be done with a drone. Appreciate that Matt admits his opinion is subject to change, too. Thanks.
Glad you liked the video Matt 🙂 I thought it was very well done and showed me things I haven’t seen before being glued to the ground.
Long distance long exposure drone photogrpahy for the win! If you can just get into lower orbit think of how smooth & glassy you can make the earth’s oceans look!
We can always hope Scott 😉
Awesome!
For all things Drone.. talk to my buddy in LA @TrentSiggard ( on Twitter) Tell him I said hi.
Thanks man. Checking out his Vimeo page now
http://vimeo.com/user3910279