The new DJI Neo is definitely NOT PERFECT however regardless of the price it is a VERY useful tool for Lone Creators out creating content on their own enabling them to get much more varied and interesting footage VERY EASILY.
Ian in London YouTube Channel: ( LINK )
The Law Staes that when flying a UAS (Drone) we MUST maintain direct visual line of sight at all times.
So ... I added these VERY BRIGHT LEDs from Strobon to help 💡
*This is where I bought them from (Non-Affiliate Link) … LINK
I love my drones!
I used to use them purely for filming footage to go in my videos over on my YouTube Channel, but over the last few months I’ve been using them more and more for photography too.
The compositions that can be achieved are completely unique and without the ability to get in the air, would quite literally be out of reach.
With the Drone Laws that now exist, I’ve studied and taken exams to give me qualifications I need to fly what I have, where I want to fly it.
I know the law surrounding use of Drones. I have Insurance. I fly VERY responsibly.
But to do so, i’m addition to the checks I carry out before flying, what do I actually take with me for each flight to ensure (as best I can) that it’s both safe AND successful?
Well, here’s a short (one minute) video I put together to show what I take along…
And here’s a breakdown of everything …
VERY Bright LED Lights ( LINK )
Spare Prop Blades ( I always get the ‘Fly More’ Combo )
Lens Cloth
LiPo Safety Bags for Spare Batteries ( LINK )
DJI RC Pro Controller ( LINK )
Anemometer ( For Checking Windspeed ) ( LINK )
DJI ND Filters
Fire Blanket ( LINK )
Fire Extinguisher ( For LiPo Battery Fires )
Pre Flight Checklist / Insurance and Drone Law ( I compiled this , Printed and Laminated it )
Take Off / Landing Pad ( LINK )
Here too, is the Pre Flight Checklist that I put together; the contents of which are not exhausitve, but the most obvious to check and be aware of …
If you have any questions, would like to see what I have on my pre-flight checklist, then let me know and I’ll share that here or even make it downloadable.
Safe flying,
Glyn
With all the recent updates to Lightroom including Presets and Masking, we're able to edit our images FASTER and EASIER than ever before!
In this video I quickly go through the editing / retouching steps from a recent landscape / seascape photo shoot using my drone from capture, blending, changing perspective, colour grading and printing…
Weather Apps … ✅
Tide Times … ✅
Drone Assist and NOTAMS … ✅
Kit Checked and Batteries Charged … ✅
With everything ready, a couple of evenings ago we popped down to Boscastle, Cornwall with the idea of grabbing dinner and taking some photographs in what can only be described as a stunning location.
As it happens, although I had intended to, I didn’t end up taking any photographs with my main camera BUT thankfully had brought along my drone (DJI Air 2S) and with conditions being perfect for some aerial photography, I couldn’t resist…
For the above image looking out from mouth of Boscastle Harbour across the sea, I set the drone up to take 5 photographs in quick succession with each a different exposure (AEB) and then blended them together in Lightroom to create a HDR (High Dynamic Range) image.
I love creating panoramic shots with my drone too; this one and the one below taken using the 180 pano setting in Raw, and then merging together in Lightroom to create the stitched together image.
And of course, I couldn’t resist a Top-Down …
All of the images were processed using both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Cloud; using both together opens up so many more editing possibilities due to the cloud and Adobe’s A.I. which is a great way to edit fast and get inspired.
I’m thinking about covering this in an video over on my YouTube Channel so if you think it would be worth doing, I’d really appreciate a YEs or a NO in the comments section below.
Also I’m looking at putting together a video and post showing what I check (weather, no fly zones, NOTAMs etc), what I take with me and everything I do to ensure a safe (and legal) and successful flight with my drone when filming or taking photographs, so again if you think that would be something worth sharing, just let me know.
Thanks for looking in,
Glyn
Well as my friend Ian put it … “You spoke, they listened!”
Following a survey sent out by the CAA earlier this year regarding the use of Legacy Drones and the C Classifications, yesterday the CAA announced their findings.
Without gong into detail here, check out the video below from my friend Ian which explains all in just over 3 minutes, along with downloading this very concise document from the CAA
Here too is a video from the great folks at UAV Hub in the Blue Skies Dronecast Podcast with details…
In short, this is great news for ALL drone owners! That the CAA are prepared to listen and take onboard not just responses from people saying it’s unfair but very justifiable remarks regarding Economic Impact, Investment Security and Safety.
Power to the People! 😃
At the beginning of the year, one of my priorities and things I wanted to spend more time on developing was my YouTube Channel, and over the past (almost) 6 months I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm having so much fun putting videos together the way that is 'me' and each week learning and trying something new to add to the production value.
One thing that's been missing though is a Trailer; something that in 60 seconds or less tells folks that haven't subscribed, the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, WHEN and HOW of me and what the Channel is all about, but yesterday I put some time aside and did it…
Hope you like it 😉
Using a Drone for Photography is FANTASTIC! So many new and unique compositions!
In this video I finally photograph an incredible tree that would have been impossible to do on foot BUT thanks to my Drone it became possible! I go through the Drone Camera settings and then dive into Lightroom to create a HDR and finally into Photoshop and jump in and out of Topaz Studio 2 to create a painterly effect.
Hope you enjoy it
Glyn
This tree has become a bit of an obsession.
I first noticed it when helping friends move home. They didn’t move far. Just further down the lanes in Mid Devon but to a beautiful new spot. So incredibly peaceful. The silence only broken by the sound of the wildlife and that’s to be relished.
It was when driving through the lanes on the back and forth trips I saw the tree high up on a hill, all alone. Couldn’t decide if it felt proud or lonely. It was screaming out to be photographed though.
With it being across a ploughed field perched on top of a hill in another field and quite some distance from the lane I’d stopped in, there was no way to get close on foot. But then I do have a drone. That could work.
I was thinking of maybe doing a long exposure with the clouds over the top of the tree but I’ve lost count how many times I’ve headed over when I thought conditions were right. It’s only a short drive. Well 30 minutes-ish from home but incredible how in such a short journey the conditions can change. Maybe that’s just a Devon thing.
I tried an evening shot with the setting sun but got there a little too late. Didn’t work out too bad though I guess.
Then followed several more aborted missions.
The other day though things started to slot into place.
Blue skies. Fluffy white clouds. No wind. Well…very little.
Using my DJI Air 2S Drone, I took off vertical from where I’d parked up to make sure there were no livestock over the other side hill. Didn’t want to disturb them or worse still…scare them.
All clear.
Set the drone to take 5 Raw photographs at 5 different exposures. Made a HDR image in Lightroom.
Originally thought about just including the tree and the arc of the hill.
Changed my mind and included part of the ploughed field.
Glad I did.
Edited the resulting file in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Finished off with one ‘look’ using Topaz Studio 2.
Hope you like it.
I’ll do a Behind the Scenes video showing this on my YouTube Channel.
Over the moon with all the results from taking photographs with my drone (DJI Air 2S) at Lyme Regis, Dorset. The light was incredible and the conditions couldn't have been better!
Being a morning person, setting an alarm for 4am and heading out, definitely has its advantages…
Lyme Regis is a place that's quite special to Anne and me. So many great memories of times when we first starting holidaying in Devon and visiting River Cottage and would always pop down the road and over the border to Dorset to get a 'fix' of sea air and our tradition of a bag of chips on the beach...no matter the weather.
As a Portrait Photographer, I've always found it fascinating how moving around your subject, once you have placed the light, can give so many different looks...from the same set up.
The same can definitely be said for landscape / seascape as this photograph I took of Lyme Regis in Dorset yesterday with my drone was taken moments after the first one I posted ... the same height but with a shift to the right, further back and changing the angle of the camera.
This panorama of Lyme Regis, Dorset consists of 24 photographs taken with my drone and then blended together in Photoshop…
Completely BLOWN AWAY with the quality of the file; so bloomin' happy
Couldn’t resist some top down shots too…
I remember a few years ago, Joe McNally relaying a story of a portrait assignment that he went on and once finished and kit packed away, upon leaving, the owner's cat appeared and jumped up onto his owner's shoulder; Joe quickly grabbed a few frames with his camera that he'd kept to hand and THAT was the picture that ended up being used.
Not quite the same, but this picture from yesterday made me think of Joe's story. Once I'd landed the drone on some Beach Hut Decking having taken the pictures I wanted, I then started to pack away and just happened to glance at the screen on the remote controller and saw this…
Roll on the next flight!
© Glyn Dewis 2024
