The Canon Magazine 59
SHOOTING WITH DRONES
PROJECT 4
VIDEO ALSO ONLINE
http://bit.ly/pp_156_401 DOWNLOAD THE APP/UPDATE FIRMWARE
Check that the drone controller has the latest
firmware, and update it if required. Also check you
have the latest version of the smartphone app if
you’re going to be streaming the video feed to it.03 USE PHOTOGRAPHY FUNDAMENTALS
The basics of photography are just as important when
shooting from the sky as they are on land. A good tip
to make your drone shots more striking is to frame up
your pictures using the rule-of-thirds.05 LEARN THE SPECIAL MODES
Drones like DJI’s Spark have modes such as gesture
control, target tracking and panoramic shooting. So
it’s worth reading the manual and getting to grips with
the special modes specific to your model.02 SET THE BEST IMAGE AND VIDEO QUALITY
Go into the settings on the controller or app and set
Raw for stills if available and the highest quality video
output; 4K is preferable to Full HD as you can crop it
for a tighter shot and still output in Full HD.04 SHOOT IN THE GOLDEN HOUR
The hour immediately after sunrise and before
sunset is called the golden hour and will bathe your
landscapes in a photogenic wash of warm golden
tones. Shoot towards the sun to capture extra flare.06 INVEST IN SPARE BATTERIES
Fly time is likely to be around 10-20 minutes with
consumer level drones, as it takes a lot of power to
keep them in the air and recording clips and stills.
Invest in spare batteries so you can shoot for longer.OPTIMIZE YOUR DRONE FOR PICTURES AND VIDEO
Take to the skies and capture your best aerial content to date
PRE-FLIGHT
CHECKSInspect your drone and
replace any damaged
rotors and clean the
camera lens with a
microfibre cloth. Make
sure you’re 50m away
from buildings, people
and vehicles and 1km
from any airports and
airfields. Be sure to check
the weather forecast as
you should avoid flying
in adverse conditions
such as rain, fog, snow
and strong winds. After
you take off you should
let your drone hover for
around 30 seconds to
check its stability in your
specific wind conditions.
Now you’re all set to go!VIEW^ TH
E^ VIDEO