Before any shooting, I decide in advance on what terrain it will take place. The Google Maps service has become an ideal planning environment for me specifically. Its main advantage is the absence of the need to remember the places you like. The program will do this for you. It is enough just to mark the corresponding pin on the map. It is possible to mark the relevant topics. For example, I can choose a location for filming that matches a sports or music theme. You can view your favorite places both using a personal computer and in a mobile smartphone application, which makes my work more mobile. Thanks to this decision, I can decide in advance on the shooting plan, and shoot material on several topics at once.
Having decided on the area for photography, you have already done half the battle in advance. There is no need to wander around in potential locations looking for the perfect angle. It is enough to choose the direction of movement. My advice to novice professionals is to go to the shooting location in advance so that you need the time of day to be prepared for all possible nuances. For example, I love shooting nature before sunset, but at the same time I always appear at the shooting location a few hours before “X hour”.
Weather
Before taking photographs, it is important to prepare in advance for possible weather manifestations. The natural factor can add zest to high-quality photos, or it can completely ruin all the frames. Having set off on a long journey in search of a unique photograph, you often find yourself in a situation where even the very thought of flying above the ground is already considered dangerous. As a result, a lot of time wasted. And only you are to blame for this, because you did not familiarize yourself with the weather forecast in advance.
I had a case when a planned shooting was disrupted by a strong gusty wind. I drove for a long time to the area I liked, and when I arrived, I noticed a strong wind up to 20 m/s. Of course, I could try to take a few trial shots, but the flight radius would be quite low, but the probability of losing the device was more than real. I was very upset, but, nevertheless, I postponed taking pictures in this place. The main thing in this situation is not to succumb to emotional impulses, but to objectively assess the situation. The loss of a quadcopter is a serious problem, you should not bring the situation to such an opportunity.
How to choose a drone model for shooting?
What kind of copter is suitable for solving your tasks is purely your choice. I can only give recommendations on this subject, since I already have quite a serious experience in photography. At the moment, I have three drones in my stock, each of which I need for a specific purpose. My absolute favorite is the Mavic 2 Pro. It is compact and reacts quickly to changes in direction. Despite this, when shooting on location, I always take all three models with me. They do not take up much space, but they are always at hand, and I have the opportunity to use them. Even if the shooting as such is not planned, and I’m just going on vacation with my friends. After all, there is always the opportunity to meet a unique shot anywhere.
If I just want to get a couple of good shots, then I use the Mavic Air for this. The same device is used by me to survey the territory. If I find a good place to shoot, but my quadcopter can’t capture the true beauty of the moment, then the Inspire 2 can always come to the rescue. DJI brand drones have never let me down. I am always sure of the quality of their pictures. The more I use them, the more they impress me from a positive point of view.
Finding a place to take photos
My childhood and youth were spent in New Jersey. This is a small town, and sometimes it seems to me that here I have already shot everything that could be captured. My friends think that the really valuable shots are to leave the city limits and go into little-known territory. I don’t agree with them. No one knows what shot awaits us around the corner.
The state itself is much larger than it seems at first glance. I use Google Maps to find unique places. It allows you to look at satellite images before I launch the drone. The picture from Maps may differ from reality, because the images are not updated so often. The objects I like can actually be dismantled, or simply disappear. However, even the data that the service provides is quite enough for fruitful planning of a future trip for photography.
Personally, I am very pleased with this site. If you find a more interesting way to search for places, that would be great. However, my personal preference is always given to Google Maps.
own view
This topic can be difficult to understand. When choosing a location for shooting, I always take into account my own subjective opinion about the subject matter of the shots. Any object, be it a body of water, a tree, or just a road, can inspire you to create a whole series of unique photographs.
The main specificity of my work is photography of real estate objects. However, even such a monotonous shooting becomes unique if you take into account all the elements of the composition: the way the light falls, what shades prevail in the frame. Of course, the final version will be prepared in a photo editor, however, the original photos are also able to convey that unusual approach to performing routine work.
Conclusion
I managed to combine my hobby and the way of earning. Flying opened up incredible opportunities for me in terms of creating a unique shot. It’s nice to know that I’m also paid to create masterpieces. My aerial photography experience is three years. During this time, I realized that every new experience brings me untold pleasure. The more difficult the task set before photographing, the more pleasant the end result.
For me, this is not just a job — it is an art that completely absorbed me. In my article, I wanted to convey my emotions and feelings that led me to this work. If my article inspires you to create your own creations, then my mission is accomplished.
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