{"id":25750,"date":"2021-08-15T21:55:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T21:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=25750"},"modified":"2021-08-20T00:26:50","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T00:26:50","slug":"lets-talk-about-drones-for-still-photographers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=25750","title":{"rendered":"Let’s talk about drones for still photographers!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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My dear friend Mike Early requested this blog post and since my wife Sherelene is busy Sunday afternoon \u00a0working on charts, what the heck, let’s do it right now! \u00a0Let’s start with the equipment to do drone photography.<\/span> \u00a0My system is very simple and one of the least expensive ones you can get and still be of great quality! \u00a0Above is my DJI Mini II, a Apple mini iPad, the three battery pack and charger and the controller. \u00a0That is my complete system. \u00a0From Amazon you can get all of this except for the iPad in what is called the Fly More package for $599. \u00a0 The standard mini iPad will do fine, unless you plan to put a lot of images on it, I would get the lower storage option to save money, also WiFi only is all you need. A new Apple iPad Mini wifi with 64 gigabytes of memory runs $399. \u00a0You can use your iPhone but the iPad is much easier to see clearly what you are doing, something pretty important when flying, \u00a0I’m a pilot, trust me I know! \u00a0That brings the outfit with iPad to around $1,100.<\/p>\n

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“What accessories do you need for flying the drone?”<\/span> \u00a0I woud highly recommend these two optional accessories both are really needed.<\/p>\n

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The Hoodman sunshade is needed to shield the screen of your iPad and the tablet clip allows you to attach the iPad Mini to the controller.<\/p>\n

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With is outfit you will have three extra batteries each allowing almost 30 minutes of flight time and \u00a0the battery holder is also a charger which make charging all 3 at once easy.<\/p>\n

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The drone itself folds up to a very small package and will fit easily in a lens spot in your bag. It comes with a propellor protecter which help protect the drone as well. \u00a0I illustrate it’s size next to my watch. The fly more package imcludes spare propellors, charging cords and a charging brick.<\/p>\n

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This drone will shoot 4K and Hi Def video as well as a 12 mega pixel still image in either jpeg or RAW. \u00a0The stabilized camera makes tack sharp images even in a brisk wind.<\/p>\n

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Here are \u00a0few of my favorite shots with the drone:<\/p>\n

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Nubble Lighthouse on the coast of Maine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Pemaquid lighthouse, Maine coast<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Stacked canoes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chester watching me fly the drone!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A friends lakehouse shot as a gift to him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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His next question was: \u00a0“How long it takes to get proficient enough to not crash it!?”<\/span><\/p>\n

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This will depend on the individual but if you use good judgement and do a lot of practice in a large clear area you will get the hang of it pretty fast! \u00a0This drone does not have sensors that will stop it if it is about to fly into something, but if you fly high enough above trees and other obstructions that should not be a problem. \u00a0Always keep and eye on how much battery you have left and return to just above where you took off with plenty of battery to get back on the ground. You can point the camera all the way to the straight down position and that will allow you to clearly see where you are standing and then start bringing it down slowly until you can see where it is positioned then it is easy to bring it very close to you and then land it. \u00a0Amazon sells Drone landing pads, folding circle in bright orange and that is a good idea to have, it is easy to see from even pretty far up with the down pointed camera.<\/p>\n

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These will help:<\/p>\n

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