Aerial Cinematography Basics
At first glance, aerial cinematography seems relatively straightforward. You just have to strap a camera to a remote controlled drone, and click record. Truth is though, it’s not that easy.
While current advancements in technology have made aerial cinematography more convenient, it can still be complicated for some. After all, learning how to pilot a drone is one, but creating a really good stable shot is another. So to put you in the right direction, we have the most important aerial cinematography tips listed below for you.
Choose Your Drone Or UAV
There a lot of really good brands in the market. Make sure you buy one that will meet all your requirements – be informed not only about availability, pricing and the model’s specs, it’s also good to read customer feedback or reviews and the extent of support the manufacturer can provide you.
Be Knowledgeable About Your Settings
Not all models will have autopilot, GPS, the same controls, etc. So in order to really get best results from your gear, make sure you can fly your quadcopter or drone both automatically and manually, and under basic and advanced settings.
Choose Your Camera
Similar to when deciding on which model or UAV to purchase, you also have to gather sufficient information about the video camera in order to find one that will best suit your requirements. You probably are knowledgeable about the best cameras in the market, but since we’re talking about aerial cinematography, you also have to consider getting a camera which is light enough so your drone’s batter will last and therefore achieve longer flight time.
Be Gentle
One simple and yet very important tip is for you to slow your drone down. The slower and gentler you go, the better and more stable your shots will be.
Consider The Atmosphere
Try not to shoot into the sun as your propellers will likely cast shadows and warp your shots; also, direct sunlight can make dust and dirt on your lens will become visible on your shots.
Pay close attention to wind gusts – don’t fly when the wind is greater 17-23 miles per hour (15-20 knots). And it’s best to fly when the wind is just within 7-9 knots or 8-10 miles per hour.
It is also generally recommended not to fly when it’s raining as not all UAV system and video cameras are suitable to work in precipitation.
Build A Direct Line Of Sight
If you’re not using an FPV system, you’ll find this very important. It’s always more convenient if you fly directly toward or away from where you’re standing as anything beyond that will require more advanced depth perception. Make use of objects near and far where you are so you can set up an unobstructed, direct line of sight and flight.