Are you having problems with your drone videos having a smearing or jitter during your panning from left to right or from right to left? If so, try slowing down how fast you pan. That will often result in jitter-free video. See the full article, "Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Reducing Jitter in Your Drone Footage" here. … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Slowing down your panning speed can reduce jitter in your drone videos
Drones
Video editing basics in DaVinci Resolve 15 — the Media Page
In video editing, my primary tool is DaVinci Resolve. While I do use Final Cut Pro X for some things, I have a real fondness for DaVinci. One thing to note is that it requires a more powerful graphics card thanFCPX. The good news is you can try it for free to see if your computer can run it. The free version of Davinci Resolve 15, both Mac and Windows, can be found here — you will find it on the bottom of the linked page. It is really quite amazing what they give you in the free version! DaVinci Resolve 15 is broken down into pages. These … [Read more...] about Video editing basics in DaVinci Resolve 15 — the Media Page
Quick Tip: A landing pad might save your drone from damage
A few weeks back I had an incident with my DJI Inspire 2 drone. While I was taking off from a very gravelly location, I had one of the propellers detach. Because I was on a large landing pad, I was able to power it down and all that happened was that it rolled over and powered off. Had I not been using a landing pad, the drone would have sustained substantial damage. Even though I am very careful and double check this, this kind of incident can happen. Want the full story on landing pads for drones? Read it here. Fly safe and have fun! … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: A landing pad might save your drone from damage
Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Basic color correction of DJI D-Cinelike in DaVinci Resolve
This is a follow-on article to Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera for Video Using Manual Mode and D-Cinelike. This article assumes that you set up your camera based upon that article and shot your video in that same mode or at least in D-Cinelike. In this video, I show you the basics of color correction of video shot in H.264 and D-Cinelike. I will be using Davinci Resolve 15. You can find my article doing the same thing using Final Cut Pro X (FPCX) here. My primary tool is DaVinci Resolve. I use … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Basic color correction of DJI D-Cinelike in DaVinci Resolve
Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Setting up your DJI Drone camera for video using shutter priority
In this article, I'm going to show you the basics of setting up your camera in the DJI Go 4 App to shoot video in Shutter Priority Mode using h.264 in UHD 4k Resolution. While I will be demonstrating on an Inspire 2, it will be very similar on the other DJI drone models. Shutter Priority Mode is a good place to start exploring your video. It locks down the shutter speed which can result in better-looking videos. You can find articles on setting up your drone camera for shooting photographs here: Full Auto, Aperture Priority and Full … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Setting up your DJI Drone camera for video using shutter priority
Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Color correcting DJI D-Cinelike in FCPX
This is a follow-on article to Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera for Video Using Manual Mode and D-Cinelike. This article assumes that you set up your camera based upon that article. In this video, I show you the basics of color correction of video shot in H.264 and D-Cinelike. I will be using Final Cut Pro 10.4 (FCPX). These basics can be applied to any other editing/grading software as well. The video also assumes that you know how to get your video into FCPX and onto the timeline. Its focus is on how … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Color correcting DJI D-Cinelike in FCPX
Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera for Video Using Manual Mode and D-Cinelike
In this article, I'm going to show you the basics of setting up your camera in DJI Go 4 App to shoot video using Manual mode and D-Cinelike. While I will be using an Inspire 2, this will be very similar to the other model DJI drones. In a future article, I will show you how to color correct them. You will find an article on using Shutter Priority with your videos here. Preparation I would suggest that you do your initial setup on the bench rather than in the field. Set your drone on a work table or bench and remove the propellers. … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera for Video Using Manual Mode and D-Cinelike
Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: Creating an Aerial Panorama using Luminar 2018
In this article, I am going to walk you through the process of creating a panorama from 3 photographs from your DJI Drone using the DNG RAW setting in the Go 4 app. Then I will use Luminar 2018 for processing the RAW files and Affinity Photo for combining them together into the panorama. Finally, I will bring them back into Luminar 2018 to fine tune and export the final Panorama as a JPG. Download Luminar 2018 here. DJI Drone Camera Settings Setup your drone camera in whichever mode you like. See my articles on full auto mode, aperture … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: Creating an Aerial Panorama using Luminar 2018
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Display Sunshades and the One I Use
Using a sunshade might seem like extra trouble and hassle, but I find there are definite advantages to using one, especially when they work properly. Check it out the article below and see if one might help you with your drone projects. Why Do I Use a Sunshade? For me, the bottom line is that it helps me see the tablet or smartphone screen more clearly and easily. That translates into better videos and photographs because I can see what is in focus and out of focus and what's in the frame. This clearer view of the screen also lets … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Display Sunshades and the One I Use
Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Repeatable Shots using Litchi
On a commercial shoot, last month, in San Jose, I needed to do a number of repeatable shots for the director on our video project. What that means is the director has a specific shot in mind. He told me where to start, where to end and what he wanted in-between. Then we shoot the scene and he would want to redo the shot exactly the same, but with variations in speed and gimbal position. While I am able to duplicate a flight path pretty well by hand, it would be great to have an app that records the position of the drone at key points and … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Repeatable Shots using Litchi
Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Reducing Jitter in Your Drone Footage
One of the challenges in recording video with a drone can be to create footage without jitter or flicker in it. The places where it shows up the most for me are when I am panning or flying-by stationary subjects especially those with a lot of texture in them. A while back, when I was shooting a video in the Columbia River Gorge of Crown Point/Vista House and the massive cliffs below it, I was getting jitter/flicker in the cliff area, on the fly-by portion. At first, I thought it was a camera or gimbal problem and so I sent a clip to Travis … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Videographer: Reducing Jitter in Your Drone Footage
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Flying Your Drone at Twilight as a Part 107 Pilot
For me, Twilight is some of the best time to shoot video and photographs with my drone. This 30-minutes before and 30-minutes after sunrise or sunset is often referred to as golden hour. The light often has a golden hue and is much softer and pastel-like. So how can you fly legally during that time? You are already able to fly from sunrise and sunset but to fly the 30-minutes before sunrise and 30-minutes after sunset you need to have anti-collision lighting on your drone. This lighting is designed so full-sized aircraft can more easily see … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Flying Your Drone at Twilight as a Part 107 Pilot
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Do I Really Need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Do you really need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate? If you are earning money or want to earn money with your drone, you are required by the FAA to have your remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating (Part 107). Many companies, such as DroneBase.com and others, are now requiring proof and asking you to submit a copy of your Part 107 before allowing you to do work for them. Without it, these companies will not hire you for projects. This certification also will teach you how to know what airspace you are flying in and what … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Do I Really Need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera in Manual Mode
In this article I show you how to setup your DJI drone camera, using the Go 4 app, in Manual Mode for shooting photographs. I will also talk about some of the settings you can change when shooting in manual mode, so you can explore and learn them. I will be using screenshots from my Inspire 2 as well as a video. Your screen may look a little different, but the basics are the same. Also, note that some drones don’t allow you to change the aperture. If Manual Mode isn't your thing, check out Full Auto Mode and Aperture Priority Mode. What is … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera in Manual Mode
Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera in Aperture Priority Mode
In this article, I am going to show you how to setup your DJI drone camera, using the Go 4 app, in Aperture Priority Mode for shooting photographs. I will be using my Inspire 2. Your screen may look a little different, but the basics are the same. Also, note that some drones don’t allow you to change the aperture. What is Aperture Priority Mode? Aperture Priority Mode is where you tell the camera to use a particular aperture or f-stop and then it adjusts ISO and shutter speed to maintain that aperture. Why would I want to use that? With … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: Setting up your DJI Drone Camera in Aperture Priority Mode
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Brother AirScouter WD-300C Head-mounted Display Review
In this article, I review the new Brother AirScouter WD-300C Head-mounted Display, that I have been using for the last 3 weeks. In much of my commercial drone work, I am a single operator drone pilot. That means I am having to control the drone and the camera simultaneously. That translate into looking down at my tablet and back up to the drone, so I can fly safely and still get the shot. I am finding that using a headset even helps me do a better job when I am piloting and have a second operator controlling the camera because I can see what … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot: Brother AirScouter WD-300C Head-mounted Display Review
Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: How to setup your DJI Drone Camera in Full Auto Mode
In this article, I am going to talk about how to set up the camera on your DJI drone using the Go 4 app in Full Auto Mode. In future articles, I will show you how to setup and use Aperture Preferred Mode and Full Manual Mode. I will be using screenshots from my Inspire 2. Your screen may look a little different, but the basics are the same. Preparation Do your initial setup inside. Be sure to remove the rotor blades from your drone before you begin. Start your remote, connect your tablet and start the Go 4 app Start your drone You … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Photographer: How to setup your DJI Drone Camera in Full Auto Mode
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot – Why would I use a landing pad with my drone?
When I fly my drone, most places have dust, dirt, sand or vegetation and other debris on the ground. Even when there is asphalt, there is most often dirt, dust, small sticks or stones, that gets kicked up from the wind generated by the rotors/propellers. Why use a landing pad? Protect the drone's electric motors The most important reason to me is to keep fine dust, dirt and sand out of the electric motors that power the drone. Each motor has an intake, that draws in air, to keep the motor cool. I have been told by technicians in the … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot – Why would I use a landing pad with my drone?
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot-3 things that help batteries last longer
Here are three things you can do to help your drone batteries last longer. Note that these tips are for Lithium Polymer batteries (LiPo) with a focus on DJI Drones. Don’t charge your battery or batteries right after flying. Let them cool down first Land your drone when you reach 25-30% battery level Deep cycle your batteries every 10-20 hours of flight Taking good care of your batteries is very important. Why? If your drone has a single battery and you have a battery failure while flying, then the drone is going crash. … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot-3 things that help batteries last longer
Becoming a Better Drone Pilot – The Preflight Checklist
There are a lot of things remember when you're flying a drone. If you're shooting video and/or photographs, then there are even more things to remember and set. Having a preflight checklist makes this much easier. Here are some of the things to check on the ground, prior to takeoff and immediately after takeoff, while in the air. Note that some of these options depend upon which drone you're flying. Remember that whether you are a recreational pilot or Part 107 commercial pilot, you are responsible for checking and setting up the drone so … [Read more...] about Becoming a Better Drone Pilot – The Preflight Checklist
Becoming A Better Drone Pilot – Learning To Fly With Precision & Confidence Part 4 – ATTI Mode
Welcome to part 4. If you haven’t read and practiced Parts 1, 2 and 3 of this article, I recommend you do that before proceeding. You can find Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 3 here. Warning! You could crash your drone when practicing these maneuvers. Note: the Mavic Pro does not have ATTI mode on the Flight Mode Switch. ATTI mode is the most challenging mode to fly in because you’re no longer using GPS to lock the drone’s position. and there’s also no obstacle avoidance systems active in ATTI mode. That means it isn’t going to warn … [Read more...] about Becoming A Better Drone Pilot – Learning To Fly With Precision & Confidence Part 4 – ATTI Mode
Becoming A Better Drone Pilot Part 3 – Learning To Fly With Precision & Confidence
Welcome to part 3. If you haven’t read and practiced Part 1 and Part 2 of this article, I recommend you do that before proceeding. You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here. Warning! You could crash your drone when practicing these maneuvers. That being said, don’t go into this practice thinking you’ll crash. Go slowly. Take your time. Don’t push faster than you’re able. And don’t let others push you beyond what you know are your limits! Preparation We are going to use the same preparations as in Part 1. You can review that here. At … [Read more...] about Becoming A Better Drone Pilot Part 3 – Learning To Fly With Precision & Confidence
Becoming A Better Drone Pilot, Part 2
(Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Chris Anson. See more of his work here) In Part 2 you're going to take the next step in refining your control of the drone. If you haven’t read and practiced Part 1 of this article, I recommend you do that before proceeding. You can find Part 1 here. **Warning** You could crash your drone when practicing these maneuvers. That being said, don’t go into this practice thinking you’ll crash. Go slowly. Take your time. Don’t push faster than you’re able. And don’t let others push you beyond what you … [Read more...] about Becoming A Better Drone Pilot, Part 2
Becoming A Better Drone Pilot – Part 1
I’m always looking for ways to improve my piloting skills. The approach I am going to share with you is what I use and also share with my friends and clients. Remember, an out of control drone can be a danger to you, other people and property. Learning to fly with precision and confidence is essential. You can find Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 here. **Warning!** You could crash your drone when practicing these maneuvers. That being said, don’t go into this practice thinking you’ll crash. Go slowly. Take your time. Don’t push … [Read more...] about Becoming A Better Drone Pilot – Part 1
