DRONES: THE FUTURE OF PHOTOGRAPHY?

Drone: An unpiloted aircraft or spacecraft. They are also called UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) or UAS (unmanning aerial system). In the past (as early as 1911), they were used primarily by the military; they remove the human life factor in combat situations and need not stop to allow the pilot to rest. In the U.S. Air Force today, an estimated 7,400 drones are used - almost one in three aircraft. The unpiloted machines are also used in at least 50 other countries. Other governmental reasons for drones include weather monitoring, search-and-rescue, and 3D mapping. But government use of these devices is not our focus. In recent years, drones for commercial and personal purposes have become a very real part of our immediate future and, in some cases, our present. This article discusses the use of drones primarily for creative use, such as photography and videography.

SUMMARY WHY DRONES LEGALITIES ON THE MARKET MAIL DELIVERY Using drones for art could take photography to another level - literally. FAA regulations are becoming stricter. Artists would need permits in order to sell their work. Brands like: DJI Walkera UDI Amazon's Prime Air is likely far off. Other, more simplified drone delivery plans are in the works.

WHY DRONES?

Imagine if the stunning skyline canvas print above your couch was actually a photograph you had taken yourself! As photographers we are continuously and, for some, frustratingly land-bound. In many cases, the only way to achieve skyline or "looking down" images is to hope there is a hill or watertower nearby our desired scene. Drones have the ability to change that. The small drones used by some agencies and individuals for photography and videography do have physical restrictions. Most are battery powered and last only 15 to 30 minutes before needing to be recharged. Due to their small size, only a few models have the ability to carry more than a small GoPro camera - a very powerful tool but certainly limited by size and capability. Additionally, for the sake of safety (both of humans and the expensive equipment), most drones are not flown out of sight of the operator. Above Summit, one company that offers aerial photography and videography services, has set a limit of 1.2 miles (2 km) from the ground-based pilot. But the benefits are widely considered to far outweigh the limitations. Some companies meld ground and air photography and video, and market these services to real estate companies, film crews, tourism businesses, and more. A multicopter - as they are sometimes called - allows for all-angle coverage of the scene or area in question. Much of the imagery captured by a drone-mounted camera could be taken by hand from a helicopter or balloon. However, the expense and preparation for such an endeavor - hiring pilots, clearing airspace, insurance, fuel consumption, etc - is high and quite often beyond the budget of smaller corporations. Drones, on the other hand, can be carried into the area in a case and take no more time to prepare and take off than a model plane. While pilots/operators are well-trained, they do not require the years of experience - and therefore high pay - of an aircraft pilot. These clips of Drone Videos show the beautiful footage that can be captured by a UAV.

An aerial cityscape

LEGALITIES

The biggest detriment - and the main blockade stopping every successful photographer from owning and operating their own drone - is FAA regulations. Before the popularity of drone photography, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had general guidelines for personal drone operation. Essentially, the UAVs were considered as model airplanes, with the same "best practices" applying: Keep the aircraft within sight at all times Do not fly above 400 feet (ie: stay out of restricted airspace) Don't take pictures of people without their permission. Essentially - stay out of populated areas where damage/injury could occur. With the rise in use, these best practices are becoming formal rules and regulations. Limiting the flying of drones to daylight hours will presumably be included in these rules. However, these restrictions alone are not the primary issue for artists. It is simple enough to stay within the legal guidelines when affixing a camera to their UAV and taking aerial shots of land formations, waterways, or their artworks that must be viewed from above. The difficulty arises when the artist proceeds to sell these images. Once their drone shots have commercial aspirations, these same artists who were well within their rights before, may now be required to purchase the permits and licences applicable to commercial drone operators. This includes a Private Pilot certificate, and FAA approval of the airworthiness of the craft. The cost of obtaining these documents could very quickly make their business unfeasible.

Aerial fish-eye view of a baseball diamond

DRONES ON THE MARKET

DJI SPREADING WINGS S1000 This eight-rotor drone (octocopter) can hold a DSLR camera (up to 22 lbs including its own 9 lb weight) and allows for a range of shooting angles. It will fly for 15 minutes before the battery needs to be recharged. This model boasts diminished vibration, so images are crisp and clear. Like the Phantom, the controller includes an attachment for a smartphone. Price: $4750, no camera DJI PHANTOM 2 This four-rotor drone (quadcopter) has a small attached camera that takes video and still images in high definition, at 14 megapixels. The camera can be tilted remotely by the operator, and has a filter adaptor that allows UV and other filters to be attached. The drone's battery lasts up to 25 minutes, and if the drone flies out of range of the controller (about .5 mile), it will automatically trigger the "return home" function. The drone is controlled by remote, onto which a smartphone can attach to show the feed from the camera. The controls can also tighten the propellers and tilt the camera, and the feed alerts the operator if they are nearing any no-fly zones. Price: $900, includes extra battery Check out this YouTube video about the DJI Inspire One drone. Walkera QR X350 This four-rotor drone has settings such as the "return home" function mentioned above, and a "follow me" mode, that allows the UAV to be set to follow a specific person or object. The view is displayed in real time on the controller. There are various camera options, including a fisheye, which is useful for wide angle images. It can also carry a GoPro-style camera with a special add-on. The drone flies for about 25 minutes before needing to be recharged. Price: $400 UDI U818A RC Quadcopter This beginner, four-rotor drone flies for about 8 minutes, and can go up to 100 feet from the controller. The drone can flip 360 degrees, and includes a small camera that can take video and still images. There is no live feed, but the images can be downloaded later, and the operator can switch between video and photo on the controller. Price: $60

DJI Phantom 2 in flight Walkera QR X350 UDI U818A RC

DELIVERY DRONES

Taking pictures and video is not the only way drones may be able to help small businesses. There has also been much discussion lately about using drones to deliver mail. Amazon has promoted Prime Air, which is exploring the possibility of 30-minute delivery to local customers. Once the option was selected and the order placed, a drone carrying the package would simply be deployed to the customer's address. This seems to be a far-off possibility, however, since FAA regulations restrict drones flying in populated areas or out of sight of the operator. Another mail delivery option that seems slightly more feasible, though still problematic, is that in development by a company called Amp Holdings. They are working on a drone that could ride along with the mail truck, and be deployed from the street to save the extra time and fuel required for the delivery driver to maneuver their way to the house. The delivery driver would simply use a GPS device to pinpoint the drop off location, hand the package to the drone, and send it on its way. However, this still requires flying in populated areas, and if any trees are in the way, or the drone must go behind the house, it will no longer be in sight of the driver. The environmental impact of using less fuel, and the "as-the-crow-flies" speed and reduced distance the drones can manage makes drone delivery a very useful option, if the regulations can be established and safety can be ensured.

Amazon Prime Air promotional image

Your Canvas Print will be Delivered in an Hour by Our Drones!

Mail by drone may still be some years off, but if everything goes according to the hopes of science fiction fans, and the plans of some dedicated and mechanically-minded corporations, we at KeenART Media hope to start delivering small canvas and paper prints to local customers using drones by 2020. Imagine the ease and convenience of simply opening your door to a hovering mechanical delivery device! For now, though, we'll have to satisfy ourselves with custom shipping boxes and truck service! Photography drones offer a different vantage point with which many amateur and professional photographers and film-makers are eager to experiment. Though legal walls may bar the way at this point, as their popularity grows it is likely the demand for more attainable For now, companies that offer drone imaging services have the advantage, and some photographers have worked aerial photography into their business offerings and are popular with real estate companies, film directors and producers, and environmental or tourism groups. For more great images taken by drone-mounted cameras, check out our Pinterest board Drone Photography.