Popular Photography - February 2015 USA
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Nature by<br />
If you want to see landscapes in a<br />
whole new light, go higher. Here’s<br />
our guide to photographing the great<br />
outdoors using a remote-controlled<br />
aerial vehicle.<br />
By Jon Cornforth<br />
JON CORNFORTH<br />
MORE THAN half a century before the<br />
airplane took flight, photographers<br />
sent their cameras skyward using<br />
kites and balloons. Shooting from the<br />
air lets you capture terrain—meandering<br />
rivers, desert rock formations,<br />
offshore reefs—that are best appreciated<br />
from above. To get that perspective<br />
today, nature photographers<br />
are increasingly turning to remotely<br />
controlled unmanned aerial vehicles<br />
(UAVs)—otherwise known as drones.<br />
In just the past two years, drone<br />
technology has evolved from the<br />
DIY projects of fringe hobbyists to<br />
sophisticated<br />
products anyone<br />
can buy. The<br />
freedom of flying your<br />
own drone is exhilarating,<br />
and the ability to<br />
use it to lift a camera<br />
into the air opens up<br />
new creative opportunities.<br />
Journalists use drones to cover<br />
news, real estate photographers use<br />
them to shoot properties, and even<br />
wedding photographers use them<br />
to cover events. Their most exciting<br />
application? Nature photography.<br />
FLY THIS<br />
DJI Phantom 2<br />
Vision+ v3.0<br />
($1,299, street)<br />
This quadcopter is an<br />
excellent entry-level drone.<br />
Its built-in camera records HD video at<br />
1080p/30 fps and 720p/60 fps, plus<br />
it shoots still images at 14 megapixels.<br />
With its single 3S 5200mAh LiPo battery,<br />
you should be able to stay aloft for<br />
20 minutes or more.<br />
44 POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY FEBRUARY <strong>2015</strong>
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