Unlocking the third dimension
Drones have come to stay, and that’s a fact. And thanks to them, I have discovered another way of immortalising unique moments from a different perspective.
Summary
When talking about photography, we always perceive it as a frame that reflexes whatever the lenses of the camera we are using capture, and although it doesn’t matter the point of view of the subject taking the picture, they tend to always reflect the same flat feeling, given that the photographer is always in the same plane as a walking person.
This perception of space and framing changed in my photographs early this year when I got myself a drone. As someone that has been always a fan of RC vehicles, from cars to helicopters; I’ve been playing with them since I was a kid, getting a drone was something that always had in mind since some brands released models for the regular Joe, with the difference that now it had a 4K camera attached to it and I then became able to take videos and photos from the air, with it’s own restrictions, but more on this later.
I acquired a DJI Mavic Air, a foldable drone that has the size of two smartphones pilled on top of each other, something that has helped me take it with me to a few trips as part of my gadget together with my camera and my laptop.
Soon after taking it for a couple of flights I realised that having it would revolutionise the way I take photographs of the places I go and the values that would add for me to explore the boundaries of my creativity.
Going where no one goes
It is possible to be in places in another way than walking into them. I'm talking about the fact that having a drone has enabled us to take pictures of places where we haven’t been.
As crazy as it sounds, the fact that you can take off and go in a 5km radius gives you the freedom to explore locations that, if you wanted to go and take a shot of them would have made it more complicated, or sometimes get you in danger.
A clear example of that is the previous picture, along with a vertical panorama of the water flow of the Morteratsch Glacier, in Switzerland, taken a couple of weeks ago on my trip to the Alps. Something that would have supposed to jump into a helicopter or never being able to reach it, it’s possible thanks to a quick shot on my drone.
A new perspective
Having a new dimension to play around gives us more points of view from where to immortalise scenes and moments, new tools to create memories and a different way of approach how to share the world that surrounds us.
Being able to fly and capture what the drone was seeing meant that the canvas opened a new way of reaching that right balance of the visual elements that framed in the right way will represent beauty in all its glory. More possibilities for creating impressive, abstract, detailed pieces of art.
Sometimes, drones can not only be the tool but also an element of the frame, creating compositions with its present within the capture, enabling us to add another point of distinction to the photo, such as the case of the picture below, crafted by Reuben Wu.
Exploring the limits of creativity
Having this new dimension to play with also gave me the opportunity of seeing things from a perspective more abstract that, together with the shapes that surround us and the architecture can help find details in places where by walk or car they don’t seem special to the normal eye.
However, flying over them and giving the right conditions and positions can help create visual compositions that without the help of the camera incorporated into the drone would have been impossible.
Understanding the power
Having the freedom to go fly anywhere and taking pictures of beautiful locations comes with a responsibility, you need to always respect the environment and other people, be careful with the way you treat your surroundings when taking pictures.
Some drones have in-app limitations that block you from flying on certain airspaces, in order to avoid complications with the local authorities, however, and like with everything else, there are always ways around it. This causes issues most of the time, and it’s in our power to make good use of it in order to not harm the vision has of drones and us, creatives making use of them.
Conclusions
Getting a drone has been one of the best decisions I’ve taken in the past months. Not only as a tool to enhance my creativity, but also something that enables me to document my journey.
It’s something that I recommend to those curious about the boundaries of photography and enjoy nature and travelling, but it’s crucial to understand its dangers and always make a respectful use of it.
Did you like some of the pictures in this post?
I recently opened a shop page on Society6 where you can purchase all kind of items with my artwork on it. From framed art to posters and even include it on wall clocks or even on notebooks or iPhone cases. I make a little profit from it but I would enjoy someone having my stuff hanging on his wall.
You can check my store here: https://society6.com/luigiht
Thank you!
Hope you enjoyed this post. Don’t forget to “clap” it if you liked it and follow my profile to be updated every time I post a new article. You can also follow me on Instagram where I post regular shots from my trips. See you around!
