Learning The Basics Of Drone Videography

The advancements in modern technology paved the way for drone videography, which is the process of capturing footage through the use of UAVs, or unmanned aerial vehicles. The footage captured is often used for a wide variety of purposes, ranging anywhere from space explorations, military operations, or even package deliveries. Depending on the purpose it is used for, the device can be as large as an aircraft, or as small as your hand.

Drones are now available all over the globe. In fact, countries with a spectacular backdrop and amazing views such as the United Arab Emirates, or UAE, heavily rely on these devices as part of their marketing strategies in different industries. Over the recent couple of years, there emerged drone companies in UAE which use state-of-the-art drones and camera technology to deliver studio-standard and high-quality promotional content. The drones are often operated by an expert and licensed operators, but if you are keen on flying a drone yourself to capture incredible footage, read on below to know about the basics of drone videography.

The art of flying

In order to be able to capture exquisite videos, you need to first master the art of flying a drone. Explore the controls of your device, but typically, you will be presented with four joystick movements, namely the thrust, yaw, pitch, and roll. Practice the basics in flying, such as taking off and hovering at eye level, as well as yawing like a clock or flying in a square or circle. Once you feel comfortable with the basic maneuvers, move forward by practicing basic aerial drone photography shots such as panning, the dronie, the orbit, or even a bird’s eye view shot.

Study on the principles of filmmaking

In filmmaking, embracing simplicity is the key since the real beauty of your footage comes from techniques such as not revealing your subject in the first frame or strategically pointing your camera towards or away from the sun. Aside from this, keep in mind that you also need to plan for your flight shots. This includes whether you need regulatory approval or aerial clearance to fly your drone over the area, as well as ensuring that you have a backup plan in case of unfavorable weather conditions.

Learn post-production editing

There are several concepts that you need to learn in terms of post-production editing, such as using keywords, leveraging favorites, as well as taking advantage of shortcuts. More importantly, you need to learn certain techniques such as the use of speed ramps, keyframing, as well as zooming or repositioning your shots. As much as possible, you can explore video editing software with limitless features to allow you to play around with your craft.

Master the art of flying a drone to be able to capture high-quality footage. Once you are comfortable with flying your drone, make sure that you have a good insight on the principle of filmmaking. In addition to this, you also need to learn post-production editing skills to be able to come up with high-quality videos.