Drone Photography and Video Masterclass

Drones are changing the way we interact with the world, and—with one of their key applications being aerial photography—the way we look at it. Stills and videos that once required an aircraft charter are now being shot with a drone carried in a backpack. Over 1.5 million posts on Instagram are tagged with #drone. This book takes the view that successful drone photography is all about the shot, not the drone. So, while the reader is equipped with an essential introduction to drone technology, flying skills, safety measures, and legal requirements, author Fergus Kennedy demonstrates how the skills of planning, composition, lighting, focus, and exposure remain essential to capturing great images. He shows how to transfer camera tools and technique from ground to air to achieve outstanding overhead, panoramic, and 360º shots; and how to master gimbal and other skills to bring depth and movement to video tracking shots. Applications from 3D mapping and modeling to landscape and travel photography are covered, demonstrating the range of markets and creative possibilities available to the professional drone photographer. This book is an essential guide to elevating the art of your photography to dizzying new heights.

Fergus Kennedy is a marine biologist, photographer, and filmmaker, and an experienced multi-rotor pilot and camera operator. Through his company, Skylark Aerial Imaging, he provides aerial video, still photography, and 3D modeling services to clients including the BBC, ABC Television, Canon Europe, Love Productions, WWF, and the Royal Navy. He has worked extensively in surveys and environmental mapping projects, and operates a small fleet of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).