Phoenix, AZ—Okay, I have to
confess that my two camera drones have brought out the child in me! I put one under my own tree last Christmas. I’m middle-aged but have become hopelessly
hooked on these incredible things. I now own a DJI Phantom 2 and a Blade 350QX quad-copters that use those great GoPro cameras.
For some unknown reason these
multi-rotor camera drones have not caught the affection of women like they have
men. I don’t understand this since women
are generally more creative then men. I
hope this changes because they have no clue what they’re missing.
The popularity of the
multi-rotor drones is exploding especially with photographers. They allow limitless perspectives of the
subject mater sought to make or capture breathtaking images.
They have starter drones on
the substantially less-expensive end such as the Blade 200-QX that can help
your child master the very important skills in controlling, operating and
understanding this somewhat new technology.
To be a successful camera
drone owner & operator there are four things that
must be part of your learning curve.
First is learning the science
and piloting of the device itself. Next
is the understanding of cameras and video photography. After that, learning how to edit the video so
that it is watchable becomes very important.
Last but not least is story telling or writing ability, which is no
small part of this process.
The best way to describe this
is to compare this process to making a TV news story or a blockbuster movie. If you’re not motivated, creative and
competitive don’t bother with camera drones.
There’s really no fun in
using the camera drones if you can’t share your films with your friends and the
world. Nobody will want to watch your
videos unless they have that special sizzle.
Drone photography has opened
a new world that often can’t even be captured safely with conventional
helicopters or fixed wing aircraft.
The safety record of the
camera drones is still unblemished but for a few careless owner/operators that
have put their hand or fingers into the moving propellers. For these people putting Band-Aids in their
flight box may be a good idea.
Crashes into trees, buildings
or other fixed objects are inevitable but most of the time the drone survives
with little or no damage. A broken
propeller or two are easily replaced.
A pretty nice consumer drone
with camera will cost between $1,200 and $3,000 but is worth every penny.
The lucrative camera drone
manufacturing industry is becoming fiercely competitive meaning the quality
improves as the prices are dropping.
An accomplished camera/drone
operator can expect to see real career possibilities in many areas of
business. Filmmaking, TV news,
Surveying and Mapping businesses will all need drone/camera operators.
Back to the idea of giving
one of these gee wiz gizmos to you kid.
A starter drone may be the best idea.
If your child is really motivated, responsible and capable of handing
the learning curve the real deal camera drone might just become the gift of a
lifetime.
Anyone getting a drone should
learn to fly with an already accomplished drone operator. Trying to learn alone is a terrible
idea. There are RC or remote control
flying fields everywhere and there are folks there, flying that are only too
willing to teach you some basics.
Camera drone schools are also
beginning to surface and that’s yet another professional opportunity.
The drones are here to stay
simply because they are both needed and wanted.
Now I want Santa Claus to put an advanced professional drone under my
own tree this year!
My Number One Drone:
Sunset and PCH L.A. video
My Number One Drone:
Westlake Villiage, CA:
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