Drone Cinematography

We had the honor of shooting with actor and director, William H. Macy on his recent stopover in St Louis for the filming of The Layover.

It was an early crew call at 5am to arrive, setup and work with Balloons over the Rainbow

They tethered a balloon for the actors and the shot with the skyline of St Louis as seen from the Gateway Geyser.

We were also fortunate to work with Canadian cinematographer, Mark Irwin.

The remaining cast and crew was a joy to create with, we truly experienced a great shoot.
Our firm, St Louis Video Production, received a credit on IMBD as well.

Do you want to create stunning aerial shots with impressive cinematic visuals? Drone cinematography can revolutionize the way you make films.

In this article, we’ll explore the basics of using a drone for film-making and how to get started. With the right equipment and techniques, you can create incredible results in no time. So let’s dive in!

Introduction to Drone Cinematography

Drone cinematography has revolutionized the way filmmakers are creating stunning aerial images. Whether you are an experienced filmmaker or a beginner, you can find ways to take advantage of this exciting technology. A drone can provide an array of angles for stunning footage that would otherwise be impossible to capture. In this guide, we will explain what drones are and how filmmakers can use them to create amazing aerial footage.

To begin with, it’s important to understand what drones are and what they do. Drones are essentially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for either military or civilian use and equipped with sensors, cameras, GPS navigation systems and autopilots capable of flying autonomously according to programmed flight paths or pre-determined scenarios. They come in various shapes and sizes and have the ability to autonomously fly at altitudes ranging from a few feet off the ground up to several thousand feet while recording stunning 4K footage in multiple frame rates.

Once you have a basic understanding of drones, there are several ways in which they can help filmmakers create amazing content such as cinematic shots that require height or motion tracking — capturing objects in motion from specific angles — as well as tracking frames frequently used during live events like concerts or sports games. Additionally, now that regulations have become more relaxed in certain countries like the US allows for increased creativity when using drones for film-making purposes — including filming remote locations with extreme accuracy using lower budgets compared to traditional aircrafts.

By combining the use of UAVs with other industry standard equipment such as steady cameras, sliders and cranes , filmmakers can now rely on novel techniques such as steadycam rigging on drones with boards/cradles/gyros/stabilizers attached onto them — allowing for smoother dynamic shots regardless of aerial surface environments and even flight activities avoiding common obstacles such as trees/climbing structures etc., producing more stable stabilized shots over terrain obstacles than previously possible before drone technology advancements.

Benefits of Using a Drone for Film Making

Using drones for film making can bring a number of benefits to the production process. Drone cinematography allows filmmakers to capture high-quality footage from dynamic perspectives and in areas where traditional filmmaking equipment may not be able to reach.

Drone footage has rapidly become a key component of creating stunning aerial shots and complex fly-over scenes. At the same time, professional drone technology offers stability, maneuverability and speed that are absolutely essential in order to capture unique angles while avoiding pesky shutter shake or motion blur.

Not only do drones provide creative filmmaking possibilities but they also offer convenience and cost savings. As the technology advances, professional drones have become lighter and easier to operate, allowing smaller crews with fewer people on set. This helps filmmakers save time, money and resources compared to traditional film making techniques.

Finally, drone technology is transforming the way editors work with clips by providing keyframe auto stabilization capabilities that minimize unwanted movement within frames during editing processes. This makes it possible to attain smoother video transitions within a given timeline without having to invest additional time on post-production correction tasks or manual stabilization techniques.

Understanding Drone Camera Settings

Whether you’re shooting video on a small consumer drone or a professional film-grade UAV, mastering the settings on your camera will be crucial to getting the best possible shots. Taking some time to learn how each of these components of the camera work can make all the difference in capturing stunning footage with a drone camera.

Exposure: Adjusting exposure is one of the most important settings for controlling how light and dark your footage will be. Too much light can result in blown-out highlights, while an underexposure can leave your shots too dark. The shutter speed and aperture are two of the most important settings that control exposure on drone cameras when taking photos and shooting videos.

ISO: The ISO setting directly impacts image noise and graininess added to a digital image as it increases, resulting in lower image quality at higher ISO values. On many drones, including consumer UAVs, ISO is often set automatically by default, but manual adjustments can provide valuable flexibility depending on lighting conditions and other factors.

Shutter Speed: Commonly referred to as “shutter speed” or simply “shutter” this aspect of drone camera settings allows you to adjust the amount of time that each frame will be exposed for when shooting videos. In DJI drones this is measured in numbers like 1/120th (faster) up to 1/30th (slower) which affects how focused or blurry motion appears, as well as how bright or dim your images become.

Aperture: The aperture size on a lens changes how much light passes through into the sensor at any given point in time and affects depth-of-field; larger f/number values mean less light passing through meaning brighter scenes may require more light or increasing ISO values instead of wide open aperture settings. Most high-end drones come equipped with lenses that have manually adjustable apertures allowing filmmakers greater control over the look they’re going for including blurred backgrounds filled with dreamy bokeh effects when used creatively with shallow depths-of-field instead of wide open ‘landscape’ photography looks popular amongst entry level users who don’t know better yet!

Pre-Production Tips for Drone Cinematography

Using drones for films can be a great way to capture stunning aerial shots and footage. As with any type of cinematic production, taking time to plan your drone shoots during pre-production is key. Read on for tips and considerations to remember when exploring this type of cinematography.

Safety: The first thing to consider is the utmost safety for yourself and the people surrounding you. Make sure you are aware of all applicable laws and regulations, that you have permission from authorities if necessary, and that you have flown a test flight before each shoot. Double check that all parts of your drone are in good condition, secure all propellers, update the software regularly on both the drone and control device, mark no-fly zones on maps or app surfaces, follow any extra insurance requirements set by the film community, regulations or licensing bodies.

Shot Planning: Determine what type of angles you will want to capture before heading out into the field—medium close up reveals? Even wider establishing shots? From which direction does your most important action appear? How do these shots link together? If visualizing these moments beforehand can help when it comes time to execute them in real life.

Equipment Checklist: Once you’ve determined what types of shots will work best for your film or project make sure you come prepared with appropriate gear! Bring along multiple batteries so that each one can charge while other is being used; different lens attachments like wide angle lenses; ND filters; fast storage cards; enough props so that one doesn’t break midflight; spare propellers; gimbal tools if necessary as well as any accessories needed such as cables or controllers. Pack extra chargers too! In addition to checklists go over preflight procedures before every launch including inspections of radio frequencies around your area—cross reference this list before flying!

Post Processing: Last but not least – keep in mind post-processed color correction when selecting lenses and camera options create more dynamic footage during filming by using higher shutter speeds (up to 1/2-1/1000th) and rotating positions when executing shots Note where backups will be stored during editing process so original footage is not lost knowledge how various techniques differ between flying single linevofsite (LOS) vs multirotor quadcopters Shooting Modes such as Tripod Mode can help smooth out jittery movements from use wide dynamic range (WDR).

Drone Flying Techniques for Cinematic Shots

Using a drone for cinematography can create stunning and unique visuals. Whether you’re shooting a small indie film in your backyard or a high budget Hollywood feature, you’ll need to master the basics of drone flying technique to achieve the best possible results. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your shoot:

-Fly as slow as possible while maintaining control of the drone. This will make sure that you capture every detail in beautiful smooth shots.

-Choose a shooting altitude that creates depth and plenty of subject matter frame within frame. Don’t be afraid to fly close for up-close dramatic shots, or high for vast aerial views.

-Be aware of all regulations regarding flying drones so that you abide by local laws and don’t risk your safety or those around you whether in practice runs or live shoots.

-Practice using different settings on the controller so that your shots are consistent between takes and capture all elements with a focused attention to detail – from lighting to texture, color, sound and more – just as if it were from ground level cinematography.

-Don’t be afraid to experiment with different camera angles as this can create an unexpected atmospheric mood when combined with unique locations and unique perspectives it has never been easier to express ideas visually with technology free creativity!

Lastly calibrate drones prior each use and make sure batteries are adequately charged – this will help reduce any unnecessary risk associated with flying drones near other people, objects, or animals during filming sessions!

Editing Drone Footage for Film Making

Editing drone footage for film making requires attention to detail and creative ideas. Professional filmmakers often use advanced editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, or Avid Media Composer to create the perfect edits for their projects. These applications allow for a variety of options to fine-tune the look of a shot and can also provide an effective workflow for film production.

When editing with drone footage, filmmakers need to consider different factors such as lighting, framing, and camera movement. By using keyframing techniques, filmmakers can make subtle changes in their shot that can drastically improve the cinematic visuals of their video compositions. Additionally by cropping or rotating shots, color correcting exposure levels or adding special effects you can take an ordinary scene and turn it into something extraordinary!

When shooting with drones there are usually certain limitations on how far you can fly your drone and how long it is able to remain airborne. Experienced directors must use creative methods such as changing angles rapidly or transitioning quickly between shots in order to tell stories through short snippets of aerial footage. It is also important to maintain continuity while editing so that transitions make sense and the film feels like one cohesive piece rather than a shoddily pieced together effort.

By taking the time to learn how to master powerful editing software programs like Adobe Premiere Pro and understanding the fundamentals of aerial filmmaking with drones you will be able to create mesmerizing videography that could impress even professional videographers!

Post-Production Tips for Drone Cinematography

The post-production phase of a video project is often overlooked in the eagerness to finish a job on time, but careful attention here can mean the difference between just average media and something special. With drone cinematography, it’s especially important to make sure that your shots are taken with accuracy, detail and fluidity. Smooth transitions between shots will make for a more visually appealing end product, so when you’re done filming your footage it’s time to get into post-production for some finesse.

Here some suggestions for effective post-production of drone cinematography:

• Carefully review the footage to check for quality and clarity. Often times the brightness and overall vibrancy of a scene can be overly intense, so consider adjusting the shadow/highlight ratio or saturation levels as needed. Additionally, check all aerial shots carefully; any jittery movements or blurry edges should be edited out before proceeding further.
• Organize your clips into folders according to theme or shot location. This will help keep track of which shots work best together and where any transitions should occur during editing.
• Consult a professional color grading artist if you want extra “pop” in certain scenes (commonly interior daylight locations). Keeping colors vibrant yet believable is key to maintaining realism in drone cinematography which adds to its impact when viewed on screen.
• When adding sound effects into your film (especially with aerial shots), it is best practice to first add an atmospheric ambient layer that complements the location, then layer 2–3 sound effects over top such as vehicles driving past or footsteps walking by etc… Remember that these sounds should accurately reflect what viewers would expect from that environment – less is usually better here!

Final Thoughts on Drone Cinematography

In conclusion, drone cinematography offers captivating visuals that offer a whole new perspective. Filmmakers are presented with unlimited possibilities in how they compose their shots, creating images and moving pictures that were unfathomable years ago.

However, to create the best possible results when filming with drones, filmmakers must remember to operate with full safety precautions and a comprehensive understanding of the technology. Preparing for every single shoot and being aware of the ever-changing legal regulations is essential before flying any drone.

As technological advancements allow drones to become more user friendly and offer more advanced capabilities, more filmmakers have introduced drones into their cinematic toolbox. Cinematographers have discovered unique ways to apply the technology to their projects; the wide angle lens that comes with many drones has allowed aerial shots once thought extraordinary, now available everyday. Drone videography is no longer just a wonderful piece of equipment; it has now become an invaluable part of any filmmaker’s artistry.

Rob Haller
314-604-6544
stlouisaerialvideo@gmail.com