Elevated Perspectives: Exploring Creative Drone Photography

Since the dawn of flight, aerial photography has fascinated a global audience, providing elevated perspectives on subjects previously only seen at ground level. Now the age of the drone has made it possible for all photographers to create aerial images from this same ground level. The recently expanded level of interest in using drones for photography has led to a great deal of excitement but also misinformation and misunderstanding, as well as a need to learn the fundamentals of this new creative opportunity and use drones responsively. In this new online program led by Maine-based landscape photographer Rick Berk, you learn the basic principles of the ever-changing world of drone photography and then move into more advanced techniques and post-processing skills. Rick covers the equipment, the legalities, and the essential skills and techniques needed to create captivating images using drones.

In the opening session, Rick discusses the different types of drones suitable for photography and reviews their features, capabilities, and suitability for various image-making scenarios. He also covers the legal use of drones, ensuring you understand the regulations and safety guidelines in order to fly your drone responsibly and legally. Rick then covers the basics of flying a drone and making still images and video.

In the second session, Rick explores the creative aspect of photographing with drones from learning how to compose conventional landscapes, leveraging the unique perspective drones offer to capture vistas, mountains, and seascapes, and the fine art of capturing abstract landscapes from above – unlocking the potential to transform ordinary scenes into captivating works of art through creative framing and composition techniques. He then focuses on the technical aspects of working with files from drones and best practices for processing and editing aerial images to enhance their impact and bring out the full potential of your images. From basic adjustments to advanced editing techniques such as panoramic stitching, you gain the skills needed to elevate your drone photography to the next level.

Whether you are a beginner looking to venture into the world of aerial photography or an experienced drone pilot seeking to refine your aerial photography skills, this workshop offers invaluable insights and practical knowledge to help you develop your creative photography using drones.