5 Killer Drone Shots and How To Pull Them Off

Story & Hart's Academy of Storytellers just put out this wickedly informative video that not only highlights five great drone shot techniques but also breaks down their uses and how to actually achieve them.

1) The Fly-by: this action shot is used for story transitions and quick cuts. You achieve this shot by typically using a pan or tilt integrated into the fly-by while you fly over or to the side of your subject. Remember to set your framing before your subject appears in frame and coordinate the movement of your gimbal in relation to the motion of the drone.

2) The Reveal: is great for starting off a video or segment as it sets the tone for the location or subject matter. It's achieved by flying the drone low to the ground with the camera pointing down, tilting up as it approaches the subject. 

3) The Chase: good for a closing shot and for action punches. This highly coordinated, and some what dangerous shot is achieved through practice and timing with your DP.

4) The High Pan: is for showcasing landscapes and proximity from the subject to it's surroundings. Find a location close to your target and then pan a full 360 degrees at a slow even pace to gauge  your favorite portion of the view. Then once locked in, pan the shot from right to left and then left to right, multiple time, to ensure adequate coverage.

5) The Explorer: is great to perform after you already got a couple of your intended shots and are looking for just a little bit extra. Exploring your area can help you find new options and discover hidden treasure. To get the most of this shot be attentive to your surrounding and have a good DP.

The video goes into much greater detail on how to do these correctly and also offers some helpful tips for all you drone operators out there. For more video tutorials on drones, head on over to Academy of Storytellers and also check out some of Fstoppers' previous post.

The Best Drone Photography of 2015 (so far) | Fstoppers

24 Ways To Crash A Drone | Fstoppers

Are Drones The New Wedding Photographers? | Fstoppers

This ‘$250,000 Drone’ Footage Will Probably Be The Best Video You’ll See All Day | Fstoppers

Getting Started With Camera Drones: How One Small Rig Can Add So Much Production Value | Fstoppers

via [SLRLounge]

Let's stare at each other. Follow me (@KennTam) on Periscope for behind-the-scenes moments, shenanigans or just to share with your industry peers.

 

Kenn Tam's picture

Been holding this damn camera in my hand since 1991.
Toronto / New York City

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1 Comment

I like #5 as standard practice. Get the most of your gear while you're on set. I can't tell you how many times I've been in editing and wished I had one or two more clips to gel everything together.