For about a year now I have been shooting with my DJI Phantom 3 and it has really been an eye opener for me. I have shot people, cars, landscapes, real estate, and so much more. Learning how to fly and shoot from an aerial perspective was probably the harder part of things, which is why I needed a place I could go to fly freely. Luckily, I went to school at Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey which is only about a mile away from the beach.
My entire senior year of college, I would take my drone out in the morning, day or even dusk just to get used to flying and taking photo and video on it. I would film all the construction that has been going on, film the surfers and other things that would happen out on the beach. This place was my comfort zone, I learned so much about my drone and how to fly and shoot from a new aerial perspective that if it weren’t for the beach, I wouldn’t be able to fly the way I do today.
I live here during the off season so there aren't many people around, which makes it easier for me to go out and fly. Flying in a public place always draws a lot of attention and there is an 85% chance someone will come up to you and ask you a question or questions about your drone (happens almost every time). Throughout the past year, I realized this beach is the same again and again aside from a few little things day to day. Over the course of the past year and a half, I have really learned how to shoot with my drone and have started to create some more compelling imagery than when I first started. At first it was more about just capturing something from the height I normally couldn’t achieve. However, as I got more and more into it I realized I really liked the straight-down perspective; it was pretty much a view from Google maps but in real-time. This was something I held on to and started to work with and I would capture patterns and interesting textures in natures landscapes.
During my time living near the shore, I have captured a few images I really like. I have to say that having the freedom to fly and not worry about trees or houses was a very helpful thing because there was nothing to crash into to or hit. The only problem I really ever faced was interference or distance issues which are both things that I learned could be easily avoided an now are. Also, if I fly too far over the water and lose the drone, I more than likely wont get it back.
Having a “comfort zone” or spot to practice flying when it comes to drones was a huge help for me to learn what I was doing and be able to trust myself in real world situations. I was able to learn how to use my drone while having fun taking photos and video with it and capture photos that I could add to my portfolio. When it comes to working with my drone now, I know that I am familiar enough with it to have the confidence to fly around houses, buildings and cars safely. A safe place/comfort zone isn’t an excuse to be comfortable flying, but more of a place to work on improving your skills and getting ready for work that is to come in the future.
