2022 Tips for Better Aerial Photography in Pittsburgh
Written By: Shane Clark on March 21, 2022
If you have recently purchased a commercial drone for aerial photography in Pittsburgh, be sure to check the requirements of flying small UAVs. You will need to obtain a license to fly sUAVs and know the local regulations regarding where you can fly and take photos. When you are all set with the local requirements, check out the following tips for improving your aerial photography.
Before You Buy a Drone for Aerial Photography…
If you are still in the planning phase, there are some things you also have to know before buying a drone that takes good photos.
The most critical factor is image quality.
If you’re familiar with cameras, you’ll know that the quality of an image is directly related to the quality of the sensor. The same holds for drones used for aerial photography. Consumer drones like the new Mavic 2 Pro and professional photography drones like the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 use a 1-inch sensor as the new gold standard. It has a Zenmuse X5 camera with a 4-inch CMOS sensor in the most powerful professional photography drone, the Inspire 2. Unless you’re primarily shooting at night, you don’t need to be concerned about a larger CMOS sensor.
Is a 4K video necessary for your project?
Depending on the model, drones’ video resolutions can range from low-quality HD to 4K. However, a 1080p recording is sufficient if all you intend to do with your video is apply filters for social channels.
However, if you’re a vlogger or aspiring filmmaker, you’d be wise to shoot in 4K. Cropping, rotating and scaling all reduce the resolution of video footage during editing. This is especially true with 1080p source materials. In addition, 4K video allows you to play around with a lot more pixels. More pixels mean more leeway for postproduction.
Drone specifications may also include information on frames per second (fps). A camera’s fps determines how many unique images it can capture in a second. For example, a video shot at 24fps to 30fps will generally be called “smooth.” However, 60fps may be better for specific effects like slow-motion video.
What are file formats most suitable for your projects?
Many photographers edit their images, but this is not a universal practice. With RAW/DNG photos, drone photographers have a wide range of post-production options. In RAW/DNG format, the camera’s sensor will record all the information it receives. For nighttime shoots, it’s a godsend. In addition, aerial photographers have more options thanks to RAW/DNG formats.
How stable is the drone in the air?
Image quality necessitates rock-solid hovering. It’s impossible to get clear images if the drone can’t stay in one place. A sophisticated flight control system and onboard sensors are necessary for stable hovering. According to many pilots, DJI drones (among other top brands) are the best for aerial photography.
Consider investing in a photography drone with a gimbal mount.
Stable videography necessitates the use of a gimbal. Unfortunately, some low-cost camera drones don’t come with gimbals at all. As a result, it’s impossible to film without a gimbal.
To avoid this, always choose a camera drone with a gimbal attached. The DJI Phantom series was the first to feature a three-axis gimbal on a consumer-level drone. It also uses a tiny 3-axis gimbal designed for smaller drones, which has already proven an evolutionary benchmark in mounted gimbal technology in DJI’s Mavic 2.
Flight time is not a pressing issue.
Unfortunately, the average flight time of a photography drone is only about 30 minutes. This is a problem that has yet to be solved by the drone industry. Few drones can fly for more than 20 minutes. Therefore, a longer flight time on a drone is unquestionably preferable.
For the most passionate aerial photographers, SOP means bringing a minimum of two additional batteries. Switching out batteries is easy, and you can even charge these using aftermarket car battery chargers for drone batteries.
…And Now for the Strategy
Regularly check out UAV forecasts
Regularly checking UAV forecasts ensures the safety of the drone pilot, your aircraft, and everyone else. But, regardless of the weather, you are still tasked with safeguarding nearby structures and people, too.
You should consult the UAV forecast before heading out with your drone for a photoshoot. This forecast provides critical information for everyone involved. In addition to providing information on restricted areas, it also includes information on the current weather and the number of GPS satellites within a specific location, among other things.
Before heading out, always check the forecast to see how the weather will affect your shoots. Even light rain can ruin a supposedly good day of shooting aerial photos.
RAW is the best format for taking pictures.
Photographing in RAW format allows you to do more with your images after the fact. This method will enable you to obtain the sensor’s raw, lossless image data. More brightness levels can be preserved, allowing for greater exposure and color adjustments without causing the photo to look unnatural—or worse, posterized, due to color banding common in low-resolution JPEG images.
These issues arise from increased detail, resolution, and the nature of image data stored.
While many high-end drones already come with onboard cameras that support RAW format for images, ensure that you get a RAW-capable drone if you have a modular drone. Check the specs of the drone before clicking “buy now.”
Compose with the thirds grid overlay.
The core aspect of a good aerial image is its composition. It establishes the composition of the image, including the balance of negative and positive space and the harmony of the colors. When you’re using a camera that has a few hours of battery life, you don’t have to worry about repeatedly trying to the perfect composition. Drones, on the other hand, do not afford you this luxury. If you’re trying to capture a specific scene or subject, getting it right the first time is critical. Commercial drones have an average flight time of less than half an hour.
Using the thirds grid overlay will help create balanced and beautiful aerial photos. Drone camera apps already come with this preset shooting mode. The grid truly helps users much better frame their pictures. Proper framing produces much better compositions. Use an overlay grid if you have the option to do so, as this will help correct your composition the first time.
Use a lower ISO setting.
At high ISO settings, drone cameras typically have smaller sensors, which are less effective. Even at ISO 100, images taken with the Phantom 3 are marred by excessive grain and noise, more so at higher ISO settings. Unless you’re photographing at night, you won’t need to use high ISO settings when using a drone for photography.
Keep your ISO as low as possible, which means adjusting your camera’s settings manually to maintain a properly exposed image. Maintain a low ISO when shooting in windy and shady conditions. You can do this by opening your aperture or slowing down your shutter speed to 1/6th of a second.
Summary:
Investing in a suitable drone with a powerful camera is the first step in taking great photos. Your equipment matters since your camera will be high up in the air. If you have trouble taking great aerial photography and have an upcoming event in Pittsburgh, you can always email Shane for help with aerial photos.
