Unwanted Guest

[JimFox]

As I mentioned in another post while I was shooting Saturday evening at Little Corona in Corona Del Mar California, there was this guy flying his drone right in front of me for most of the duration of the sunset. Besides the constant buzzing and the occasional flying the drone within 10 feet of my head I can just clone it out of most of my shots easy enough I guess. The biggest thing was the noise and the darting back and forth with it that really took away from the feeling of seeing a great sunset.

I wonder what that guy would feel like if I sat in the row in front of him at the movie theater and during the climax of the movie for 15 minutes I kept jumping up and waving my hands and shouting out screaming? I would think that might have taken away from his enjoyment of the movie just a little bit.

Anyway, I left the drone in this particular shot because I did want to capture that moment, I will probably end up cloning it out later.

Jim

 

[Ben Egbert]

I suspect that photographers who have added a drone to their gear will respect other photographers, it will be the people who start off with a drone and have never gone through the experience we all have with finding a place and trying to get some isolation.

 

[Timmeh]

First off, I like this image more than the pelican image from yesterday. The sky color is more even and the water is nice.

Now rant (feel free to ignore):

I still don't understand the draw of drone photography other than the novelty of it. You get a new perspective, but it's a new perspective that is completely separated from most human experience. For me, the draw of photography is about showing the interesting from a vantage that can be related to. There's a person who takes images of the Sierra from his plane at sunrises and sunsets, and while they have nice light, they don't have any impact for me. Viewed as a series these images have an out of body experience. For some reason, enhanced reality like macro deep night sky photography don't have the same effect on me. I think in these cases I looked, but didn't see.

Like you mentioned, the noise is a sticking point for me. Some photographers get grumpy that quiet locations have been developing crowds where they used to have peace. I can understand that, but as long as proper etiquette is observed and no one is busy trampling sensitive areas that's just a natural conclusion of the internet and people being interested in nature. However, even if people are polite with the drones location, the noise murders peace, and non-National Parks have been getting worse and worse. The last two sunrises I have been at in the Alabama Hills have had at least one drone cutting through all of the natural peaceful sounds and quiet.

I bought a remote control mini helicopter to fly around my apartment for fun awhile ago, and one of my cats absolutely despises it. After a little while she caught it and broke one of the propellers. Even though it hasn't flown in more than a year she will see it just sitting on the floor and hit it out of hatred. I think I'm with her.

 

[AlanLichty]

More than once I have encountered folks who go out of their way to disrupt your photo session for no obvious reason but it is quite clear they are doing so as an intentional act. This certainly sounds like such a scenario since the owner buzzed you and hovered out in your scene more than once. The fact that this individual used a drone to do so is perhaps only secondary but is yet another vector for disruption.

An unfortunate twist for your sunset session.

 

[JimFox]

I suspect that photographers who have added a drone to their gear will respect other photographers, it will be the people who start off with a drone and have never gone through the experience we all have with finding a place and trying to get some isolation.

Besides the drone, how did you like this one though Ben?

 

[JimFox]

First off, I like this image more than the pelican image from yesterday. The sky color is more even and the water is nice.

Now rant (feel free to ignore):

I still don't understand the draw of drone photography other than the novelty of it. You get a new perspective, but it's a new perspective that is completely separated from most human experience. For me, the draw of photography is about showing the interesting from a vantage that can be related to. There's a person who takes images of the Sierra from his plane at sunrises and sunsets, and while they have nice light, they don't have any impact for me. Viewed as a series these images have an out of body experience. For some reason, enhanced reality like macro deep night sky photography don't have the same effect on me. I think in these cases I looked, but didn't see.

Like you mentioned, the noise is a sticking point for me. Some photographers get grumpy that quiet locations have been developing crowds where they used to have peace. I can understand that, but as long as proper etiquette is observed and no one is busy trampling sensitive areas that's just a natural conclusion of the internet and people being interested in nature. However, even if people are polite with the drones location, the noise murders peace, and non-National Parks have been getting worse and worse. The last two sunrises I have been at in the Alabama Hills have had at least one drone cutting through all of the natural peaceful sounds and quiet.

I bought a remote control mini helicopter to fly around my apartment for fun awhile ago, and one of my cats absolutely despises it. After a little while she caught it and broke one of the propellers. Even though it hasn't flown in more than a year she will see it just sitting on the floor and hit it out of hatred. I think I'm with her.

Thanks so much Tim! I am glad you liked this one.

I used to be of the same mindset as you Tim. Perhaps because I have seen all of the awesome drone images that Jim Dockery has posted, I can at least enjoy the drone images now.

Personally, I don't see myself with a drone and taking photos. I have enough on my plate to just enjoy taking my photos from the ground. But it's great to see guys like Jim Dockery and Sunny offering what I would have thought of before as from an airplane view. And that's what theirs remind me of. I almost picture myself sitting in a small Cessna when I have viewed Jim's video's.

To buzz and get in other peoples face with a drone, that to me is just being mean and rude. I am glad that the ethics our drone operators here at FocalWorld have are not to be a pain or nucense (sp), to others.

As to the helicopter. It's funny, 40 years ago when I was in the army, a friend of mine had a remote controlled gas powered helicopter. And it was so cool when it was finally able to fly. I had always wanted one, but never got one. So I have seen these smaller ones today and had the thought of getting one because of that, but still haven't. So to hear your story is a funny one indeed. And I am sure on Saturday night, the look on my face probably matched the look on your cats face...

 

[Alisa]

This is a beautiful image! Now just clone out the annoyance... lol I think most of us can relate to the drones being super annoying.

 

[Jim Dockery]

That pilot was a jerk, esp. with the close buzzing.

As a drone pilot, and long time hiker/climber/photographer, I'm very glad drones have been outlawed in national parks and wilderness areas. We need quiet places to get as far away from modern annoyances as possible and hiking the back-country in such places we shouldn't have to be annoyed by the buzz of drones (I dislike the noise too). I'm afraid with the price and ease of flying these latest generation drones though Tim's rants are a real concern.

Even in legal areas, like the beach Jim was shooting, drone pilots should take common courtesy into account when flying. Of course we all know that perfect world doesn't exist - there are many self-centered people who will: play their music loud, build fires where the smoke blows in your tent, crap right next to the trail or campsites and leave their TP hanging in the bushes, smoke down wind and toss their butts on the ground, or just sit 10 feet away at a beautiful viewpoint and have a loud inane conversation, all of which I've dealt with (normally by moving away if possible). I would limit my flying in such a situation, but so far I just get far away from other people when I fly. The one time I was on a peak with a couple other people I asked if they minded my flying and they were actually very interested to observe. With my drone once it's a few hundred feet away the buzz is very mild, and much further you wouldn't notice it.

 

[Jeffrey]

Sad that drones have become an annoyance for some folks. It could be avoided if those operators were aware and courteous. I'm with Jim on this. My aircraft is registered with the FAA and I carry a copy of regulations part 107 with me if I encounter any legal situations. I am not with Tim on this. His thinking is fine for him but I find it creatively restrictive. Let's assume for now that my activities are bothering no one or I am very remote and alone. Having the ability to place the camera in the air opens up tremendous new creative opportunities for me. We all have become so used to the 'standard' viewpoint of being around 5 or 6 feet off the ground that we don't even think of that at all. Same with viewers of our images. So often my assessment of a scene suggests that I want to have a tripod that is 20 or 50 feet tall. Up to now that's been only a dream. I've been hanging out at PhantomPilots.com, a community of drone pilots that includes some very experienced folks. I've learned so much there including etiquette and responsibility. I am still so new to this and hope to soon be at locations where I can really 'soar' with excitement. Be sure to check our Sunny's latest posts from Monument Valley. I find them exciting and inspirational.

 

[Ken Rennie]

First off, I like this image more than the pelican image from yesterday. The sky color is more even and the water is nice.

Now rant (feel free to ignore):

I still don't understand the draw of drone photography other than the novelty of it. You get a new perspective, but it's a new perspective that is completely separated from most human experience. For me, the draw of photography is about showing the interesting from a vantage that can be related to. There's a person who takes images of the Sierra from his plane at sunrises and sunsets, and while they have nice light, they don't have any impact for me. Viewed as a series these images have an out of body experience. For some reason, enhanced reality like macro deep night sky photography don't have the same effect on me. I think in these cases I looked, but didn't see.

Like you mentioned, the noise is a sticking point for me. Some photographers get grumpy that quiet locations have been developing crowds where they used to have peace. I can understand that, but as long as proper etiquette is observed and no one is busy trampling sensitive areas that's just a natural conclusion of the internet and people being interested in nature. However, even if people are polite with the drones location, the noise murders peace, and non-National Parks have been getting worse and worse. The last two sunrises I have been at in the Alabama Hills have had at least one drone cutting through all of the natural peaceful sounds and quiet.

I bought a remote control mini helicopter to fly around my apartment for fun awhile ago, and one of my cats absolutely despises it. After a little while she caught it and broke one of the propellers. Even though it hasn't flown in more than a year she will see it just sitting on the floor and hit it out of hatred. I think I'm with her.

Timmeh whilst agreeing with most of what you say I disagree about the draw of photography. Most award winning landscape images show familiar locations but shown in conditions that are far from what most people will ever have experienced. The clearing mist shot, the truly spectacular sunset/ sunrise, crepuscular rays, the ray of sunshine illuminating the perfect focal point. Most people will not have seen these things. Similarly the shot taken from the vertigo inducing ridge, top of mountain, deep snow field, inside a glacier, places that are "foreign" to most. This is just my viewpoint about what makes interesting images. Personally I can see that a drone may allow a unique viewpoint but their imapct on others make them too intrusive and I would ban them. Ken

 

[Kyle Jones]

My favorite example of someone just acting selfish was the person sitting out in Yosemite creek below Yosemite Falls during the moonbow a few years ago. Two hundred people have their cameras pointed in your direction and you insist on being in everyone's shot. It seems that the basic rule for etiquette in most situations can be boiled down to "don't be a jerk".

So that said, I really like the image. I'd definitely clone out the big mosquito. The other thing I'm wondering about is the shutter speed on the incoming wave. To me it just looks smeared. A little faster or a little slower might be nice.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Great photo, and thought provoking discussion. I have seen what I consider to be some truly inspiring drone photography here and elsewhere. But I do not have a drone myself, partially because I have too many things vying for my limited fun money resources, and partly due to the obvious required restrictions on when you can legally and/or courteously fly one at many of the sites I would think to use one. I think I would be able to be careful and respectful of others wishes, but I would be mortified if I thought I was bothering anyone else, regardless if they were another photographer or not. So to me drones seem to be cool things in principle, but greatly reduced in capabilities once all the practical constraints on their usage is factored in. That does not mean I cannot greatly enjoy others who have the tact and skill to use them properly, Like Mr. Dockery, as one example

In any case, I like the shot, appreciate what you have shared about the drone, and would of course clone the thing out to end up with a truly fine capture!

ML