Sun, Sand, And Surf

Getting great aerial shots over water.

- Joe West

Very early on, I became fascinated with the possibility of using drones to create island-wide panoramas and unique perspectives of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. I learned some hard lessons about how to research and prepare for each flight, when I would fly my drone into the very unforgiving environment of breaking waves, high winds, and saltwater, where one simple mistake or overlooked detail could mean disaster. I’ve been flying over water here in Hawaii since 2013, starting with a DJI Phantom 1, which had a very short flight time, no way to check the remaining battery power in flight, and no first-person view. Using today’s drone technology, it has become much easier—and safer—to tackle tricky projects, like flights over water, but the same preparation principles apply. The RotorDrone editors asked me to share a bit of what I’ve learned about flying over water and producing some of the images that you see here.

KNOW YOUR DRONE

Even before I acquired the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 certification, I learned that the number one item on my preparation list was to simply “know my drone.” Professional photography taught me that I needed to know my camera inside and out before going out on a shoot; for example, there is simply no time to dig through a manual when a tricky lighting situation develops just as the groom is about to kiss the bride. This is even more critical when operating a flying machine. When you suddenly find yourself in an emergency, you have to instinctively know which stick to pull or what button to push to operate the drone. This “instinct” only comes with study, time, and practice. There are no shortcuts: Read the manual. Know your controls. Know your drone. Practice...and then practice some more. Flying your drone should become as automatic as breathing.