A Complete Guide to Drone Aerial Photography of Waterfalls | Professional Tips and Cautions for Safe Photography
Beautiful waterfall footage is a particularly popular subject for drone aerial photography.
However, shooting near waterfalls comes with its own unique risks. Learn from the experience of an active drone pilot how to safely and effectively shoot waterfalls from the air.
🔍 Advance preparation is the key to success
Thorough confirmation of flight routes
The most important thing when photographing waterfalls from the air is to check your flight route in advance. Before the actual shoot, be sure to fly the planned route once and check for obstacles in the air. Branches in the air, in particular, are easily overlooked and are a major cause of crashes.
A tricky course requires two tries
If you have a specific route in mind, such as "I want to shoot from this angle," be sure to do a test flight first. By actually flying, you can discover even tiny obstacles that are difficult to see on the monitor.
⚠️ Understand the unique hazards of waterfalls
"Suction phenomenon" at large waterfalls
At large waterfalls, strong downdrafts are generated by the falling water. If you get caught in this air current, it will be difficult to control the aircraft, so you need to be careful not to get too close to the waterfall itself.
Risks of flying around waterfalls
In areas with deep waterfalls, it will be difficult to recover the aircraft in the event of a crash.
Don't be too aggressive and make sure to fly with a sufficient safety margin.
🎥 Video Techniques | Up-close Photography
Utilizing the tilt angle
For diving shots from the top of a waterfall to the basin, tilting the camera down allows you to get closer than you would normally expect, creating impressive footage. You can capture powerful footage while maintaining a safe distance.
Utilizing the telephoto function
A drone with a 3x telephoto lens allows you to shoot from a safer distance. However, it can be difficult to judge distances, so you'll need to get used to piloting it.
🛠️ Technical Notes
Effective use of C mode (Cine Mode)
To capture smooth, cinematic footage, make full use of C mode, which limits sudden aircraft movements and allows you to capture professional-level smooth footage.
Points to note when flying to waypoints
Automatic flight is convenient, but the route may deviate every time around a waterfall with many trees. The obstacle sensor may stop the drone, so we recommend manual flight.
GNSS signal issues
In valleys or near waterfalls surrounded by trees, the GNSS signal may become unstable and the aircraft may switch to ATTI mode. This may cause the aircraft to be swept away, so caution and skill are required.
👥 Safety and Legal Considerations
Shooting in crowded tourist spots
Waterfalls are popular tourist spots and are crowded with people. If safety is difficult to ensure, it is wise to refrain from flying. If you wish to take photos, try to go early in the morning when there are fewer people around.
Propeller guard judgement
Consider installing propeller guards depending on the site conditions. They are effective in environments with many obstacles, but you should also consider the impact on flight performance.
🎖️ Honest advice from the pros
In actual shooting locations, there are many situations where the obstacle sensor is turned off during flight. This is because the sensor reacts too sensitively, especially in areas with many branches. However, aggressive aerial photography of waterfalls is risky and frankly, I don't recommend it.
We understand the desire to capture beautiful footage, but please remember to always be safe. Gradually improving your photography skills as you improve your technique will lead to long-term success.
📺 Actual footage
You can check out ProPilot's actual aerial footage of the waterfall.
Let's film safely and deliver amazing footage of the waterfalls!
DRONE/47 Editorial Department
Photographer:@satoru.w1979
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