Attempting a drone range test with my DJI Mini SE…
Well, not really, I was flying to catch a sunrise over Little Assawoman Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
More seriously, I was flying the drone at sunrise in our back yard – to catch early morning sky colors – and looked up to see a waning gibbous moon. I moved the drone a bit south and east (at 200 ft.) to catch this silhouette.
Well, I didn’t catch it at first because all I had for a camera was my cell phone. While the best camera to have is “the one you have with you” – I also realized I need a bit more reach with a telephoto lens than what my iPhone 12 could provide. It was an interesting enough image (to me) that I thought it might make a cool photograph. In this particular case the “best camera to have” was in my office upstairs in our house.
I landed the drone so I could go inside to grab my Olympus E-M10 Mark IV and mounted my Olympus 75-300 f/4.8-6.7 zoom lens. Techies might be interested in the EXIF data: 228mm focal length; 1/200 sec; f/22; ISO 1600; Aperture priority; center-weighted metering.
Oh, yes, here is the morning sunrise that prompted the silhouette image of My Mini and the Moon. Yes, the contrast and colors have been “boosted” a little – to make the morning flight on Saturday, September 17 a bit more worthwhile.
I’m sure I will be asked about maintaining VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) which is, by law, defined as normal vision without the use of any extra optics like binoculars or a spotting scope. A long, long time ago I learned (and got used to) peering through the viewfinder of a camera while keeping both eyes open. Yup – believe it or not!
Don’t believe that works? Try a Google Search and you might find something like this: “Most photographers close one eye when looking through the viewfinder, but keeping the other openĀ allows you to remain aware of your surroundings. It means you can see things coming into your frame, keeping you ready to press the shutter at exactly the right moment.“
Very interesting shot – I’ve never thought to do that! I once tried to make my drone deliver a package (for a photo) but that was a bit tricky to stop it blowing about in the air flow from the propellers. Anyway – great idea and well captured!
Thanks, Steve. You should give it a try the next time you see a morning or an evening moon.
What a fun picture of your drone against the moon, I thought it was a bug before I read the description š¤£
Thanks, Anne. You are, believe it or not, the third person to see a “bug” on the moon. But, it does sort of look that way.
Nice shot. I don’t think I’ve seen one like it before. (Of course that is likely to change now that you’ve published one!). Very nicely thought of and shot.
Thanks, Bob. It was actually a “second thought” photo. I hadn’t even noticed the morning moon as I was climbing to altitude to catch the sunrise. And, yes, of course you should give it a try with your drone and camera.
Very cool photos, especially the drone and moon! I appreciate the advice regarding eyes . Thank you!
Always happy to pass along a tip or two – especially one I learned about 50 years (or so) ago. Thank you for commenting.
Hey Bill;
I love this shoot of the Mini and the Moon and the Sunrise over Little Assawoman Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and Fenwick Island. I’m a sucker for a great sunrise, now if I could get up earl again.
My failing vision or brain is a problem for the VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) with my drone. I’ve also lost a lot of confidence too with my flying.
I lost it from VLOS the another day and just hit the return to home button.
Thank you for commenting, Louis. I am still having fun with the drone and learning its capabilities and possibilities. VLOS is a concern – these old eyes aren’t what they once were.