What types of drone shots are there? This is where filmmakers have become extremely creative. These tips are great to apply to nearly all your drone shots. Adding a zoom toward the subject will draw the audience’s eye to what matters in the drone shot. This can be especially helpful when shooting a specific subject that appears rather small in the frame. Try adding a zoomĪdding a zoom either in camera or in post-production can add a layer of depth to a shot that makes it more engaging. Be sure to match the color grading of the footage taken from both cameras so that the cut between the two will be seamless.

Shooting on a drone within a project will inevitably mean that you have footage from multiple cameras.

A seasoned aerial director of photography typically uses slow movements for smoother more cinematic drone shots. Typically this will result in jolty and jarring camera movements that look amateur and may not even be usable when cut together with other shots. Use slow movementsĭon’t make the mistake of whipping your drone around for fast moving shots.

Using an ND filter will allow you to shoot a cinematic shutter speed that will help you match drone shots to your other shots taken with another cinematic camera. This is one of the best aerial cinematography tips to know before taking your drone out for a shot. Shoot at the right time of dayīecause aerial cinematography typically is used for exterior shots, utilizing golden hour will provide the best lighting for your drone shots. Once you get your hands on a drone and learn how to pilot and operate it, there are a few key drone shot techniques and tips that will instantly improve your drone cinematography. The maneuverability and size of a drone has resulted in various types of drone shots that cannot be achieved by any other means.Ĭheck out Time’s video on how drones have revolutionized aerial cinematography and how filmmakers used different types of drone shots in some of the biggest movies of recent years.ĭrone filmmaking Drone cinematography tips Drones are also able to capture shots that other aerial cinematography tools cannot. In fact, big budget films utilize drones because of the enormous maneuverability and efficiency drones have in capturing aerial photography. What is aerial cinematography looking like today? With the dawn of more advanced and more economical drones, filmmakers have had more access to aerial cinematography than ever before. They were an immediate bump in a film’s production value for this reason. What is aerial cinematography with drones? The era of the droneĪerial cinematography in the past has only been accessible to those who could afford the use of helicopters or large cranes. This flexibility has opened doors for filmmakers to become more creative in where they place their god’s eye view shots. With the advancements in drone technology, god’s eye view shots can be taken in more unique places and much closer to a subject. As described in the video, aerial cinematography in the god’s eye view does more than create an aesthetically unique visual, but also serves as a storytelling device that elevates the narrative of a film.

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