Aerial photography

GAME OF DRONES!

So, you wanna’ be a drone photographer? Join us as we catch up with three photographers whose bird’s eye images have captivated the country…

Jasiek Zoll

@mr_fly_guy_one

What’s the magic of drones?

Magic happens when you reach the stars, and with a drone the stars become closer!

What are the mistakes you see beginners make?

Drones can do a lot, but many

people overestimate them and don’t practice enough – that means at critical moments they panic and make a mistake. You need to practice, practice, practice.

What should novices keep in mind?

People assume drones can fly anywhere and at any time but there’s a lot of considerations that need to be made: you need to think of appropriate zones, permits, wind, temperatures, etc.

Any catastrophes?

I’ve crashed three drones and broken so many wings I can’t even count the number I’ve damaged.

How much planning do you do?

Seeing something interesting from a normal perspective is enough to get my brain working and asking how it would look from above. You can wait hours for the weather to clear or an object to turn up, but otherwise a shoot can go like clockwork and it’s job done.

Konrad Kotowski

@podniebny_kot

How did you fall in love with drone photography?

I’ve always been interested in photography but never really had the courage to share my work. Things changed when I got bored during the pandemic – it was then I bought a drone and figured I might as well share my work with others.

How hard was it to learn to fly a drone?

I’d recommend doing what I did which is to train a little in non-urbanized areas. You need to feel comfortable with how your drone behaves and responds. The better you know your gear the more spectacular your shots will be.

We’re guessing this is all quite expensive?

Even the smallest ‘toys’ can cost two to three thousand zlotys. Semi-professional gear will set you back five to ten thousand, whilst the professional stuff can cost you as much as 30k!

Any heartbreaking crashes?

I was filming a car advert and wanted to get a close shot whilst flying under an arched bridge – yep, I hit it. Fortunately the drone didn’t turn into a broken pile of plastic but it does have a bruise on its backside!

Sebastian Przybysz

@shot.empire

What misconceptions would you like to see dispelled?

Many people treat drones like toys – but the truth is, before you fly you really need to learn how to operate it. You assume a responsibility for safety when you get a drone.

Are they easy to fly?

They’re really quite simple – not too different from a video game. For me, the hardest part was getting to grips with the aviation regulations. And even if you know them inside out, you still need to keep upto-date with any changes or amendments.

How do you plan your shoots?

I’m always on the lookout for new places which is why when I travel I’ve always got the drone in my backpack!

What does a shoot involve?

Flying the drone is only about 50% of it all. Before, there’s all the planning and chasing permits,. Then, after a shoot, there’s all the processing that needs to be done.

What do you love about photographing in autumn?

The warmth of the colors – but in truth, everything looks better from above no matter what time of year it is!