Droning on

NOW THAT WE TAKE PICTURES ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY WITH OUR SMARTPHONES, IT ’ S EASY TO MISS THE WAYS THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO IN TOTALLY NEW WAYS. AND, INEVITABLY, THE MOST EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE BEING DRIVEN BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Words: CHRIS PARTRIDGE

AFFORDABLE DRONES equipped with stills and video cameras have revolutionised the way we capture aerial footage, making previously inaccessible perspectives accessible to hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professionals alike. These versatile devices have democratised aerial photography and videography, opening up a world of creative possibilities for people of all skill levels.

One of the primary driving forces behind the affordability of camera-equipped drones is the rapid improvement in the components needed, such as gyroscopes, GPS modules, and lithium-polymer batteries, which have become more cost-effective and readily available. Drones now have advanced features, including stabilised camera gimbals and high-resolution sensors, at lower price points.

Affordable drones with video cameras come in various shapes and sizes, catering to different needs and skill levels. Entry-level drones are perfect for beginners looking to explore aerial photography and videography. These drones typically feature lowerresolution cameras but still offer decent image and video quality for recreational use.

Mid-range drones, priced between €200 and €700, provide a step up in camera

America’s Skydio 2+ – built for photography rather than flight – will be pricey, but it produces real results quality and additional features like obstacle avoidance systems and longer flight times.

These drones are ideal for enthusiasts who want to capture stunning aerial shots and videos without breaking the bank.

For those who demand professional-level performance, there are even more affordable options than ever before. Drones in the €700 to €1,500 range often boast advanced camera systems with high-resolution sensors, advanced video recording capabilities, and a host of intelligent flight modes. These drones are suitable for serious photographers and videographers who require exceptional image quality and precision in their work.

Taking flight

Such is the popularity of drone photography, a new category of drone has emerged to cater for it specifically – the ‘flying camera’. And it is this category that is embracing artificial intelligence.

AI offers enormous benefits to flying cameras. For a start, they more or less fly themselves, so the user can concentrate on getting the shots they want rather than keeping the drone airborne.

The latest AI systems can effortlessly perform manoeuvres such as circling or following the subject, even doing ‘dolly shots’ in which the drone runs alongside the subject in exactly the same way that Hollywood movies have done using little railway tracks and cameras on wheels.

Another huge benefit of AI is that it can navigate, avoid obstacles and look for landing spots by analysing the camera images, just as a human pilot does looking out of the cockpit window. This means the drone no longer needs expensive, weighty and power-hungry components such as GPS and gyros, making them better and cheaper.

Two of the most popular flying cameras on the market are the Skydio 2+ and the new HoverAir X2.

Skydio was designed by MIT graduates to be pretty much autonomous and is currently being certified for sale in Europe. The cheapest version doesn’t even come with a radio controller, relying instead on a smartphone app and wi-fi. This limits it to a 200m range, but that is plenty for most purposes, though a traditional radio controller is also available. With the smartphone app, complex flight plans can be put into operation automatically. It is very much built for photography rather than flight as such, and it’s even smart enough to remember to press the record button should you forget.

One limitation of the Skydio is its weight, which at 800g means it must be registered to be used legally, and its price, which will be hefty.

An easy-going option

For those of us who take pictures for fun, the other AI-driven flying camera, the HoverAir X1 is a shoe-in. Affordable, easy to use and absolutely tiny at just 125g. The rotors are totally encased in folding cages so you can slip it in your pocket.

The HoverAir X1 was designed by Stanford graduates to use the AI system for almost all control functions, using the camera rather than sensors.

It is spookily smart. You can just put it on your hand, press some buttons for the flight plan you want, and it will take off and do it. When finished, you can put out your hand and it will land on it. A bit like a dog that actually does what it is told. You don’t even need a smartphone, though later you will need a device to download and edit the images and videos. Image quality is 1080p HD, which is perfectly fine even for most professional uses.

Because the navigation does not depend on GPS you can even shoot indoors, though the AI system apparently gets confused over water so no fishing trip vids, sadly.

The AI system keeps the drone remarkably steady even in light breezes, and it avoids obstacles with remarkable agility. At €448 it is remarkably good value.

Speaking of water, under the sea is the one no-go area for flying cameras. Here, action cameras score.

The latest Insta 360 camera, the Go 3, has a waterproof, dustproof and shockproof camera module that weighs just 35g, so can be easily manipulated at the end of a selfie stick for all the usual ‘chat to the camera’ stuff and dunked in the river or lake for stunning underwater shots. Video stabilisation is highly effective, making it easy to shoot great action footage. Prices start at €435 at Worten for the unit alone, and a wide range of accessories and mountings is available.

Ali Mcgraw

By 1972, Ali McGraw was the top female box-office movie star in the world. Her first hit film, Goodbye Columbus, won her a Most Promising Newcomer award in 1969, and the sky seemed to be the limit for the New York-born actress. A starring role alongside Ryan O’Neal in Love Story in 1970 saw her nominated for an Oscar.

After a troubled upbringing – she has admitted her father was violent – she began working as a photographer’s assistant on Harper’s Bazaar magazine, and later as a fashion model and stylist. TV commercials followed, and then the film business. After starring alongside Steve McQueen in The Getaway in 1972 she married her co-star and effectively gave up acting at his request. When McQueen died at only 50 years old, she was quoted as saying: “I wish we had both grown old sober!”

She had previously been married to film producer Robert Evans, the father of her son who is also in the movie business. During the 1980s she returned to TV work, including an appearance in Dynasty, but confessed she only did so “ for the money ”. Since then, she has become more interested in activism. Her yoga video is credited with helping to popularise yoga in the USA and she is also a supporter of animal charities all over the world. Sadly, she lost her California home in a wildfire in 1993 and is now based in New Mexico.