NO! IT'S A DRONE!
It was recently claimed by Drone DJ that drone and GoPro cameras are now "the best way to capture action sports". This innovative bit of film kit works wonders in helping get close up shots - just check out Johnny FPV's recent snow sports video A New Perspective (2018) and you only have to imagine what more tricks a drone is capable of!
Drones are now becoming ever more popular. Recent years have seen the usage of drones in filming skyrocket, with prices ranging from about £25 to anything over a grand: like those used by Batcam to cover high profile events and stream live TV. Using a drone means minimal interference with both the environment and the film's subject - a crucial aspect in sports cinematography so to not to distract the athlete.
The drone's small size makes it extremely versatile. Plus, they make very little noise, and are easy to set up and organize once you have arrived on location. Developments in technology have meant drones are capable of filming in full HD, meaning amazing aerial footage can be captured without sacrificing the quality. The drone's versatility has been commended and recognized, with Sail World recently announcing that drones are to be used to film the 2024 Olympic Sailing Regatta instead of camera helicopters: drones likened to "flying like seabrids" to get the best picture for the viewer.
In a conversation with Alan, he said he holds the mobile phone responsible for starting this technological revolution: "The smart phone has miniaturized all the tech needed for a drone to work like very small high res cameras, GPS positioning, magnetometers for compass direction, altimeters for height position, miniature memory cards, etc".
Despite earlier models of drones being pretty hefty in order to carry existing kit like Reds and Black Magic, the advent of the GoPro has made it possible to capture close up action with a smaller, lighter flight craft. As technology has developed, drones are now being designed more as flying cameras, rather than a drone with a camera on it. Modern drones such as the Mavic 2 and the Hass are perfect examples of these, possessing new tracking features which means a single operator pilot and camera operator is much more equipped to capture the action with excellent results.
When discussing this with Allan, he said "getting good shots legally with the safe distances
will always be an issue until they become much safer. However most of the
issues are operator error or plain stupidity. As humans we won’t get rid of
that easily". With technology still and always developing, it's very likely the future will see drones becoming even smaller and quieter - even to an optimum point at which their mass, and therefore falling energy, will be minimalism to an extent where damage is reduced if one was to fall.
Drones are now becoming ever more popular. Recent years have seen the usage of drones in filming skyrocket, with prices ranging from about £25 to anything over a grand: like those used by Batcam to cover high profile events and stream live TV. Using a drone means minimal interference with both the environment and the film's subject - a crucial aspect in sports cinematography so to not to distract the athlete.
The drone's small size makes it extremely versatile. Plus, they make very little noise, and are easy to set up and organize once you have arrived on location. Developments in technology have meant drones are capable of filming in full HD, meaning amazing aerial footage can be captured without sacrificing the quality. The drone's versatility has been commended and recognized, with Sail World recently announcing that drones are to be used to film the 2024 Olympic Sailing Regatta instead of camera helicopters: drones likened to "flying like seabrids" to get the best picture for the viewer.
Drones in action...
Back in September, I was lucky enough to film promotional videos for the SsangYong Blenhiem Palace Horse Trials. Working with the palace's resident photographer, Pete Seaward, and drone specialist, Allan Ballard, we used a range of different aerial cameras such as the DJI Mavic Pro and DJI Osno Plus to capture an essence of the equestrian cross country course.In a conversation with Alan, he said he holds the mobile phone responsible for starting this technological revolution: "The smart phone has miniaturized all the tech needed for a drone to work like very small high res cameras, GPS positioning, magnetometers for compass direction, altimeters for height position, miniature memory cards, etc".
[Drones have] made us all expert amateur camera men: it has driven up our expectations of how sport, events and news can be depicted by drones.- Allan Balland
Despite earlier models of drones being pretty hefty in order to carry existing kit like Reds and Black Magic, the advent of the GoPro has made it possible to capture close up action with a smaller, lighter flight craft. As technology has developed, drones are now being designed more as flying cameras, rather than a drone with a camera on it. Modern drones such as the Mavic 2 and the Hass are perfect examples of these, possessing new tracking features which means a single operator pilot and camera operator is much more equipped to capture the action with excellent results.
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| Allan Ballard & Pete Seaward figuring out how we were going to tackle filming the water jump (Source: own photo) |
Difficulties with the eye in the sky
Due to their rather invasive nature, there will always be issues with drone filming.
After a falling drone nearly hit defending World Cup champion, Marcel Hirscher at the 2014 Winter Olympics, drones were banned from filming the event - saying that the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be drone free.
Drones and sports don't mix.- Micheal Hicks, Techradar.com
Interview with Allan Ballard on 28th November 2018.
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