HANDS ON WITH THE SOLO 3DR DRONE

I may be late to the drone game, or more specifically late to actually owning a drone*, but it's not because I haven't wanted one. I've been reading about drones, talking with drone owners and wanting a drone from the beginning. I even came close to making the purchase on several occasions, but now I'm glad I waited.

And to be clear, I should say that I'm a part owner of a drone, in this case, a Solo 3DR, that I purchased along with my son. Part ownership is something that might consider as well.

So what was it like flying it for the first time?

My son Patrick prepares the Solo 3DR prior to my first flight.

My son Patrick prepares the Solo 3DR prior to my first flight.

Prior to flying the 3DR, my sole "stick" time consisted of 10 minutes with a DJI Phantom. The 3DR was incredibly easy to fly, easier than I remembered from my brief DJI experience. From take off and landing to flying patterns, I went through two batteries before I knew it and during the entire time, I never felt like I wasn't in complete control. And even though the 3DR was set to "child mode" it was nimble and reacted immediately to my inputs.

Something that always concerned me when considering the purchase of a drone was the camera; Would it be obsolete before the drone itself. The 3DRs current 3-axis gimbal houses a GoPro** and since Solo worked directly with GoPro, it means you have in-flight access to the camera's controls allowing you to start and stop recording while you fly. Not only is this unique to the Solo, it greatly reduces the amount of footage you have to go through during the editing process. Additionally, the camera receives its power from the gimbal.

One of the features that really impressed me about the 3DR is that it is the only drone that can automatically control both the drone and camera position while in flight using their Smart Shot feature. Think of Smart Shots as presets that allow you to circle an object for a wrap-around shot (Orbit), go hands-free (Follow), put yourself in the center of the action for an aerial reveal (Selfie), or follow a virtual cable (Cable Cam), all to get a perfect shot. A soon to be released update will expand the Cable Cam Smart Shot allowing you to enter multiple points.

It's simple, fly to a point A, frame your shot, fly to point B and frame your shot, then hit play and the drone will fly from point A to point B exactly as you programmed it. And maybe the most impressive thing is, you can save a shot and repeat it. Think how useful that would be and how much production time it would save.

The 3DR was really easy to fly and using Smart Shots, even a novice like me can achieve professional cinematographic looks with very little experience. (Photo by Patrick Williams)

The 3DR was really easy to fly and using Smart Shots, even a novice like me can achieve professional cinematographic looks with very little experience. (Photo by Patrick Williams)

Bottom line, the 3DR with a gimbal and GoPro isn't the cheapest drone on the market, but if you are looking for a solidly-built, easy to fly drone that is capable of capturing amazing aerial footage, I would highly recommend it.

Watch footage taken at Cape Henlopen State Park and around the North Beach, Md., area taken by Patrick Williams.

* I'm using the term drone throughout this post, so if you prefer unmanned aerial vehicle or quadcopter or something else entirely, feel free to substitute those terms while reading.

** I'm currently using a GoPro White. To take advantage of the in-flight camera control, you will need a Hero 4 Black.

A WALK IN THE PARK WITH A CAMERA

Fujifilm X100S, 1/30 @f2.0, ISO 1600.*

Fujifilm X100S, 1/30 @f2.0, ISO 1600.*

I found myself in a bit of a photographic rut recently, not on assignment, but in my personal photography. I think this happens to all of us from time to time and there are probably many reasons, however, since I'm not a psychiatrist or therapist of any kind, I won't try to analyze the why, but instead reflect a bit on how I cope. And this time, it simply took a walk in the park with my camera.

In a 2014 post titled 5 TIPS TO GET YOU OUT TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, I shared ideas to help motivate you and get you out shooting, but this post is more about understanding that even while out shooting, sometimes it just doesn't click.

I titled this photo Santa and his Reindeer. Fujifilm X100S,1/30 @f2.0, ISO 1600.

I titled this photo Santa and his Reindeer. Fujifilm X100S,1/30 @f2.0, ISO 1600.

I think it's important to remember that this happens to all creative people and that it's important to accept that we can't be 'on' all the time, that it really is healthy to have short periods of creative downtime. The key is to not allow those short periods to stretch into long periods and to find ways to overcome and manage these slumps so that you don't stay there or worse, give up entirely.

When I'm in a creative rut, I do what can sometimes be the hardest thing to do, grab your camera and go out. Shoot pictures. Bad pictures. Anything. It's alright because not shooting will never get you out of your rut.

The statue of Milton Hershey seems to be rising from the steam caused by unseasonable warm weather. Fujifilm X100S,1/ 30 @f2.0, ISO 320.

The statue of Milton Hershey seems to be rising from the steam caused by unseasonable warm weather. Fujifilm X100S,1/ 30 @f2.0, ISO 320.

Back to that walk in the park. It had been a few weeks since I had taken a photo I liked and then came a two-day visit to Hershey, Pa. On the first day as I walked around downtown I could sense some creativity coming back. As I started shooting I began to see things, everyday things, things unique to Hershey, that I had been ignoring. That's the thing, you will sense when that creativity is returning. That night I resisted the urge to download the photos from that day because I didn't want to be discouraged if the results failed to meet the feeling I knew was coming back. 

The park wasn't completely empty, but the weather did keep many people away which gave the park an ominous feel. Fujifilm X100S, 1/60 @f2.8, ISO 1600.

The park wasn't completely empty, but the weather did keep many people away which gave the park an ominous feel. Fujifilm X100S, 1/60 @f2.8, ISO 1600.

The next night I visited Hersheypark's Christmas Candyland and somehow had a sense that I was going to get photos that I liked. There was fog, mist, and some light rain which might have dissuaded some, but experience tells me that this was the exact time I should be out shooting. And within an hour, I knew I was getting photographs that I liked. 

Once that feeling returns, you get lost in the process of making photographs and forget that you were ever in a slump. 

Fujifilm X100S,1/30 @f2.0, ISO 1600.

Fujifilm X100S,1/30 @f2.0, ISO 1600.

* All photos were taken using the Fuji X100s which has a fixed 23mm (35mm DSLR equivalent) lens. The camera was set to record both in raw and jpeg formats with a monochrome yellow preset on the jpegs. I used auto ISO, set to a maximum of 1600. While I typically shoot in aperture priority, these photos were all taken in manual mode.

12 PHOTO GIFTS FOR UNDER 12 DOLLARS

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all the photographers out there and thank you for the continued support.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all the photographers out there and thank you for the continued support.

It is the time of the year when we start to see all kinds of photography related gift lists, either for you to purchase or if you are lucky enough, have someone purchase for you. And I do love these lists, except that in most cases you would need to take out a small loan just to purchase a few of the items.

With that in mind, every photography or photography related item on my list this year is under 12 dollars and over the next 12 days, I'll add one item each day*. Think of it as the 12 days of Christmas, only without any partridges or pear trees, which even though they might be the cheapest item on that list, would certainly be more than 12 dollars. 

Day Twelve

Ok, technically this is more $12, but since it is under $10 per month, I'm going to make it the final item on my list of 12 gifts. When Adobe switched to the Creative Cloud they took a lot of heat from a community used to making one-time software purchases. And at the start pricing, and a lot of misunderstanding was an issue. That all changed when the photographer's plan was introduced and now I recommend this all the time, even to those who consider photography a hobby. If you are still using an old version of Photoshop or Lightroom, please consider upgrading. You will not regret it. Besides, if it doesn't work out, cancel and go back to using whatever the last version of Photoshop you own. Let's just hope it is newer than version 3.0.


Day Eleven of Twelve

I still can't believe this item is under $12. I was looking to purchase a second tripod plate prior to a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains and came across this L-bracket and couldn't believe it, especially given that I have previously looked at camera specific L-brackets, but couldn't justify spending between $150 and $200. Let's just say I was skeptical. I may go into more detail about this item in a future blog post, but for now, I can say this product is well-made and works perfectly fine with both my DSLR and Fuji x100s. Don't hesitate on this!


Day Ten of Twelve

This is another one of those items you will never think about until you need it. In fact, you will probably get tired of seeing it in your bag and be tempted to leave it behind. Don't. My suggestion is to find that little-used pocket in your backpack or camera bag and just stick one there for a rainy day. Sorry for that, but not sorry for recommending it. You won't regret it.


Day Nine of Twelve

There are all kinds of carabiners on the market and many are under $12, although not all of them have the screwgate feature which adds an extra level of security when closed. You may be wondering how this item relates to photography, even though you have to admit it is just plain cool. This is another piece of equipment that I alway have with me and use it all the time to secure my backpack or gear to a fixed object, whether flying, on a boat or in an open vehicle. I can't imagine watching as my camera bag goes in one direction while I'm traveling in the other. Additionally, when it is attached to a backpack, you can run your camera strap through it and not worry about the camera slipping off your shoulder. 


Day Eight of Twelve

Now is the time to think about how you are going to organize all the items on this list, whether it is cables, batteries, cleaning cloths or the Lens Pen. There are of course more expensive storage bags and then again you could just put everything sandwich bags, but for under $12 these are a great solution. Bonus tip. Since they are assorted colors, use them for rechargeable battery management, charged and ready in the yellow bag and used in the red. Of course it is still a good idea to always have sandwich bags on hand, but that's another blog post.

 

Day Seven of Twelve

Like many of the items on this list so far, you can never go wrong with giving a photographer a microfiber cloth. I know your strategy is to pick these up at trade shows and I don't fault ou for that, but under $12, what do you have top lose by actually purchasing them. Besides, they don't last forever, so that microfiber cloth you picked up from the Nikon booth at PhotoPlus in 2013, is probably ready to be replaced.

 

Day Six of Twelve

This is the original Joby GorillaPod and for under $12, you just can't go wrong. Admit it, from the beginning you thought this looked silly and was one of those gadgets you carried around and never used, until one day you just stopped carrying it altogether. Give it another try, it takes up almost no room, is light and granted, this version will not support your DSLR, but what about a strobe or a GoPro or... You get the point. 

 

Day Five of Twelve

This "doohickey" is another item on the list (and won't be the last) that at first may not seem like a photo gift, but how many times have you gone to fasten a tripod plate to your camera and realized that you don't even have loose change in your pocket. And thanks to the terrorists, you may not even have a multi-tool with you, especially if you had to fly somewhere. Well, this item is perfect to keep clipped to your backpack, camera bag or use it as a keychain. You'll forget it's there until you need it and for the price, you could order three and still be under $12.

 

Day four of Twelve

In a recent post, I wrote about peace of mind while on a photo shoot or traveling with your gear. These small locks are perfect for securing everything from zippers on your backpack to securing gear to a fixed point in your trunk. These won't stop a determined thief, but if these little lock allows me to enjoy a bite to eat, or concentrate more on my shooting when seperated from my gear, it's worth it for under $12.

 

Day Three of Twelve

This item will make any photographer on your gift list smile. And even if they already own one, having another won't make them sad. Plus, it does an outstanding job of removing dust and smudges from your lenses and filters. If you've had one of these in you camera bag for years, remember there is a limit to its effectiveness, so now may be the right time to order it again at under $12.

 

Day Two of Twelve

Gaffers tape is something you only think about when you don't have it. It's bulky, heavy and takes up space in a camera bag, which is why I'm suggesting this smaller 30-yard roll that just happens to be priced slashed and available now for under $12.

 

Day One of Twelve

You may not have known what they were called, but I'm sure you have seen them around, organizing cables big and small. Cable management is one key to good packing and also maintaining sanity while on a photo shoot. I guarantee a pack of ten will not be enough.

*I own and have used every item that appears in this post.

 

GETTING CREATIVE IN THE SMOKYS

Horizontal camera swipe using a Nikon D4S with a 80-400 at 195. 1/1.7 @ f36, ISO 100.

Horizontal camera swipe using a Nikon D4S with a 80-400 at 195. 1/1.7 @ f36, ISO 100.

I recently attended the Great Smoky Mountains Photography Summit in Townsend, Tennessee, and came away inspired to make better landscape photographs. 

I also came away with a new in-camera technique courtesy of Tony Sweet who during a group presentation titled "In-Camera Creative Techniques," talked about what he called a camera swipe.

Vertical camera swipe using a Nikon D4S with a 80-400 at 330. 1/1.7 @ f36, ISO 100.

Vertical camera swipe using a Nikon D4S with a 80-400 at 330. 1/1.7 @ f36, ISO 100.

To achieve this effect, set your shutter speed from one to two seconds, then move the camera either vertically or horizontally while the shutter is open. This gives you a very abstract or painterly effect.

For the examples seen in this post, I hand-held the camera and started the movement before I released the shutter and then continued on with the movement after the shutter had closed. I believe using this technique gave me a smoother look. I also tried to keep the camera moving in straight lines, but, of course, there is no reason why you couldn't try all kinds of movement, including a zig-zag pattern.

Vertical camera swipe using a Nikon D4S with a 80-400 at 195. 1/1.7 @ f36, ISO 100.

Vertical camera swipe using a Nikon D4S with a 80-400 at 195. 1/1.7 @ f36, ISO 100.

When planning to do the camera swipe technique I looked for straight lines, such as the trees, or bold colors of the leaves, both of which were in abundance in the Smoky Mountains. 

I also found out while scanning the landscape for the best scene in order to try out this effect, it made me concentrate on color and lines in a different way. That begins to translate well beyond a simple camera technique and can help all your photography.

Give it a try and if you like the results, don't thank me, thank Tony. Or better yet, sign up for one of his seminars or workshops and learn from the man himself.

PHOTOGRAPHING INTO THE SUN

This photograph which was taken one hour before sunset exhibits typical lens flare that causes artifacts usually in the shape of the iris. Lens flare is more common when using a zoom lens. ISO 200, f11 @ 1/500, with a Nikon 70-200 2.8 at 200mm.

This photograph which was taken one hour before sunset exhibits typical lens flare that causes artifacts usually in the shape of the iris. Lens flare is more common when using a zoom lens. ISO 200, f11 @ 1/500, with a Nikon 70-200 2.8 at 200mm.

Light is the key to photography and as we continue to chase that light, more often than not we find ourselves out during the golden hour; that wonderful time around sunrise and sunset. However, after it has risen or while waiting for it to set, we rarely point our cameras in the direction of the sun and that's a shame.  

During two recent visits to Shenandoah National Park, I found myself embracing the idea of pointing my camera into the sun and came away with some beautiful results. 

This photograph was taken one hour after sunrise from high above the valley backlit by the sun. The light shining through the early morning fog gives this image a soft, ethereal feel. ISO 200, f22 @ 1/400 with an Nikon 80-400 4.5/5.6 at 400mm.

This photograph was taken one hour after sunrise from high above the valley backlit by the sun. The light shining through the early morning fog gives this image a soft, ethereal feel. ISO 200, f22 @ 1/400 with an Nikon 80-400 4.5/5.6 at 400mm.

One reason, of course, you might avoid shooting in the direction of the sun is lens-flare, but perhaps that is the exact reason you should keep shooting. Traditional we have been told that lens-flare is a mistake, something to avoid, but more and more I'm seeing it used as an artistic effect. I believe it can add an authenticity to a photograph, almost like you did make a mistake, as if you suddenly turned around, grabbed your camera and fired off a frame.

Another reason that you might avoid shooting in the direction of the sun is that it tends to produce flat, monochromatic images. However, it is just that lack of contrast that can give a photograph an otherworldly or ethereal feeling. A sense of being overexposed, but in a good way. 

The sun, just out of the frame at right one half hour before sunset produced this unexpected pinkish hue. Shooting into the light can often result in flat, monochromatic images. ISO 200, f4.5 @ 1/80, with a Nikon 300 2.8.

The sun, just out of the frame at right one half hour before sunset produced this unexpected pinkish hue. Shooting into the light can often result in flat, monochromatic images. ISO 200, f4.5 @ 1/80, with a Nikon 300 2.8.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes lens-flare and flat imagery is not desired, otherwise we could all throw away our lens shades and only purchase inexpensive zoom lenses and place cheap filters on them. 

Keep in mind a few things when shooting into the sun. Use live view instead of looking through your DSLR camera, especially with a long lens. Set your camera to manual mode, both exposure and focus, so you control the effect, otherwise the camera will try to compensate for your "mistake."  

So the next time you are waiting for the sun to set or turning your attention elsewhere after the sun has risen, keep shooting. And if you quickly dismiss a photo because of lens-flare while editing, go back and take another look, you might be surprised.