Pic(k) of the week 22: BIG WAVES WITH MAVIC 2 PRO - Long exposure aerials

Longtime blog readers will know that I've been an avid Aerial photographer for a number of years. My 1954 yellow Piper Super Cub aircraft in Belgium has played a big role in my more recent aerial photography.

I've been watching aerial drone photography from the side lines for a number of years and finally bit the bullet end of 2018 when I bought a DJI Mavic 2 Pro.

While for me there is clearly a place for using an actual airplane, there is also a place for using a drone (also called UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), for some other shots. Aircraft can be allowed to enter airspace where drones or not allowed. 

On the other hand, a Long exposure image like the one below is virtually impossible to take from a moving aircraft. Even from a helicopter this is not easy as your helicopter pilot will rarely be hovering at altitude but rather be moving at a slow speed. 

The stability of modern small drones like the DJI Mavic 2 Pro is pretty impressive; as long the winds are not too strong one can quite easily shoot at shutter speeds of 1s or even slightly longer. Waves hitting the shoreline are a perfect subject for "Long Exposure" drone photography. 


Image details:
  • DJI Mavic 2 Pro with PolarPro ND1000 filter
  • ISO 100, f5.6, 1 sec
  • RAW development in Lightroom CC
  • DxO ColorEfex pro4 for optimal contrast
Although PolorPro is not a sponsor of the blog, but I've really happy with my PolarPro ND filter set, including the 10-stop ND1000 filter I used for the shot above. 

The fact that the Mavic 2 Pro is one of the first prosumer drones that has a variable aperture lens, makes it perfect to fine-tune the perfect long exposure time while in-flight under variable light conditions. 

More of my Aerial photography can be found here

Lastly, as an aircraft pilot myself, I would like to stress to fly drones responsibly. We still see far too many people that think they can fly wherever and as high as they like to. The sky is not only yours! Make sure to check local regulation and only fly certificated if that is what is needed.

Remember: "You can't stop the waves. But you can learn to surf" - Jon Kabt-Zinn

BJORN

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