Before Takeoff, I was pretty skeptical.

Over the course of my life, I’ve probably received a drone as a Christmas gift at least 4 of the 18 December 25ths I have had. And the same thing happens every year: open the drone, connect it to my phone, prepare for takeoff, fly it for about 15 minutes, lose it in the air, it falls to the ground, and there is no more drone. Before starting this lab, I was extremely nervous because what if I damaged the equipment and something happened to this costly drone, like what happened to all the ones I have flown before? As I read through the Lab description, watched my professor handle the drone with care, and worked alongside my equally skeptical classmate, flying the drone came naturally and was an enriching experience. Today, I want to use more drone shots in my projects because of their striking nature and the refined effect they give to any project graced with their presence.

Drone flying taught me a lot.

From this lab, I am incredibly grateful for learning how to fly a drone and its constructive nature in storytelling. Firstly, I learned how to fly a DJI Mini 4 Pro, including its setup and teardown. Furthermore, I learned how to use the DJI app to connect my project media to my own albums and export them quickly and efficiently. While both of these skills are extremely useful for my future career aspirations, the skills I learned “in between the lines” mattered to me just a bit more. Firstly, I realized that drone shots make any project feel extremely refined, taking an A-level project to that A+ feel. They not only urge viewers to connect with the meaning and depth of a story by zooming in or out on an environment, but, simply put, they look so elegant when appropriately filmed. A rising sun could signal the start of a new scene, while a waterway could signal a change in someone’s intentions in a docuseries. The possibilities are truly endless with drone shots.

I now feel like all of my projects need a drone!

While I watched my classmate take to the skies with the drone, I realized how fantastic the shots from this super-niche perspective truly are. The resonated with me. If I were filming a mystery scene for a show, or a sort of emotional thriller, I would use a drone shot to captivate an audience, leaving the idea that something bad lingers in the area shown on screen… But where could it be? As we went deeper, flying the drone higher and farther from its landing pad, the shots became even more impactful. Seeing the entire Furman Campus in all its glory showed me how much beauty there is in the natural environment. Should I use the drone in any of my projects, I think the themes of beauty, mystery, or even sincere emotion could be portrayed through drone shots.

Gotta fly!

With my newfound understanding of how impactful and integral drone shots are to any project, I will begin applying them as much as possible, adding these striking visuals to each of my projects down the line. I never understood just how amazing these shots were because I didn't really know how they were filmed; however, with this lab, I’ve learned to refine my drone-flying projects, and I cannot wait to check out a drone and get some footage of the world around me. I want to use the DJI app even more, especially the preset arc shot movement setting, to give my projects the extra motion they need. Drone shots are everything you need to refine a project and make it truly last with an audience. I think it’s time for takeoff!