{"id":453,"date":"2016-10-19T18:15:38","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T22:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.90.43.4\/?p=453"},"modified":"2022-01-27T14:05:02","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T19:05:02","slug":"amazingly-useful-footage-you-can-only-capture-with-a-drone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sproutvideo.com\/blog\/amazingly-useful-footage-you-can-only-capture-with-a-drone.html","title":{"rendered":"Amazingly Useful Footage You Can Only Capture With a Drone"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are some shots you just can’t get with a camera on a tripod. In the past, you’d just have to accept that and move on with your life.<\/p>\n

Today, that’s where drones come in.\u00a0Increasingly affordable, and very technologically advanced, a drone might be the best purchase you make all year. This post is all about the types of shots you can only get with a drone to help inspire you once you finally take the plunge.<\/p>\n

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Car\u00a0Chase<\/h3>\n

Drones are perfect for capturing driving scenes. If you program the route ahead of time, and coordinate the speed of the car and timing, you’ll reduce the chances of going off course.<\/p>\n

If you’re using a Phantom drone from DJI, you can\u00a0preprogram a route by using the course lock<\/a> setting. This will ensure your drone follows a set path when it embarks on its flight.<\/p>\n

You can use shots of a car driving\u00a0to transition between scenes, as an introductory\u00a0or ending\u00a0sequence, as part of a montage, or to heighten drama.<\/p>\n

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Be sure that\u00a0you’ve taken all safety precautions to ensure you aren’t breaking any laws or endangering anyone’s wellbeing if you attempt this. Be mindful of your surroundings, other cars on the road, road signs, overpasses, or any other potential obstacles.<\/p>\n

Moving Low to the Ground<\/h3>\n

Although drones are probably best known for their ability to fly high in the sky, they are also extremely adept at maneuvering closer to earth. The ability of a drone to hover steadily without wavering is truly impressive.<\/p>\n

Forget putting your tripod on wheels, buying an expensive wearable stabilizer, or setting up complex camera tracks to get smooth moving shots. You could\u00a0almost\u00a0leave the tripod at home!<\/p>\n

Since capturing audio with a drone isn’t practical due to the noise emitted from the quadcopter, action scenes without key audio or dialogue are a natural fit. This type of footage might best serve as b-roll footage, to help you tell your story as it unfolds.<\/p>\n

Think about flying under bridges, trees, or other overhanging obstacles. You can also track action happening on the ground, such as a soccer game, or two characters walking.<\/p>\n

Over Water<\/h3>\n

The trouble with scenes happening on bodies of water is not just the risk to the camera gear if something tips overboard. You also have to worry about the natural pitch of the boat or flotation device on the water. If your camera is constantly bobbing up and down, it can really\u00a0mess up your shot.<\/p>\n

Drones obviate\u00a0that issue, enabling you to capture steady shots even if you’re out to sea. In fact, they could\u00a0be considered essential equipment if any of your video takes place on or near a body of water.<\/p>\n

With a drone, you can dramatically expand the types of shots you can get in an aquatic environment. You can fly high over a boat to demonstrate the scale of a scene (or the boat), or you can hover just a short distance from the boat to capture a more intimate scene.<\/p>\n

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Of course, we recommend exercising caution and good judgment if you’re flying expensive equipment over water. Be sure to stay within range, and watch closely for any signs of trouble connecting with the drone.<\/p>\n

Cityscapes<\/h3>\n

If you live in an impressive city, such as\u00a0NYC where SproutVideo<\/a> is based, a drone is your new best friend.<\/p>\n

Footage of city life, including\u00a0crowds\u00a0of pedestrians, people playing in a park, boats going by on a river, traffic on bridges, or monuments the city is known for, are all great shots. The thrum of activity in urban areas makes for excellent b-roll footage.<\/p>\n