Niagara Falls – IDEA https://www.idea.org/blog Fresh ideas to advance scientific and cultural literacy. Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:45:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.26 Drones put a face on nature and culture https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/11/01/drones-put-a-face-on-nature-and-culture/ https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/11/01/drones-put-a-face-on-nature-and-culture/#respond Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:38:13 +0000 http://www.idea.org/blog/?p=4351 A new generation of small video cameras and consumer robotic helicopters make amazing video shots possible. Stick your phone on a drone for enchanting views of the natural world, architecture, museums, and more. Here’s a cool new video flying a drone around the NY public library:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9FMlv5a_FI

That was shot by Nate Bolt with a DJI Phantom quad-copter and both a GoPro Hero3 Black and an iPhone 5S. Slowed down with Twixtor in After Effects to make up for the glaring lack of a Gimbal.

A stunning video taken over Niagara Falls this past summer with the same helicopter (watch this one full-screen):

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfoLYTKObiU

Not as lovely, here’s an example of flying the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Gateway Arch and the Museum Court house in St. Louis with a turbo Ace X830 helicopter. This has potential, but the blades hurt the effect.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP62Bk-ydRo

Inside the Australian Museum is a charming, short view of the collection from Journeys to the Deep. However, the shots are shaky. The stabilization methods used in the above library example are important.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnR0tGpGJmw

Drone regulations vary by locality, but is generally legal within height and distance limits from the operator.

Not only are the results a fresh view of scenes, lending an appealing aerial perspective, but audiences are now used to complex camera shots on television and film, so  step up your game with your visuals.

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