Drones
‘Hey, honey, what do you want for your birthday?’—‘Umm ... I’ve seen this drone ...’ Some of you may have had a conversation much like this, and no wonder: drones are one of the trendiest gadgets on the market at the moment, alongside smartphones, Alexa devices, etc. But is a drone just a nice gift and a way of passing the time, or can it do more than that? The Dreso blog asked drone filmmaker Florian Fischer from the agency behind the Mask.
Right, left, past an oak tree, and back again—operating a drone sounds easy enough. But after talking to Florian Fischer from behind the Mask, we realize that it’s far from simple. The drone pilot is an expert in this field who has already shot all sorts of professional footage with the help of his little flying machine. ‘Flying a drone is great fun, but it takes a lot of concentration as well. If you make a mistake, it can crash anytime and anyplace. Depending on where that happens, it could be dangerous for other people.’ He adds that drones contain extremely complex electronics such as balance and distance sensors, so operators have a huge responsibility. With all this in mind, Florian takes a skeptical view of people who don’t understand this technology flying a drone as a hobby or getting one for their birthday. He sees a drone as a piece of professional equipment which can be used to capture unique photographs and videos.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
As a layperson, you can partly understand why so many people still give it a try. Looking at the films and pictures is enough to make anyone jealous. And it’s no wonder when, instead of just a shot of a jetty with the sea in the background, you can film the whole beach and the rest of the island to boot. But that is almost certainly partly because working with drones is increasingly becoming an art form. ‘When it comes to creative projects, you can give your imagination free rein and try out all sorts of things,’ says the drone filmmaker. To see what he means by that—and how stunning the resulting footage can be — take a look at his latest drone film ‘Family Island’.
Florian Fischer and his team have already won several awards for this drone film, amongst others. In 2017, they won the drone equivalent of an Oscar at the New York City Drone Film Festival for the third time. The commercial filmmaker was at the festival again in 2018, this time as a judge.
Worth the Effort
So how much work goes into making a film like that? Do you just pick a stunning holiday destination and send your drone up into the air? Florian explains: ‘No, it’s not that simple, I’m afraid. There is a lot to think about and sort out before you can even start making films and videos. The legal requirements and bureaucratic hurdles are the biggest challenge. First, these are very different from country to country. Second, they are not yet clearly defined in many places. In some cases, it can take several weeks to get permission to film or even fly.’ During the actual filming, the drone operator’s experience, concentration, and skill are all-important, underlines Florian and continues: ‘You have to be good at judging distances, master certain steering maneuvers, and bear the surroundings in mind.’
Despite all the work that goes into making drone films, companies and other organizations are using them more and more. ‘Drone footage offers lots of firms an excellent way to visualize their projects and services,’ Florian confirms. Drees & Sommer is one such company that often uses drone footage to keep its clients informed about projects—from high-rise buildings and bridges to stadiums—and their progress or to depict them clearly. One example of this is a recent film showing the newly built fuel station and service area of the future in Fürholzen, Southern Germany..
Not Just a Toy
Our conversation with Florian Fischer shows that drones are now far more than just toys: they have developed into professional tools. With a little creativity and imagination, those who understand the technology and act responsibly can do almost anything—from holiday pictures to short videos with captivating storylines or simple snapshots that capture a particular mood.
P.S.: Here’s one last tip for anyone who’s considering buying a drone as a present: since October 2017, it has been obligatory in Germany to have a license to fly drones weighing two kilos or more. So perhaps it’s worth investing in a little training first?