I think that is an awesome idea. Drone photography is an entirely new phenomena. I see amazing video and stills every day. Here is a fantastic video showing what can be done today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pSKo2N8WGY
And here is a drone photo I took recently with my DJI Phantom 3 Pro. I am 72 years old and having fun with photography in many ways.

(Download)

I took a look and it seems pretty good until you look at the 1.3MP 1/4" CMOS Image Sensor. Pretty lame. I know the GoPro cameras have very good resolution and do time lapse.

I see photographers with some big 600mm lenses set up just north of where the eagle cam is located on Pine Island Road. That pair of eagles and their chick may be one of the most photographed pair anywhere. In addition, I have heard there are about 25 pairs of eagles nesting on nearby Pine Island.

The FAA requires that if you intend to use the photographs or videos for commercial purposes you obtain a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. This requires you take a test on airspace, weather, and rules and regulations. They charge $150 to take the test.

Actually, the new DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a new, better camera with a 20mp Sony sensor and retails for $1500, but with that particular model you have to provide your own smart phone or tablet. The camera has been getting great reviews.

As Mt Shooter advised, DJI has made 3rd party batteries non competitive because the firmware updates only work on original DJI batteries. I think you'll find that when you send your expensive investment out high and far to take photographs you'll be a little more confident in knowing you have a reliable battery to bring it back to you. I have done it for 183 flights with my Phantom 3 Pro and am still always a little nervous seeing it high in the sky. By the way, I would strongly suggest the Phantom 3 Pro over the Standard as the communication link with the drone gives you a great deal more range.

Why crop it? Some scenes demand a panoramic view to take everything in. Cropping that scene would leave important aspects out. Very nicely done.

Nice job.

I have been using http://perfectposters.com/ for many years. I've been very happy with their work. They will print any size, not just standard poster sizes. Also great selection of papers, finishes, etc.

Really a great topic. I doubt there are many of us over 60 who haven't considered how to preserve our photographs for our children or grandchildren. The rapidly changing technology and various formats make digital storage problematic. And will my daughter really want to break out dad's old hard drives and find some of his best pictures? No way.

I have gone to an old fashioned method. I make photo books of various topics such as cruises, vacations, types of wildlife, etc. Books can be thrown out too, but I think they last a few years longer than a box of hard drives. Immortality for us or our photographs is but a dream, but the closest I can come up with are photo books. I have found Blurb http://www.blurb.com/ to make beautiful books. I have dozens. Their free software makes it easy to design any type of book you might like.

Imagine a tripod equipped camera that you can move around in the air, up to 400 feet in altitude, and as far away as you can see it with your naked eye. Put a 20 megapixel camera on it that can take 4K video at 60fps. And then shoot photographs using the drone as a tripod for HDR shots, panoramic shots, and exposures up to 10 seconds long from the very stable, GPS controlled and stabilized camera platform.

With this amazing camera you can stay up for as long as 30 minutes. Because it is GPS controlled you can let go of the controls anytime you choose to scratch your nose, or have a cup of coffee and the drone will stay right where you left it. In the unlikely event you lose radio contact with it (the range is up to several miles) the drone will automatically return to the location from where it took off, at the altitude you requested earlier, and then will come down and land automatically, usually within 5 to 10 feet of where it took off from.

This is reality right now. DJI has just introduced the Phantom 4 Pro that does all of these things and much, much more. The Phantom 4 Pro retails for $1500. Their Phantom 3 Pro, which I have, does all the above but it is a 12 megapixel camera and only does 4K video at 30 fps. And the battery limits you to about 20 minutes. It retails for $829 from Amazon.

Drones have earned a bad reputation by irresponsible people, often young boys and teenagers, who fly them where they should not be, and without consideration for people who don’t like their annoying buzz. When used responsibly they are amazing photographic tools that anyone can easily fly. No longer do you have to worry about crashing a hard-to-fly airplane on your first flight. You can press one button and the drone will take off and hover at 4 feet in altitude, waiting for your next command. You can press another button and it will automatically return home and land itself. You can see exactly what the camera is seeing with the 720p video downlink to enable you to set up your shot. Naturally, the camera can be pointed straight down or up to 30 degrees above the horizon. You can set it to automatic exposure, or set the exposure manually, anytime in flight. It shoots in RAW or JPEG, or RAW and JPEG. The video and photographs are stored on a micro SD card.

I could go on and on, but I know some people will never consider using one of those “terrible” drones. I also know that among our readers are some that have an open mind, don’t mind thinking outside the box, and like to try new things photographically, and it is for these people that I am sharing a few photographs I have taken with my drone. In the last six months I have made over 150 flights and it has become one of my favorite cameras.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

Wow! Those are some of the best I have seen of Monument Valley. I've been there but did not know such tours were available. What is the approximate cost for such a tour? Where do you sign up? If I get back there I want what you had!!

Gene51, those are among the best photos I have seen of the Blue Angels. Congratulations.

All of your lenses will work. If you like the D300, which I do, you'll love the D7200. I made the change about a year ago. I liked the D7200 so much I bought two. Now I am not knocking the D500 at all. It is a great camera and if it had been out when I was transitioning I might have bought it. But I guarantee you'll love the D7200 if you decide to go that route.

I'm sure some will object, but I like your effort here. You are a digital artist with proficiency in the tools of our trade, digital camera and Photoshop.