Taking photos at night with a drone can be a challenge, but with the right preparation and knowledge, you can create stunning images. To get the best results, you should take photos in RAW format, minimize vibrations by disabling the mechanical shutter and locking the gimbal during shooting, and learn post-processing techniques to make your photos stand out. A background in architecture and graphic design can give you an eye for detail and composition. The top-down geometric shapes of a landscape lend themselves to this style of photography.
Drone photography has opened up a world of new opportunities to create unique landscape images. The camera on most drones has a fixed aperture to provide a great depth of field and, by its nature, is not suitable for long exposures. Therefore, a scene cannot be improved with a dreamy depth of field or faint, blurry clouds. When it comes to aerial photography with drones, the subject matter is key to obtaining a good image.
Consider where the objects cast their shadows for optimal capture. Try not to rely on taking pictures or videos in the direction of the sun, as this can cause the propellers to cast shadows on the camera lens. Capturing this, of course, isn't what you want. Drones are capable of taking pictures at night thanks to the manual configuration of many consumer photography drones.
Consider using Google Maps to find and plan your aerial photography and videography locations. Assuming that you know the local regulations on drones and that you have good flying skills, you might be prepared to buy a ship designed for photography. So don't expect that buying the best drone on the market will suddenly give your photography a boost. These tips contain useful information for everything related to drone photography, including drone wedding photography, aerial real estate photography, and even commercial aerial photography.
If you can control the movement of the camera (see tip 1 above), you should extend your photograph to the so-called blue hour, which lasts approximately one hour after sunset. The ability to maneuver a drone in the right places and positions at the right time is essential for any serious aerial photographer. Learning the basic concepts of aerial photography in general will go a long way in developing your skills with aerial drone photography. Once again, from the perspective of photographers, controlling the aperture, exposure time and ISO is important.
When post-processing the photo, software has many opportunities to overcompensate and increase noise. Most drone photos you've seen have been done with significant post-processing on the image to make it stand out. My favorite drone tip for taking still photos is to remember to take panoramic photos when you're flying. This may have been new in the past, but with the increasing amount of aerial photographs taken today, that novelty has disappeared.
Of course, lighting can be an important consideration, but controlling movement is key for successful night shots with drones. As with normal photography, lighting considerations are extremely important in aerial drone photography. Try not to rely completely on your FPV system during your photographic or film missions with drones, as this can be distracting and unsafe.
