Aerial Drone Architectural Photography

Some recent good examples of Aerial Drone Architectural Photography show how getting up just 10 or 20 feet can make all the difference in an exterior of a building. These are both apartments complexes. The Lyndon pool is in San Marcos and the 959 Franklin images are from Eugene, Oregon. In those you can see that it was raining but I had just enough time to launch the Mavic Pro and shoot these two angles. The sky was ugly so replacing the sky in Photoshop was easy and necessary.

Aerial Drone architectural Photograph of 959 Franklin angle 2

Aerial Drone architectural Photograph of 959 Franklin

Aerial Drone architectural Photograph of The Lyndon San Marcos

Photographing Student Housing with the drone

At July 22, 2019
By Johnny Stevens
In aerial, Aerial photography, aerial video, architecutral, areial video, commercial photography, drone, Drone photography, Fine Art, lifestyle photography, Photography, Photoshop, professional, student housing, student lifestyle
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Photographing Student Housing with the drone

How many times have I just wanted to get the camera up 10 feet to really showcase the exteriors of some of the student housing properties I have shot? Photographing aerial Student Housing with the drone is the simple answer because the drone allows me to get a different perspective on the property. Usually I noticed that I do get some keystoning distortion simply because I am often shooting down. This is easily corrected with the vertical perspective tool in Camera Raw in Photoshop. Here an example of the difference in perspective from ground photographs off the tripod and similar ones from the drone. These are both the same property by American Campus Communities.

Ground photo from tripod of the pool at Townhomes at Newtowne in Lexington

photographing student housing Aerial Drone photo from tripod of the pool at Townhomes at newtowne in Lexington

Aerial Drone photo from Mavic Pro drone of the pool at Townhomes at Newtowne in Lexington

The Mavic Pro drone perfect perspective

At March 21, 2019
By Johnny Stevens
In 17 mm, aerial, Aerial photography, aerial video, architectural photographer austin, architecutral, drone, Drone photography, Photography, professional
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The Mavic Pro drone perfect perspective

How many times have I been shooting architecture from a tripod and wishing I could get just 10 feet higher? The Mavic Pro drone adds the perfect perspective for those situations. The drone does not have the vertical perspective adjust-ability as the TS-E 17 lens does, but once you are up 10 or 20 feet, you don’t need it because the verticals are true at those heights.

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro photographer Johnny Stevens

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro Austin

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro Johnny Stevens

Aerial Drone

At May 30, 2018
By Johnny Stevens
In aerial, Aerial photography, aerial video, architectural photos, areial video, austin architectural photographer, Austin photographer, drone, Drone photography, Drone Video
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How many times have I been shooting a structure and wishing I could get just 20 feet up rather than shooting from the ground?

Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro 2 Johnny Stevens

ThinkEast Apartment Aerial architectural photo with Mavic Pro 2 Austin

Alas, this is just what the drones offer us. Not only do they offer a different perspective on a structure, but we can add video to leverage aerial motion and feature the surroundings. Add a bit of moody music and you have a very compelling representation of a property. My drone of choice is the DJI Mavic Pro 2 with the Hasselblad camera simply because I can pack it in my photo bag and travel with it on planes. The camera delivers a superior still image as well.

Drone Photography and Video by Johnny Stevens

FAA Licensed Drone Pilot

FAA Registration FA3347KRKA

Simple Video settings for Canon 60D

At May 24, 2018
By Johnny Stevens
In Aerial photography, aerial video, video, videography
0

Recently I drilled through the Canon 60D to provide my client with some setup Simple Video settings for Canon 60D instructions that the staff could carry with them for shooting video with this camera. It is a wonderful camera for shooting video. Here you go.

Canon 60 D SLR camera

Simple Video settings for Canon 60D

SHOOTING VIDEO

Automatic:

These Automatic notes apply to shooting photos in AUTO as well:

You get no control over any settings like, shutter speed, white balance, f stop, ISO or focus.
However, if you have had a margarita and don’t want to deal with settings AUTO mode will give you acceptable video quality.
The only concern you may have is not having control over focus unless you set the lens to Manual Focus and focus the lens manually by zooming in to the subject, focusing and then zoom back out to wherever you like.

Shooting Video on AUTO

If you have a lavaliere mic, clip it onto the subject and plug the mini jack into the mic port on the under the rubber flab on the left side of the camera. Otherwise sound will be recorded from the camera mic (not great sound quality). The lav may need a micro mini adapter to fit the mic in port.
Power up camera (left thumb)
Turn Main dial above power switch to the video camera icon. (last one)
On the lens select AF (Auto Focus)
On the lens select stabilizer OFF if you are on a tripod. ON if you are hand holding .

If nobody has messed with the camera settings these should stay in place for AUTO. But if you want to double check these AUTO settings:

MENU

SCREEN 1
- Movie exposure – AUTO
- AF Mode – Live mode (lets you see the image on the camera window.)
SCREEN 2
- Movie REC Size 1920 x 1080 / 30p is fairly standard HD video. 24p is best for cinematic footage.
- Sound Recording – AUTO

You can start shooting now

Focus on subject by placing the square in the middle of the window on the subject and press the shooting tigger button (right forefinger) half way to set focus. (or press the AF ON button with thumb.)
Increase or decrease exposure by rotating the Thumb Wheel.
Push camera icon by viewfinder to start recording.
Push again to stop recording

Shooting VIDEO on Manual

Rotate top dial to the video camera

Press Menu (there are 3 VIDEO screens for settings. Select them with the wheel on the top right on your right forefinger)

SCREEN 1
- Movie exposure – Manual
- AF Mode – Live mode (lets you see the image on the camera window.)
SCREEN 2
- Movie REC Size 1920 x 1080 / 24. This is the most cinematic setting.
- Sound Recording – Manual. Adjust the sound level so that it is not hitting 0 Just above 12 is fine.
SCREEN 3
- White balance. For indoor office setting choose SUN – Daylight.

(Most of these menu items can also be accessed from the Q button (Quick Menu). Move up and down these icons by pressing the top and bottom of the outer ring on the SET button.

Then you can set your shutter speed, aperture and ISO just like you would if shooting photos.