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5 Simple cinematic drone maneuvers
Drone and aerial photography can be some of the most rewarding and beautiful shots that you can take with any piece of equipment. If you’ve been watching videos on the web and scouting out drone maneuvers, you’re probably wondering how you can get your shots to look as good as your favorite YouTubers, film makers or producers? You’re not alone. We’ve got your starting point and it comes in the form of 5 nice and simple cinematic drone maneuvers for beginners. From the overtake and tilt reveal to the final big unveil – let’s get started.
1. The overtake
The overtake shot puts a little emphasis on the separation between the subject and background while serving as a reveal shot. Think of it as overtaking your subject and heading towards the background. To perform simply fly past, to the side or over your subject, revealing the background and surroundings of your subject. This works particularly well if you’ve got a great backdrop to pan to.
2. The tilt reveal
The tilt reveal is another great tool to reveal a subject with drone photography and it’s possibly the simplest move available in your cinematic arsenal. To perform, simply point your camera straight to the ground and slowly tilt the gimbal back up to face the subject. It’s a super simple pan up that adds a little bit of movement to what could otherwise be an uninteresting or lacking shot. Definitely one that’s good to know how to use.
3. Point of interest
The point of interest is one of – in my opinion – the best (simple) drone movements with a focus on a single point of interest with movement around the subject. To perform, slide to the left or the right of your subject while rotating the drone so that it always faces the point of interest – almost like circling the area. It’s a great way to show-off objects/area from various angles and add depth to a shot.
4. Birds eye view
One of the most utilised drone shots that we’re seeing today is the use of the birds eye and view – and for good reason. The high up, face down shot gives a great view of the location and with careful piloting – it’s possible to get some stunning images that you’d otherwise never be able to see. To perform, fly the drone up to a desired altitude and face the camera down. From there it’s up to you – whether you want to keep it still or make a dynamic image – experimentation with the height is usually a great way to build your cinematic skills.
5. The unveil
Our final simple cinematic shot – and one that can be the most powerful when used correctly – is the unveil. By flying over foreground areas to reach the target point of interest you can create big reveals and dramatic shots. To perform, start low and gradually increase altitude until you’re exposing the background by moving over the foreground. The key is to keep smooth for an unassuming view that turns spectacular when the background is reached.
