Attack of the Drones

That is quite impressive...I'm not someone possessed of video skills, either taking or editing, but that looks like it was taken by someone with both. What happens though when three or four dronographers turn up at the same time, do they have a dogfight to get the best shot??? I've seen a bit of pushing and shoving on photocharters, dread to think what "drone rage" might be like.! I am sure in time a set of guidelines will evolve over drone use. As a side issue, I remember trains on the Mid Hants being "buzzed" by a microlight, though I don't know whether the pilot concerned was filming or not.

 

Surely these drones interfere too much with other people (including paying passengers on steam specials) who want to just enjoy the event. Already, some photographers have a mentality that the event is being laid on for their own entertainment.

I wonder what will be the reaction of the security jobsworths when people use them to photograph ordinary trains at stations - 'oi, you can't take photos here with that thing'.

John

 

No more than an aeroplane flying over a train. They are tiny and make far less noise. Admittedly they are closer but distance means the effect is similar.

Hopefully drone users will have more sense than just using them at stations without permission. They are no more of a pest than those with an SLR who choose to trespass on tracks...

 

This microlight was considerably lower than 500 feet, it was following 5224 on a service train during (I think) the Autumn gala in 2010 - I had my camera but was too busy gawping to take a photo. Back to drones, I am sure that no real dogfights will ensue, but do wonder about drones getting into shots - both from other drones and from lineside photographers and videographers. For stills, photoshop is your friend but don't know how you would remove drones from video. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out. (No pun intended)

 

Not sure how it is any different to a photographer/videographer standing in another photographer's/videographer's way. There seems to be some kind of mentality that all drone users think they have the right to be closest to the shot, which simply isn't true.
As a drone user myself, and have already said, I always look at who is already in a location and would adjust accordingly, just as would be expected vice versa.
It's always interesting to have a variety of shots.

 

Like I said, rules of etiquette will evolve... I was just wondering how easy it is to avoid drones getting in each others way when you are remotely controlling a camera in 3 dimensions some way away....probably just me as I don't have great 3-d thinking or hand-eye co-ordination, which is why I stick to plain photography ...I can visualise 2d pictures much better. Anyway, glad to hear from a real drone user, I haven't met any at the Mid Hants yet, will be interested to chat when I do meet one (not whilst they are filming, obviously)
Have been buzzed by kites whilst taking photos at Didcot Railway Centre, but they are not very chatty....

 

They are surprisingly easy to fly, I've never flown a model aircraft before and picked it up quite quickly (I'm not claiming to be a mastershot or anything). I think one of the advantages of using drones around railways is there isn't a great point in going a long way from the controller, 100m maximum to get shots. Any further and it's likely to be higher and out of shots anyway. If you are ever down my way I would be happy to show you (and anyone else who is interested).

I hope that drone users can be realistic in not interfering with others, but also I hope that others can appreciate the different angles that drones can produce.

 

Someone wasn't happy!

 

Well done Skippy! (Shows age!)

Steven