When drones first entered the photography market, I must say I was intrigued. I started following blogs featuring drone photography, showcasing landscapes of exotic places. I enjoyed the panoramic views of breathtaking scenes that could only be captured from a bird’s eye view. It gave me a greater appreciation of how the technology revolution has enhanced the photography industry.
This fascination is quite out of character for me. In fact, the fast paced technology evolution has been a terrifying roller-coaster ride. The introduction of digital photography turned my world upside down and through loop de loops. I loved film and the magical transition of the developing process that took place in my dark room. In my mind, it was art, and there was no alternative. With my heels dug firm into the sand, I was sticking to my craft.
As digital photography consumed the market with advanced cameras and all the miraculous possibilities of Photoshop, I admit it started to intrigue me. I slowly and quietly converted to the world of digital. I began accepting that all great things can benefit with change. With an open mind and a developing attitude that change and new advancements can actually be good, I was now open to explore new possibilities.
This brings us back to drones and my first experience with these flying electronic bugs. It was a beautiful summer day on Mousam Lake in Maine. I was relaxing on my dock in the late afternoon under a crisp blue sky spotted with white puffy cumulus clouds, slowly rearranging themselves to create sketches of whatever my imagination allowed. The soft warm breeze was like a lullaby harmonizing my relaxed state of mind. I drifted in and out of a soft sleep. In the distance I could hear the soft buzz of a bee. Maybe it was my dream state, but it appeared to be approaching with a mission-like demeanor. The closer it got the more intense the buzzing. Quickly, I opened an eye, ready to swat the invasive creature before it landed. To my surprise, I saw it’s beady eye staring at me with a vengeance. Yet this was not a creature of nature. Once my senses restored, I realized the offensive buzzing was in fact a drone. I was astounded. This space, this dock, this moment, it was mine. My escape from reality, my time to restore energy and enjoy the tranquility of the lake. I had no intentions of sharing that with a drone and its operator.
While my first interaction was unpleasant, and I still feel as though drones can be an invasion into our personal moments I naturally have a different stance on the art of drone photography. I enjoy the panoramic scenes that they are able to capture. An art that is uniquely theirs.
