Continuity Issues To Watch For When Shooting With A Drone

Using a drone to shoot video for any type of project provides you with an opportunity to not only capture incredible footage, but also get it at a fraction of what you'd spend hiring a helicopter and film crew. Regardless of the type of project for which you're shooting, you might sometimes need to shoot over the course of two days. If so, you'll need to keep a number of continuity issues in mind so that your finished project looks seamless. Here are some specific details to remember.

Sun Position

One of the most important things to consider is the position of the sun in the sky. If you're filming with a drone on two different days and will be editing the footage into one production that suggests it was all captured at the same time, it's imperative that you fly your drone at the same time each day. One of the easiest continuity errors to make it failing to do so, and it will be evident because whatever you're filming will be illuminated differently. For example, the noonday sun is directly overhead, which provides shorter shadows than the sun when it's about to set.

Wind Strength

Another issue to watch for is the strength of the wind. Different conditions on different days will make it difficult for you to edit together your footage and make it appear as though you shot everything during one outing. For example, if the trees in the background are standing still during one sequence of shots, and then dramatically swaying during other shots because of strong winds, this will catch the attention of your viewers. Checking the forecast to note the wind speed on each day of shooting is vital.

Ground Details

You should also give some thought to the details on the ground that might lead to continuity errors. For example, something as simple as flying over a parking lot that is 90 percent full will be a problem if the lot is virtually empty the next time you're out filming. You should always think about the details on the ground when you're flying a drone. Even if you're a couple hundred feet in the air, these details are things that viewers will notice and that may detract from your production if you aren't careful. When you pay attention to avoiding these issues, however, you'll have a better project that appears more seamless.

To learn more about drone photography, contact a business such as UAVantage LLC.   


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