Women Who Drone | Our Story
Watch as Women Who Drone founder Elena Buenrostro shares her story about how she became interested in drones and what she has set out to accomplish with her company. Women Who Drone (WWD) is an online platform and community that inspires and educates women and girls using drone technology. Elena describes her job as being an aerial cinematographer and photographer who can pilot a drone to capture the world from above. She thinks that the Drone industry is exciting because it's growing and it combines technology and creativity. Before drones became commercially available, aerial cinematography previously had to be done by hiring a helicopter.
Growing up, Elena aimed to be the first member of her family to graduate from high school and college. After graduating from high school, Elena wanted to accomplish her dream of taking a solo trip to China and hiking the Great Wall. She also wanted to make a video of it since she was interested in being a professional video producer. Researching how to do so led her to drones. Eventually, she fell in love with filming with drones, and it was this love that then led her to create Women Who Drone, a global community of women, connecting with each other, answering questions, and sharing content they’ve created.
As a Latina and a woman, Elena notes that it is rare to see people like her working in the drone industry. When she goes to schools to teach girls about drone technology, she recalls that initially, the girls are uninterested, but when she tells them her story and shows them what she can do, they become intrigued. Elena ends her story poignantly by stating, “The more and more we reach out to younger girls, and we teach them about drone technology, but we also share with them our culture and where we grew up, the more inspired they will become by hearing stories that they can connect to from women like themselves.”
I am a writer and an artist based in Georgia. Specializing in illustration, graphic design, and video art, I love to explore the new ways technology intersects with art. I think drones have done amazing things for photography and video art, making what would previously be costly and difficult more accessible. As a complete novice, it was only recently that I saw what independent artists could do with their drones, and I continue to be impressed by the sights that drones are able to explore and the images they can capture. Instagram: @tyesha.ferron
