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Photo Credit: Merr Watson Packing for any sort of major trip can be stressful, but for drone enthusiasts, it can be a real headache figuring out what and how to pack perhaps their most precious cargo: their drone and all that hefty equipment that comes with it! This article provides valuable pointers to ensure that you and your drone land safely within your next destination! Invest in a Portable Drone Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what to pack with your drone when traveling, perhaps you should consider purchasing a lightweight drone that is easier to tote around. Here are the two most portable drones recommended by drone experts. Photo Credit: Lonneke Tubbing DJI Mavic Compact Best drone to travel with when baggage is restricted Folds up into a petite package Quieter than most other drones DJI software is highly recommended DJI Spark Extremely compact Intelligent flights modes Equipped with a high performance camera Folds up into a petite package Photo Credit: Shai Ortiz DJI Phantom 4 Highly recommended if your priority is capturing quality footage Not as many advantages as the DJI Mavic, but still a great asset when traveling! The optimum drone for yours travels is one that is light and not bulky. These should be the two main features to look for when shopping for a drone specifically for traveling. The weight of your drone can make a huge difference in the ease of your travels, especially when it comes to hauling it onto a plane. You also want to ensure that your travel drone is resilient enough to withstand the traveling elements, like snow, strong winds, and other harsh weather conditions. You should also opt for a drone that has a decent battery life and can deploy efficiently. Purchase a Good Case If you plan to travel with your drone, you will need to invest some money in a good bag. More often than not, your carry on bag will become your drone bag. It’s recommended to purchase multiple bags so you have a choice of which one to bring on specific trips. Photo Credit: Laura Chukinov There are a plethora of bags to choose from, just ensure that you locate one that will fulfill your drone traveling needs. Here are great starter bags that are recommended by other drone enthusiasts: LowePro Protactic 450 Camera Bag Designed to hold the DJI Mavic Pro, Phantom 4, or other photography/videography gear Fits a multitude of equipment Multiple easy to reach access points Versatile and wildly comfortable The Mavic Hard Case Specifically created to safely house the DJI Mavic Drone Waterproof Ability to hold drone accessories, tablet, charger, batteries, remote, drone, and more! The Mavic Portable Case Specifically made to safely house the DJI Mavic Pro in a more petite form Includes hard-shell casing Waterproof Finding the right bag to pack your drone in can be rather challenging, especially since most times, it’s not the drone that takes up the most room, but the remote. Ensure that you find a back that provides adequate cushioning to protect your drone from minor bumps in the midst of travel. Extra Batteries If you are even somewhat familiar with the realm of photography and videography, you know that carrying additional battery and battery packs is very necessary. Even if you don’t think you will use them, pack them anyway. You never know the destinations your trip will take you on. You would hate yourself if you lost the opportunity for an award-winning shot just because your battery died. The DJI Mavic Pro and Phantom 4 average around 20-25 minutes of flight time per each battery. You also need to consider how much time it takes to charge batteries, which is around 60 minutes to completely charge a drained battery. A great item to pack along with your droning equipment is a car inverter, which enables you to charge drones within a vehicle. Many drone folks like the ones that sit within the cup holder. Ensure you add this to your list of necessary items! Neutral Density (ND) Filters These handy filters are an absolute must when traveling with your drone. The majority of drones have fixed aperture, which leaves the shutter speed and ISO responsible to get that balance of exposure. Without filters, your quality of footage has the opportunity to become shaky, so filters literally become a lifeline in the sky! If you are serious about droning at all, the best filters are created by Polar Pro! DJI Mavic Pro filters Phantom 4 filters Repair Tools All drone pilots know the reality of crashing their beloved machines. It can happen when you least expect it! The last thing you want is to be left with a crashed drone and unable to make easy fixes. Make sure to always carry along repair tools! Just having some duct tape and a small screwdriver is often times just enough to get you through a trip. Extra Propellers Along the same line as repair tools comes the necessity for additional propellers. You never know when a crash landing might damage a propeller. Without them, your drone is unable to properly fly. Packing extra ones gives you the peace of mind that you can get your drone back up in the sky in a jiff, even if it endures a minor crash. If you have all of the above items on that drone list of necessities to pack, you should be pretty set to capture your destinations at brand new heights! Happy travels droners!

As we wrap up 2017, your travel bucket list will likely come to mind in the face of a new year. One simple search online lets you explore thousands of gorgeous, unfamiliar places around the world - some from a spectacular bird’s eye view. How? You ask? By way of newfound visionaries - Drone Pilots, but not just any drone pilot, we are talking about women who drone! It’s no surprise that women make up 1% of the drone industry, so we’re excited to introduce you to these eight incredible female drone pilots to look out for that show us what their imaginations see in brilliant dreamscapes around the globe. Elena Buenrostro Video Producer - Traveler - Certified Drone Pilot Photo captured by Elena Buenrostro in Monterrey, CA with her DJI Mavic Pro To start off the list of these amazing women, I introduce you to the Co-founder and CEO of Women Who Drone, Elena Buenrostro! Recently featured in the Washington Post for her aerial photos, this New York resident is renowned for her ability to tell picturesque tales with the help of her DJI Mavic Pro. She began her journey in drone flying with her trip to China to document the Great Wall, where she fulfilled her out-of-the-box thinking with more than a run-of-the-mill camera, but rather a drone. It was this trip that she found her obsession with drone flying and discovered her love for capturing the world from a bird’s eye view. Photo Captured By Elena on The Great Wall Of China with her DJI Mavic Pro As an achieved drone pilot who has loads of videography, photography, and editing skills to share, Buenrostro is an avid storyteller who not only has a way with words that she actively utilizes in her projects, but viewers can tell that she has a unique vision of the gorgeous world we all live in. As a drone newly drone instructor and a strong female in the drone community, Buenrostro prides herself in authenticating people’s views of both dream and everyday destinations with her ability to showcase places at dramatically creative angles. There are a wide array of videos you can search through on her website www.elenabuenrostro.com. This woman has a skill that many folks can learn from! After the China trip, her drone hobby led her to becoming a certified drone pilot, an instructor, and a content creator. You can say that curiosity certainly lead her to the ultimate dream job! Buenrostro tells others that flying drones gives her an adrenaline rush that literally gives her the wings of ingenuity to mold virtual experiences. Since China, she has captured various areas within the United States and beyond as she hones her skills and broadens her expertise. Photo Captured By Elena in Big Sur, CA with her DJI Mavic Pro Buenrostro is inspired by the limitless possibilities that drones offer to videographers and photographers. She enjoys sharing her experiences with other women in the drone community and shares gear tips and tricks too. She is even exploring newer gadgets like Polar Pro's Katana, which lets her use her drone at ground level. She also swears by their filters which gives her the ability to shoot in harsh daylight. She tells those that are considering the purchase of a drone to “just do it! Buy it and try it. Only then you’ll understand how amazing it feels to be able to see from above.” If you wish to see more of Buenrostro’s work, visit her on her website or Instagram! Merr Watson Travel Enthusiast – Drone Pilot – Visual Artist Photograph captured by Merr Watson Merr Watson is a 26-year-old Australian photographer and videographer that enjoys traveling and reveling in places other than the land down under! She is renowned for the creation of dream-like videos of locations such as the Philippines, the Caribbean, Indonesia, and of course a variety of destinations within her residing country plus MANY more. Her latest video showcasing the Philippines will make you want to put this destination on your bucket list right away! Her aerial videography skills are to die for, as well as the upbeat, island-like music she chose to use to draw viewers of her videos in. If you want a cheap way to get lost in a dream location, Watson can help you achieve it without having to leave your couch! Photograph captured by Merr Watson Watson is a three-year seasoned drone pilot who started out flying a Parrot drone. She quickly bumped up to her current drone, a Dji Phantom 4 Pro in a mere couple months. Her inspiration for venturing into the world of aerial photography came directly from her creative roots after seeing footage from unique perspectives. She thrives on the ability to be able to capture the world in wildly new ways to aid her discovery of new destinations. Being able to explore locations around the globe through the eye of her aerial footage is what excites her the most! Watson’s tip to potential drone pilots is that there is no better time to invest in this type of career than now! There are many drones in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. She also reminds pilots to consider lighting when heading out to capture images. “Lighting is one of those aspects that can truly spice up your work and enhance your creativity. Be selective in the time of the day you go out and shoot. I suggest the golden hour to achieve images rich and warm in color!” If you want to get lost in Watson’s skillfully put together videos, visit her website at merrwatson.com or catch her on Instagram! Tiffany Nguyen Travel Photographer Photo captured by Tiffany Nguyen Tiffany Nguyen is a travel photographer based out of Los Angeles, California who has a knack for capturing a real-life bird’s eye view in a plethora of places around the world. If one were curious as to where the some of the globe’s most gorgeous destinations for travel photography were, I would recommend visiting Nguyen’s Instagram account for some awesome ideas! She has quite the knack for locating God-like areas and capturing them in such as way that makes even the homebodies want to leave the comfort of their home. Her photography skills are absolutely fantastic and anyone can certainly learn a thing or two from this imaginative photographer! Photo captured by Tiffany Nguyen Some of my all-time favorite images from Tiffany’s Instagram account were of her capturing the world not from a drone’s view, but from the way she viewed the world herself through her travels. She captures the essence of the outdoors by using tents, boats, the back of vehicles and more as the perfect framing of many of her images. It will certainly take you some time to go through her images. I know it was hard for me to leave! I am sure that we will be seeing a large array of extraordinary images as 2018 turns back the page! One of her biggest upcoming projects will be her trip to the island of Kauai at the end of January 2018. From helicopter rides to swimming in the deep blue oceans that surround the island, fans and potential lovers of Nguyen’s work will have a lot to look forward to as she brings all of opportunities to see the island from her unique point of view. Read more about the details here in regards to her 2018 Kauai trip! Elise Trijntje Ton Drone and Travel Photographer Photo taken by Elise Ton with her Dji Spark Elise Trijntje Ton is a 28-year-old resident of The Netherlands who is pretty new to the drone scene, but certainly not unseasoned in the realm of creativity. As an experienced travel photographer, Ton began getting her feet wet in the world of drones last summer. She states that she was looking to take on new challenges. Ton tells the tale of losing her first drone, a Dji Spark, in the landscape of Spain. Thank goodness that Dji sent her a brand new one, after her first drone flew away without a trace! Could you imagine? Photo taken by Elise Ton with her Dji Spark Ton says that droning and connecting with other enthusiasts makes for a grand experience since you can openly discuss and provide one another with valuable insights. “It’s cool to see more female drone pilots making their way to Instagram,” states Ton. “It’s really inspirational that more people are flying drones, especially women! It’s cool to be an early adopter of a relatively young industry!” Photo taken by Elise Ton with her Dji Spark Looking to purchase a drone for photography purposes? Ton recommends that you hone your photography craft before taking the step to getting a drone. Those beautiful drone photos don’t just happen, it takes skill. She suggests testing out a drone that someone else you know owns. This will help you to determine if a drone is for you.If you wish to see Elise’s beautiful travel photography and her drone creations, take a look at her website and look her up on Instagram! Lonneke Tubbing Drone Enthusiast & Travel Blogger Photo captured by Lonneke Tubbing Lonneke Tubbing is an exploration photographer in The Netherlands that has expanded the boundary between reality and imagination with her amazing drone photography techniques. She has a unique ability to take ordinary scenery and turn it into extraordinary images. Photo captured by Lonneke Tubbing As you make your way through her Instagram account, you will instantly be drawn in to both exotic and everyday destinations. Viewers of all kinds will find themselves attracted to her drone images because of the plethora of new angles to see ordinary things. Flying a DJI Mavic Pro, Tubbing is extremely talented in the way she utilizes her drone to capture the world around her on all of her adventures. She is a fan of the Netherlands, which is what you will find showcased most recently on her Instagram profile! Aside from being an extraordinary drone artist in the droning realm, Tubbing also taps into the world of healthy living! I personally found her website Health, Food, Mind to be not only colorful and well put together, but quite insightful as well! I am sure in the near future we will see her creative techniques come into play as she pairs her passion for capturing the scenery around her in various ways with her mission to teach others unique ways to live healthier and to become the best version of yourself! Heather Shevlin-Travel & Drone Enthusiast Photo captured by Heather Shevlin Heather Shevlin is a 28-year-old New York City resident with a passion for traveling and capturing memories! Just this last year she began her journey into the world of aerial photography, purchasing a DJI Mavic Pro and gaining extraordinary experience with her travels. She was influenced by her drone-flying friends after seeing captivating footage of the Pacific Northwest. Shevlin states that her favorite aspect of flying drones is “having the visual perspective I could never get on the ground. It’s a revolutionary tool for photographers and videographers.” Since Shevlin has started creating images with her Mavic Pro, she says that the experience is exhilarating, even if she doesn’t have the optimum flying areas in New York City. Photo captured by Heather Shevlin in Juneau, Alaska As Shevlin gets ready to launch her website, she enjoys being able to become engulfed by her surroundings during her adventures. You can see her beautiful photography via Instagram! Her city-scape photography is to die for! One of her all-time favorite trips was in Juneau. Her friends hiked and explored the coastline, hearing the distant sounds of humpback whales as they climbed numerous trees. She was thrilled that throughout her shooting of that trip, she managed to capture a few great shots of the whales! Shevlin recommends utilizing the bracketing capability to those new to using drones in their photography ventures in order to gain multiple exposures. She also states to remember to shoot in RAW format. Photo captured by Heather Shevlin Shevlin is excited about where drone technology will take her creative abilities, as she states “I really enjoy that these once highly advanced tools have now reached a point that’s user-friendly enough for a photographer or videographer to use with ease. We can genuinely focus on creating amazing imagery without worrying if we’re going to hit a tree and other dangers.” “For those that are interested in purchasing a drone of their own, I say quit that negative thinking! The internet is a beautiful thing, plus Women Who Drone will be offering a whole suite of educational resources to assist beginners and even those looking to get certified as a UAV pilot!” Sandrine Hecq Lifestyle Vlogger and Lover of Travel Photo captured by Sandrine Hecq Sandrine Hecq is a lifestyle blogger and travel enthusiast that has taken drone photography to the next level with her unusual techniques and willingness to soar new heights! Anyone can tell right away from taking a look at her work that she has an avid love for heights and capturing the world from an inhumanly point of view! Even from high in the sky, Hecq has the creative ability to hunt for unique patterns in Mother Earth to showcase her beauty. One of Hecq’s biggest projects was her vlog of the Camotes Island back in October of this year. She managed to take her trip to the gorgeous exotic destination and turn it into not only a personal vlog for others to view but also showcased her drone flying abilities. This vlog is one of the best videos I have viewed of someone’s travels. Hecq is quite personable and even talks about the lighting in various areas as she captures fantastic video and images of the Camotes Islands. Photo captured by Sandrine Hecq Hecq showcases her desire for adventure through her work as she climbs to new heights to ensure that she truly captures the feeling of the trips she takes in her entirety. I cannot wait to see what Hecq has in store as we all journey past the boundary of 2017 into a brand new year of creatively outstanding possibilities! Follow her on Instagram to see more upcoming and amazing aerial art! Kara Murphy Certified Drone Pilot – Avid Traveler – Mother – Marketing Consultant Photo captured by Kara Murphy Kara Murphy is a Michigan resident who has been in the world of drones since 2014. She is not only a certified commercial remote pilot, but she also manages to keep blandness as bay with her hands full as a creatively avid writer and dedicated mother. Murphy is renowned for assisting communities in establishing their brands through aerial videography and photography projects. Murphy has captured images that you may have previously seen make an appearance on Drone 360 magazine, Fortune, and CNN. A trip to her Instagram account or her website will leave you absolutely speechless. Murphy has a real talent in pinpointing out-of-the-box scenes and making them her own by adding her creative spin! Some of her best images (in my opinion) are those of the eccentric winding roads, amazing city views and the beach fronts from sky-high. One can certainly see her love of creative patterns, which is showcased throughout her amazing work. Murphy currently flies two Phantom 4 Pros, with the occasional use of a DJI Spark drone. She was been an avid photographer since 2009, with a photo from a friend inspiring her to soar higher with her renowned skill set. She enjoys having the ability to view things from alternate perspectives. “For me, the imagery I capture from above is far more interesting, in most cases, than what I can get on the ground,” Murphy states. Photo captured by Kara Murphy Many of the photos you will see on her website and scattered on her Instagram are sights from her very first trip to Spain. From incredible sunset landscapes to viewing the beautiful country from a bird’s eye view, those photos are unlike anything you will see amongst the interwebs! Murphy suggests to other drone pilots to learn the rules and regulations in the areas you wish to fly. Be a “good drone citizen,” in her words. When asked what she would say to other women thinking about getting themselves a drone, Murphy says, “Start out buying an inexpensive drone. It’s going to take you time to get used to launching, maneuvering, and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle.” In other words, practice sure does make perfect! Murphy is a self-taught photographer that prides herself in utilizing unique techniques to truly capture the essence of the communities she works for. Through her vision is where companies find their true meaning through the essence of worldly images. I have no doubt that Murphy will continue to expand the box of expectations and provide a wide variety of inspiration to both seasoned and new drone pilots and photographers as the New Year rolls around! All of these women have managed to not only showcase their creative skills and views but have captured a plethora of beautiful destinations around the world and brought them straight to our screens. Through these amazing female drone pilots’ past, present, and future work, other potential women pilots will find the motivation to fuel their desire to view and showcase their personal, professional and creative lives through the eyes of their drones! I hope you enjoyed this collection of amazing women and be sure to keep up with their future works as they continue to break through the boundaries in this mind blowing industry!

Photographers are artists that provide humanity with visions of the plethora of beauty our world has to offer. Without the creatives behind cameras, the way we visualize the world would be drastically different than how we have grown to know it. As we are all aware, human beings are sadly not equipped with wings, so how in the world can magazines and internet sources be sprinkled with photo after gorgeous photo of aerial views of our favorite places? This is where aerial photography comes into play! With the invention of drones of all shapes, sizes, specifications, and prices, a number of average photographers can now add a spark to their portfolios with breathtaking aerial pictures! If you are considering adding a drone to your photography equipment arsenal or already have one but are not capturing the shots you desire, here are 9 tips to satisfy your hunger for honing your aerial photo taking skills. Photo Credit: Laura Chukanov. Brooklyn, NY. 2017. 1. Create Something Wonderful from “Nothing” As a photographer myself, I strive to capture the “mundane” in unique ways that make viewers reconsider the everyday things around them. The same goes for aerial photography. When hundreds of feet in the air, it may seem like you are flying over bland landscapes, but really look for something that intrigues you that stands out. Is there one brightly colored fall tree in a forest of lifeless ones? Is there a rock that has rigid edges that shine against the sun? Do the lines of a field look like another picture that you as an aerial photographer can only see? Whatever catches your eye, make that the subject and ensure that you position it properly using the rule of thirds. There will be times that the scenery around you does not look too optimal at ground level, however, a drone can get you a bird’s eye view that can be absolutely amazing! So even though you might be bored with the scenery you have to capture, don’t overlook it. More often than not there are aesthetic features of any landscape that have cool patterns and shapes that you can’t make out from your level. You would be utterly surprised to see how many of the world’s best aerial shots looked like at ground level versus aerial view. If you feel like you can make your subject in the photo more intriguing, you can easily bring it up on Photoshop later and play with the processing to increase its presence and make it the king of the image! ​ Photo Credit: Merr Watson. Location: Mauritius, 2017. 2. Hone Your Drone Flying Skills The second reason you are probably not getting the crisp shots you are aiming for can be due to not properly flying your drone.. Before you waste time attempting to capture intense shots, spend quality time getting to know your drone and advancing your flying technique. You are only holding yourself back if you fail to practice your flying skills, for this is the foundation for taking captivating aerial photos and being able to call yourself an aerial photographer. If you have the confidence to fly your craft and hone these skills, you will then be able to navigate your photo-taking machine to new heights and to brand new locations you only previously dreamt about without accidents or damaging your drone. If you are new to the world of drones, I highly suggest opting for a cheaper drone so that you can practice and learn to control it while you capture photos. This way, you won’t accidentally make a detrimental crash. Photo Credit: Lonneke Tubbing. The Netherlands, 2017. 3. Learn ATTI Mode There will inevitably be a time or two that your drone will lose its GPS signal and switch to attitude mode. You will feel your heart jump in your throat as your precious drone reacts with unsettling alarms, but don’t fret. Take time as you get used to your drone to fly in ATTI mode, so that when and if this occurs in real-time, you have the knowledge to adapt with the conditions and avoid crash landing. ​ 4. Get in Touch with Panning Your Drone As you become accustomed to your drone, you may want to begin capturing not only crisp images, but rather ones with high resolution. You can obtain beautiful and detailed images by flying over your subject matter in a pattern as you shoot a series of pictures. Later, you can stitch all of those photos together, which will make for an extremely attractive photo! I suggest using Adobe Lightroom for this sort of project. You will come across occasions that the maximum height of your drone is met, yet it’s still not quite high enough to capture everything you desire. This is a benefit of taking a series of shots, so that you don’t miss a detail! Photo Credit: Elena Buenrostro. Phi Phi Islands, 2017. 5. Research Weather Conditions ​Even if you are a seasoned aerial photographer, don’t be too arrogant and think you can fly your drone in snowy, windy, or rainy conditions with ease. While these machines are meant to withstand Mother Nature, they only can to a certain point. If you plan to fly and capture shots during not so pristine weather, opt for purchasing a drone that is resilient to water and tough conditions. Always check the weather in the areas you want to capture before heading out. But what happens when the weather man is not so accurate? There will be times that you reach a location and the elements are not what was described on the weather channel. This is where creativity and thinking on your feet comes in handy! Instead of packing up and leaving, what about the weather and scenery can you capture with just a bit of creative thought? Most of the time, unforeseen weather is showcased in aerial shots and makes for a very intricate photo. You can utilize the tools on Photoshop later to create a better image, such as the dodge and burn tool, shading the fore body of the image. Or adding a touch of vignette to create a feeling of enclosure. Your creativity is your only limit! Photo Credit: Elena Buenrostro. Brooklyn, NY, 2017. 6. Utilize the Rule of Thirds Composition in photography is everything if you desire to capture the perfect shot. Don’t rely on being able to crop and rotate the image in Photoshop later to correct composition errors. In aerial photography, this will especially result in you losing those precious pixels. Instead, learn how to utilize the rule of thirds to get your shot straight the first time around and save you a headache later. 7. Finding New Locations The technology we have today is beyond comprehension. While it can be a challenge to locate new places to capture aerial images, try the easy-to-use Google Maps tool! Google Maps can easily help you locate scenery that has beautiful landscapes. Remember, there are locations that prohibit the use of drones, so be sure to look up local regulations so that you follow all of the rules. ​ Photo Credit: Merr Watson. Location: Mauritius, 2017. 8. Keep ISO at 100 Sensors that are small in size typically do not work well at high ISO levels. I personally recommend keeping your ISO at 100 or less. Anything above 100 can bring lots of unsightly noise to your photographs. I typically shoot in auto mode, but when the drone camera begins to increase the ISO number, I switch over to manual mode. If you set your drone to GPS mode, it results in outstanding stability. Living in Kansas, I find windy conditions to be the most challenging. If you are in the same boat, set your shutter speed to 1/6th of a second (yes, I know that is low!) and you will come out with sharp, motion-free shots! Just be sure to take multiple shots so that you increase your chances of getting that award-winning picture. 9. Lighting and Shadows Even though aerial photography involves having a camera way up high, this doesn’t mean that you can scratch out the importance of shadows and lighting. These two aspects will always be crucial to amazing photos in any area of photography. While finally being able to capture the world with a drone is exciting, do not overlook lighting, as it will certainly make you look like an amateur. Photo Credit: Lonneke Tubbing. The Netherlands, 2017. Remember as you head out to take aerial shots to consider when the sun is at in the sky and look at how objects in your view cast shadows on your subject matter. Not only do you have these things to consider, but you also have the possibility of your drone casting a shadow where you don’t want it too. While there is so much information to learn and familiarize yourself with when it comes to becoming a seasoned aerial photographer, this is a good start in grasping some of the most vital aspects of aerial photography. Happy flying! Article By: Ruby Noel Ruby Noel is an eccentric blogger, content writer, hobby photographer, and avid freelancer. She is always hunting for unique opportunities to expand her creative abilities and knowledge. She is motivated in her mission to make the best better by providing readers with valuable, easy-to-read content that inspires people to find their purpose.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.