- Ruby Noel
Pilot Spotlight: Interview with WWD Ambassador Leticia Dick
Tell us your story. How did you get started in the drone industry and when did that happen?
I am a 23 year old female drone pilot from the city of Perth in Western Australia. I have had a passion for filmography and photography ever since I could remember. So it was only fitting that I did my Undergraduate Degree at university in Film and Sound Production. After finishing my degree I decided to then do a Masters in Marketing, which I am currently completing. When I first heard of drones becoming the new way for creating content, I instantly was intrigued and had to get my hands on one to add to my camera bag.
At the end of 2016 I purchased my first drone, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional, which I still use to this day. I have always been someone who has been interested in the latest technology and wanting to learn how to use it. Drone photography and filmography has demonstrated a whole new way to capture an image from the different perspective of a birds eye view, which has made travelling even more interesting.
Don't get me wrong, flying a drone is challenging and it takes a lot of practice to get it right. I'm still not a pro at all and I am always learning new things everyday. My photography on the drone to begin with was pretty shocking. A lot of over exposed shots and just super bad angles. I can say now that I am way more confident when shooting with my drone.
Tell us about your company/work/organization and your position.
I am currently a student at Curtin University studying a Masters in Marketing, who works part-time as a sales assistant at Kathmandu, and on the sidelines I am also doing my blogs on my website and starting to sell my drone photography prints.
What kind of drone(s) do you fly and what's your favorite thing about it?
I currently fly one of the now older models of DJI drones, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional. Don't be fooled by this older model, it is awesome! The camera quality is insanely good and captures the most clear content for both my photos and videos. It would be way cheaper in price now then when I first bought it and it would probably be cheaper than some of the newer models too. Totally worth checking it out!
Have you learned any valuable lessons being in the drone industry you can share with our female drone community?
With any sort of content that you create, you want to add your own flavor to it. Drone content creation is on the rise and it can be tricky to find your own style. What I do love about seeing drone content on social media, is that even if the shot was taken in the same place (e.g. Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia) no one really has the same shot as you.
In saying that, you don't want to have the same shot of Cottesloe Beach and not put your own style to it, which can be done in the post-production stage of editing the image. Always support other female dronists out there! I would love to see more women excelling in using drones and the only way to do that is to support one another. Giving a follow, a like, or posting a positive comment to each others social media pages, will encourage more women to not be scared to fly a drone. Drones are so much fun to fly!
Whether its from a creative, commercial or humanitarian perspective, tell us about your most memorable drone flight you have piloted thus far.
One of my most memorable drone flights was my first time shooting surfers. I had no expectations of what I was going to shoot that day. So, I went to the beach super early in the morning and was so excited when I saw two surfers out in the water. I took my drone up as a few specks of light started to hit the water. It was so magical and I reckon those shots I took that day are some of my best ones that I have ever taken.
What would you say to women and girls about the drone industry to spark their interest in getting involved?
For anyone out there who is scared at the thought of flying a drone, don't be! I've been in so many scary situations with my drone where I thought I had either almost lost it, or broken it. However, it was those situations which have made me become more confident when flying my drone. I've learnt so many lessons on what to do right and what not to do now, that it was important for me to go through those hiccups. So don't be scared ladies, you can do it! Just practice, practice, practice!
What excites you most about more women joining the drone industry?
Today, a lot of drone imagery is showcased on Instagram, which I personally think is one of the best social media tools out there to display your work. I follow heaps of different drone accounts, but what I had noticed was the lacking in female drone work being displayed on the "big" drone accounts. I also didn't know where to look to actually find female drone accounts who display their work on Instagram.
When I came across Women Who Drone I can't express enough how excited and happy I was! Finally, a page where I don't feel like drone photography is just a male dominated industry. Women Who Drone is able to display so many amazing drone work from so many talented women and I can finally be able to find amazing female drone pilots out there on Instagram.
Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you?
I am super excited to share that I have just started up my very on store called the 'Flying High Store', which I am selling my drone photography prints through! You can check it out here!
Leticia (Letti) is a drone enthusiast, photographer and filmmaker from the city of Perth in Western Australia. She has lived half of her life growing up in South-East Asia and has traveled to many places around the world. She is currently studying a Masters in Marketing and recently set-up an online store through her website to sell her drone prints.
