Droning On: My First Flight

My Experience Learning to Fly a DJI Mini 2 and a DJI Mavic 2 Pro

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I, Ellen Shipman, refuse to live up to stereotypes- no matter how perfectly they apply to me. Therefore when I realized that flying drones in Digital Storytelling was basically a high stakes video game, requiring both the ability to drive and understand directions, I knew I was screwed.

However, I am proud to say that I overcame my lack of hand eye coordination, and successfully flew not one but TWO drones! (A DJI Mini 2, and a DJI Mavic 2 Pro). Not only was this experience the coolest thing I've done in Digital Storytelling so far, but it also gave me an appreciation for Furman's beautiful campus and the power of a alternate POV.

If you look closely, you can see me and my partner London on the Drone monitor, striking a diva pose.

My struggles included making wide turns rather than tight turns, stopping slow enough that the camera didn't jump, and finding a landing pad mid-field. however, while there was a bit of a learning curve, I found that the DJI Mini 2 was easy to control and by the end of my 15 minute flight, I was considerably more confident at navigating difficult areas.

This experience taught me:

• The importance of drone safety- knowing your weather, airspace, and risk factors.

• Drone Ethics- specific ways to respect the privacy and safety of others.

• Why you should always have a partner while flying- so you can have a pair of eyes on the monitor AND the very expensive tiny helicopter you just put 200 feet in the air.

• The importance of trouble shooting both on the ground and in the air- remaining calm but REACTING quickly.

• Yes, drones are important and expensive, but it is never worth putting another human's safety at risk to save a machine.

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  Me, forgetting to keep my eye on the monitor because I was just so excited to see my baby fly!

Moving forward, I am excited at the potential of using drone footage in future projects! Considering the next Contra dance is 3 day after this Doc is due, the likelihood of drone footage making it into that project is slim. However, after seeing the power of a simple shot taken from even 50 feet in the air, I am eager to use them in future projects. I believe drone footage has the power to take a scene or concept that we see everyday and don't blink twice at- like the Furman mall, the chapel, the fountain, ect.- to something beautiful to behold. This creates a reminder of the beauty that constantly surrounds us no matter where we are, that we consistently make the choice to look past.

My partner London and I discussed near the end of our flight that even though the two of use haven't the foggiest inclination of a interest in sports, we wouldn't mind spending the rest of our lives flying these over big areas capturing the epic emotion of fans. That being said, Drone footage isn't used solely at sports games, and our future work could reflect that!

I can see me and London making our mark by capturing the energy of crowds at the Taylor Swift Era's tour, the Beauty of Oktoberfest in Munich, or an incredible sunrise looming over the Grand Tetons. I can see either of us finding a way to capture crowds drawn at rallies and protests, following models in real time across the runway at fashion shows, or in a ground breaking music video for an upcoming artist. The possibilities are limitless, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to explore them further!