STACK #204 Oct 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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STAY COMPOSED

PRODUCTS DJI Mini SE

Whether you’re an expert pilot or new in the arena, there are a few composition techniques to follow to get your eye in the sky looking in the right direction.

The littlest member of the DJI family, the Mini is a perfect starting point if you’re dipping your toes in the air. Ultralight and compact and with a 30-minute flight time, this little guy will get you taking epic aerial shots in no time.

Rule of thirds Like standard photography, the rule of thirds is an essential composition technique for beginners. Imagine there’s a three-by-three grid laid over your location. Instead of placing your subject right in the middle of the shot, you should place your subject along one of the lines of the grid. The points where the lines intersect are particularly

strong areas of focus, so place important elements of the image there, if you can. Isolation

DJI Mavic Air 2 4K Drone

Isolation techniques in aerial photography can have amazing results. Place your subject in the dead centre of the shot and fly vertically until you are happy with the framing. Juxtaposition This composition technique comes to life when you complement two opposing contrasts with each other. Think a cliffside shot of an old Italian town, or where bushland and oceans meet on the Great Ocean Road, for inspiration. Asymmetry While tradition would say that vertical and horizontal lines are ideal for composition, aerial photography encourages the shooter to embrace nature's natural curves and asymmetrical beauty. There is more risk in pulling the viewer’s eye to your intended subject this way, but hey – art is subjective. Get out there and get creative.

The DJI is the quiet overachiever. Stronger and faster than the Mini, the Air 2 boasts 48MP images (more than most DSLR cameras) and 4K video.

You must not fly your drone higher than 120 metres (400 feet) above ground level.

You must keep your drone at least 30 metres away from other people.

If your drone weighs more than 250 grams, you must fly at least 5.5 kilometres away from a controlled airport (which will generally have a control tower).

If you’re near a helicopter landing site or smaller aerodrome without a control tower, you can fly your drone within 5.5 kilometres. If you become aware of manned aircraft nearby, you will have to manoeuvre away and land your drone as quickly and safely as possible.

You must not fly over or above people in a populous area. This can include beaches, parks, events, or sporting ovals where there is a game in progress.

You must keep your drone within visual line-of-sight. This means always being able to see the drone with your own eyes (rather than through a device, screen or goggles).

You must not fly your drone over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway. This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire or firefighting efforts, or search and rescue.

If you intend to fly your drone for, or at work (commercially), there are extra rules you must follow. You will also need to

Remember, you must not operate your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person or property.

Respect personal privacy. Don’t record or photograph people without their consent – this may breach other laws.

You must only fly one drone at a time.

You must only fly during the day and you must not fly through cloud or fog.

register your drone and get a licence or accreditation.

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54 OCTOBER 2021

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