9 tips from Abstract Aerial Art

Brothers JP and Mike Andrews love travel and adventure. Through unique images built around patterns, these Englishmen want to take you along on their journeys – on their Instagram account, among other places. Below, they share 9 tips for drone photography.

9 tips for inspiring drone shots

1. Do your research

“This is the most important tip we can give you: do your research. We often travel the world without a plan, but our images are a different story – we always prepare them carefully. Almost every shot we’ve taken was thoroughly researched in advance.

We use satellite imagery to get a feel for the area we’re in (or are heading to). Plenty of apps let you view the planet from above, Google Earth for example. You can imagine how useful that is for a drone photographer. While looking at Google Earth, we try to get as far as we can in composing the shot we have in mind. We save it so we can refresh our memory once we’re on location. We’re not saying you have to do this to get a good photo, but it works for us. It means we can get straight to work on location and save time. Studying a spot beforehand also reveals things we would definitely have missed otherwise.”

2. Weather and light conditions

“It’s important to take external factors such as weather and light into account too. They affect your image. How can you use them to your advantage, or at least minimise their impact? If you think this through carefully, you’ll eventually be able to choose your conditions to match the effect you’re after.

We take photos in conditions plenty of people would hate. A fairly grey, gloomy day with thick cloud cover and muted light… we love it! It quickly makes an image look a bit flatter. We like our images to look like an original work of art. We don’t use sun and shadow the way traditional photographers do. In short, we recommend thinking about the kind of photo you want to make and which weather and light conditions suit it.”

3. Pay attention to scale

“It isn’t always easy to convey a sense of scale in a drone photo. We love strange, striking images, but sometimes it’s tricky when you can’t tell whether a picture was taken under a microscope or from a spaceship (the answer is ‘with a drone’, just so you know before you start wondering!). That’s why we recommend adding something recognisable to the frame whenever possible. It gives the viewer a sense of proportion and size, which is reassuring in a photo that looks strange at first glance. You can use all sorts of things for this, depending on the type of photography you focus on. In the past we’ve used boats, cars and kayaks.”

4. Shoot in AEB mode

“With the Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) function, a single press of the shutter button captures several photos of the same composition at different exposures. It’s handy because you can pick your favourite image from the series. It’s especially useful if some of the shots are a little weaker or if the light changes quickly during the flight. We always use this function because of the options and flexibility it gives. You can also create an HDR image by merging three photos. We don’t do this ourselves, and we should warn you it isn’t easy, but you can always give it a try. A drone can hover very steadily in mid-air, but it’s not a DSLR on a tripod. Layering AEB drone images has its issues!”

5. Add props to your shots

“It’s fun to include props in your shots – they add that little something extra. And, as mentioned earlier, they also make scale and proportions clearer. We like to use an umbrella, but there are plenty of other accessories you can use. Time to get creative!”

6. Vary your altitude

“Your drone can fly high, but that doesn’t mean you always have to shoot from a great distance. Over the years we’ve found that drone photos often look better from a little closer. Think in terms of perspective rather than altitude. Also remember that every country has its own rules, including the maximum altitude you’re allowed to fly your drone. Look them up before you take to the skies.”

7. Use filters

“Using filters on your drone helps your images stand out that little bit more. We use them for most of the photos we take and for all the video footage we shoot. We use filters made by Polar Pro – a lot of people ask us which ones. Mainly the Cinema Series Pack. Exactly which one we use depends on the light, but it’s usually the ND8PL.”

8. Know your gear

“This may sound obvious, but make sure you know your gear well before you rush out to shoot films and photos with your drone. You wouldn’t believe how many people only realise after a long time that they know far too little about drones to create anything really beautiful with them. They also can’t deal properly with any problems that arise.

Flying a drone may seem easy, but it isn’t. Things can go wrong quickly – they’re still machines. Learn how to use your drone’s safety systems so you know how they work and what to do if something goes wrong. Fly safe and we can all carry on enjoying this incredible technology.”

9. Be yourself

“Most important of all: be yourself! Don’t copy what others do just because it’ll make you popular or earn you lots of likes on social media. Of course it’s great to see what other photographers are doing, and by all means take that inspiration with you. But we can’t stress it enough: do your own thing! You’ll earn far more respect for pulling off your own tricks, and we admire the people who do.

There are some amazing, popular spots out there, but there’s still so much to discover. It’s precisely the lesser-known places, the ones not everyone photographs, that will stand out. At the end of the day, if you enjoy what you are shooting then that is by far the most important thing.”

The faces behind Abstract Aerial Art

Drone photographers JP and Mike Andrews are brothers and best mates from England, addicted to travel and adventure. They want to show you unique images of things you could never see with your own eyes.

It all began in March 2016. The Andrews brothers had had enough of predictable life in England and booked a one-way ticket to Australia. They had no plan. Without any survival experience whatsoever, they set off across the Australian outback. That year-long adventure changed their lives completely. After six months, JP and Mike bought a drone to capture the incredible views they came across along the way.

They immediately realised they had images you don’t see everywhere – images that make you think. They decided to share them with the rest of the world. That was the start of Abstract Aerial Art and @abstractaerialart.

The brothers want to stress that every Abstract Aerial Art shot is taken from a bird’s-eye view and shows a real place on the globe. For them, composition matters more than reality. They think like artists rather than traditional photographers. The photos are not manipulated, apart from a few minor colour and contrast adjustments. Abstract Aerial Art’s motto: “The point is not to work out what it is, but to show how weird and wonderful the world can look from above.”

The brothers want to keep travelling as much as they can. The more of the world they see, the more they realise this is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much to discover!

Gear

For their drone photos, Abstract Aerial Art use a DJI Phantom 4 Pro and a DJI Mavic 2 Pro. They pair these professional drones with Polar Pro Cinema Series filters.

DJI has since released new flagship models, such as the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and the DJI Air 3S. The Mavic 4 Pro features a triple-camera system with a 100-megapixel Four Thirds main camera, records 6K video and stays airborne for up to 51 minutes. Its gimbal rotates a full 360 degrees, so you can capture vertical footage for social media straight from the drone. The Air 3S is more compact and more affordable, yet its 1-inch main camera and 70mm telephoto lens deliver image quality the previous generation can’t match. On top of that, its forward-facing LiDAR sensor detects obstacles, even in low light. ND and polarising filters are available for both models, so – just like Abstract Aerial Art – you stay in control of shutter speed and reflections.