Where it all began
Aerial work with Sea Doo in 2008 - before the multicopter.
How Byron Aerials got started in aerial video / photography
For over 15 years I have been passionate about pushing the limits of photography and videography through drone technology and aerial imagery. The freedom of the aerial medium, its technical challenges and the ability to view scenes with a fresh perspective are all factors which make it a core pillar of my work today. The sky really is the limit.
So where did it begin? The early days….
My passion for aerial photography began when a friend approached me looking to sell some equipment - an electric heavy lift helicopter with a camera cage (pictured above and left). The camera mount frame was made from scrap metal and a rubber bungie cord to cancel out the vibrations. It was a pretty simple contraption with no video downlink which meant I could not monitor the shots. Therefore, the camera remote I was using to activate the camera only worked within 200 meters. It was a challenging exercise to get the shot but I have no doubt that these early days, flying blind, and having to formulate the image sequence clearly in my mind, have led me to become the skilled operator I am today.
A few years later drone technology started to take off with the ability to carry heavy DSLRs. It was then that I invested in a hexacopter (six engines). It was a breeze to fly compared to the remote helicopter as it could hold its bearing without me touching the remote, allowing me to compose my frame. Back then long distance video downlink and a 20 minute flight time was only a dream - I can actually remember visualising this feature which is now reality for everyone.
As drone technology improved so did the camera technology, a parallel development which made obtaining decent set up more affordable and accessible. Around this time the film industry were becoming increasingly aware of the drone revolution, and given there still weren’t a lot of operators, I was fortunate enough to start getting work around the world filming for the USA division of Discovery and the Travel Channel.
Life and Death - an award winning aerial image
Life and Death was the first drone image to win a major award.
In addition to the power of aerial videography to bring commercial productions to life, I have always embraced the medium for its unparalleled artistic potential for my photographs. Displaying everyday scenes from entirely new perspectives has opened a whole new world of creative possibilities.
In 2014 my image Life and Death | Byron Bay became one of the first drone images in the world to win a major photography award, taking out best photo at International Landscape Photo of the Year. The image artwork depicts the aftermath of a bushfire that occurred at the Broken Head Nature Reserve, near Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, after aerial water bombing quelled the flames. Abstract and beautiful, the aerial perspective reveals a unique view of the power of the natural world.
