Drones & Videos

Drone/HPOV Photography plus Videography (Special Interest Group)

Drone Photography
When you use a flying device to fly around or hover near a subject and capture either still or moving images. Explicitly, a drone is a remotely operated unmanned aerial device with an attached camera.
HPOV Photography
When you use a digital capture device like a digital camera or smart phone to shoot down from a high point of view to capture either still or moving images (hilltops, mesa over valleys, from an airplane window, bridges, skyscrapers, overlooking river valleys, etc.).
Videography
Videography is the process of recording of live events using devices such as digital cameras, smart phones, and drones for the purpose of capturing and editing of videos or movies.

In this special interest group, hosted by Gary Ford, members come together to share photographic and videographic experiences when flying drones; taking still images or movies from higher points of view; to share still images captured with drones, digital cameras, and
smart phones; plus view and discuss captured and edited movie files. See slideshow of drone images and videos from IACC members.

This is a composite group where half of our attention will focus on drone flying and HPOV image capture, and some of our time discussing the intricacies of videography where movie files are captured with any number of devices and then processed for video presentation.

If you have a drone, or are thinking about getting a drone, or you are just inquisitive about drone photography, this group would be a good fit for you. If you have an interest in land-based camera video, cell phone video, or drone video capture, this would also be of interest
to you. This group is open to beginner, intermediate, and advanced drone pilots and/or videographers.

(Note: If IACC members have an interest in videography and there is no other special interest group where you can show your videos, this would be a possible venue for that.)

This is not a workshop, but one of the host’s goals is to facilitate learning wherever possible. It would be best, but not required, if members have a drone, digital camera or smartphone
capable of video capture. Note: there is also an iPhone SIG specific to photography.

We meet on the third tuesday evenings of the month at 7:00 PM via zoom.

Meeting Format
Meetings are conducted digitally via Zoom. To participate you will need a computer with a microphone and camera, or a smart tablet. You must pre-register to receive the link to the Zoom meetings.

Outings
Six outings to fly drones are planned throughout the season. Members are invited to bring their drone if they have one. We will cover the basics of drone flying and using the camera for both photos and videos. If you don’t have a drone, you might want to see other members' equipment and learn about the basics.

Drone photos taken by IACC members.

What to expect

Each meeting will have two halves:
First Half (Drone/HPOV Photography)

Sharing of member experiences while flying a drone and discussing areas where flying is allowed and offers good subjects.
Q&A plus discussion of drone flying topics
Presentation on related issues and knowledge areas.
Q&A plus discussion of issues, places and opportunities for capture of higher point ofview images
Viewing of member still images captured via drone or other device from a higher point of view

Second Half (Videography)

Sharing of member experiences while doing video capture and editing.
Q&A plus discussion of videography capture and editing
Presentation on related videography issues and knowledge areas (capture, good movie ingredients, video editing).
Viewing and discussing member video images captured by drone or other video capture devices. Members will be invited to share their captured (and edited) videos up to five minutes in duration, with an urging to share videos no more than 3 minutes to gain practice for the annual competition video category.

In other words, each meeting will have some emphasis on drone use, drone and HPOV photography, plus some emphasis on videography and provide for sharing by members. The length of each meeting will be influenced by the degrees of questions and discussion initiated
by our members plus the number of images and movies shared.

meeting times and themes

We meet the third Tuesday of the month at 7 PM., for approximately 75-90 minutes.

Meetings will have a theme (subject to change):

Sep 16, 2025 – Introductions
Oct 21, 2025 – TBD by members
Nov 18, 2025 – TBD by members
Dec 16, 2025 – TBD by members NOTE: Date Change
Jan 20, 2025 – TBD by members
Feb 17, 2026 – TBD by members
Mar 17, 2026 – TBD by members
Apr 21, 2026 – TBD by members
May 19, 2026 - Anything Goes
Jun 16, 2026 – Showing Our Favourite Work

Drone Outings

Sep 27 or 28 2025 – Orientation to Drones at UofA Farm (south end)
Oct 18 or 19 2025 – Sardine Lake near Drayton Valley
Nov 2025 – In Edmonton to capture images of the downtown skyline and bridges in the early evening.
Dec 2025 – In Edmonton to capture Christmas Lights
Feb 2026 – A rural setting where we might find drifting snow, snowed in fence lines, and snow-covered forest and creek beds.
Mar 2026 – West of toward Keephills Power Plant and Burtonsville AB

See recordings of SIG meetings (members only)

Resources