The Best Aerial Photography Books for Beginners

The Photographer’s Guide to Drones explains everything photographers need to know about drones and quadcopters in order to take their photography to new levels. Consumer drones and quadcopters have become the hottest new gear in photography, whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur shooter. These “flying tripods” have given photographers the ability to place their cameras virtually anywhere they want, creating still images and video footage that were previously impossible to capture. Many photographers have a drone or quadcopter right at the top of their “I want” list.

And many others have already purchased a drone a bit ahead of the curve. No matter what model one may own—DJI, 3DR, Yuneec, GoPro—all of these photographers need to learn how to put this new gear to good use in their aerial photography. They need to learn how to safely operate and fly a drone, how to create compelling photos and video, and how to make their work stand out from the crowd in this exciting new field. The Photographer’s Guide to Drones explains everything photographers need to know about drones and quadcopters in order to take their photography to new levels…literally. Photographer and author Colin Smith guides the reader along, as he teaches:. • How to fly a drone, including practice flight patterns and controller tips that will help readers master the basics• New rules of composition for aerial photography as they apply to drone and quadcopter imagery• How to create the best files for both still photos and video• Post-processing techniques unique to aerial photography that readers need to know, such as how to make videos look both dynamic and smoothThe book also features award-winning and beautiful aerial photography. Plus, at the beginning of each of the book's eight chapters, beautiful three-page fold-out images inspire readers on their journey to creating images that truly stand above the crowd. Take your aerial photography to new heights with The Photographer's Guide to Drones.

A stunning collection of images offering an unexpected look at our Earth from the wildly popular "From Where I Drone" Instagram account. A vertiginous overhead view of a Tokyo city street grid, set aglow with nighttime lights. Aerial shots of whales in the turquoise-blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Sunbathers languidly lounging on a tropical beach's pearly-white sand. These are just a few of the inspiring images showcased in this stunning compilation of the world's best drone photography.

One of this era's fastest-growing technologies, drones have transformed the world of photography, allowing a new class of creatives to capture images that shift our point of view and redefine how we see the world. Paying homage to the breathtaking beauty of our planet, Eyes over the World features an eclectic range of natural wonders and man-made oddities captured by both luminaries and amateurs alike in the burgeoning drone-photography community. Edited by drone-photography expert and the creator of the "From Where I Drone" Instagram account Dirk Dallas, this fantastic, fearless volume offers a new sense of perspective and awe gained by this fascinating new technology. Organized geographically, it can also be used as a bucket list of sorts--a catalog of all the wonders the Earth has to offer.

We are Randy Braun and Stacy Garlington. Together we have taught DJI drone photography, under the authorization of DJI, in 200+ cities across the United States and around the world. We are the most experienced drone photography instructor team on the planet. As early employees of DJI, working in the Shenzhen, China headquarters building, we started the Aerial Still Photography Development Team, putting drones into the camera bags of the world's most influential still photographers.

With extensive backgrounds in both the drone & photography industries, we have harnessed and packaged the skills of successful drone photography to share with you. Our goal is to ramp up your skill level by several months or years, saving you from the trials, errors, and painful mistakes we have made. This 192-page book is written for drone operators of all levels – beginner to advanced. Better drone photographyis the main topic, but there is so much more between the covers! HistoryTechnologyGetting StartedRulesSafetySticky SituationsBusinessMarketingInside StoriesDJI Go 4 AppCreative ProcessPhotography TipsAerial TechniquesPost-Processing. Randy Braun is the former Director of Product Experience for DJI. He has taught DJI Drone skills on prestigious stages worldwide. His career as a professional photographer has spanned thirty-five years. Stacy Garlington is the former Product Experience Specialist for DJI. She has taught hands-on drone flight skills to over 5,000 people and has more than 500 hours of indoor flight time as the official DJI demo pilot in the world's largest trade shows. Randy and Stacy are now official partners with DJI, establishing the DJI Aerial Photo Academy. As co-instructors, they taught sold-out live classes in 200+ cities and conferences across the USA.