A lucky thing happened during my flight today, here's some photos.

Dingo · Jan 19, 2019

Beautiful images thx for sharing

Amdrone · Jan 19, 2019

My first post - Inspiring! Beautiful!

Carl36 · Jan 20, 2019

Cymruflyer said:
We finally had some snow that could be measured in depth, rather than just length, though the depth was minimal. Size does matter with snow fall, but I'm happy just see a white covering, I miss the snow, having lived in the Austrian Alps for a number of years, which by the way, is having an amazing winter snow fall right now.

Anyway, I digress. I asked permission from her indoors, she hates that so I shall say my wife, if I could quickly go out and get a few bits of film and stills at our local park about 5 mins. away, if I brought her tea in bed and gave the children breakfast. She agreed, so an hour after I had hoped to get out there, I was off. It was a bit on the cold side for no gloves, about 26f, though I did not intend to be out too long.

I took a square of wood floor tile along, to use as a launch/landing pad, set it all up in the warmth of the car, got out and took off. The sun came out, which I was hoping to avoid, because from a photographic point of view, what I was hoping to accomplish was to get flat light images of the black lines of the trees against the white snow. As it turned out, the sun helped to give some added interest, with the long shadows.

There was also a large gaggle of Canada Geese, not Canadian, as sooo many people wrongly call them, all in the middle of open ground near by. I thought, it might make an interesting shot right above them, with the long shadows showing them as silhouettes on the ground. I'd keep high enough not to scare them into flight. I was in the air working out which way would be best to fly to get over them, when something scared them into all taking off. Darn it all I thought, now they may not come back and land, but a quick prayer to the geese Gods had them circling back around and on the first pass I missed them, trying to get the camera tilt angle right and the position of the Mavic 2, plus trying to judge my height and theirs, in order to get things correct.

I thought I might try and follow them, but that was not working too well with trees being in the way a bit and I did not want to lose sight of the Mavic. So I flew back above me (for your drone police, and I am sometimes one myself, I did have permission to fly above myself) and waited to see if they might come back around, which they did. Then a miracle happened and they flew right over my head and I got some shots off and hoped for the best. Since it was all happening so fast, I could not look at the screen but just hoped I might get something out of it.

It was getting rather cold with no gloves and I decided to get a few quick shots of the trees and the lake shore, then get back and land before I had a low battery warning. I took a number of photos and have included one here, or maybe two, I have not decided yet. I have included several from the geese though, because when I got home and took a look, I was extremely pleasantly surprised to see that I could not have positioned myself more perfectly and the geese could not have done a better job of formation flying, if an Air Force had choreographed it. My height and their height was perfect, for my liking anyway. It would have been nice if I could have had a clear earth with some trees below but I shall settle for the edge of the car park. That is me down below (middle to lower centre) next to my vehicle.

It was well worth getting up early and braving the cold, even without gloves. I doubt if I shall ever get another set of images like these unless I stuff some geese and stick them on poles. Can't wait for more snow to come. Now I'm going to be told off for staying up so late!

Some of the best image I've seen, thanks for posting, we get plenty of Canada here in UK but not much Snow.

Mondy · Jan 20, 2019

Awesome pictures. Especially the first pic.

calmar81 · Jan 20, 2019

Wonderful story and perfect pictures! Thanks a lot for sharing!

calmar81 · Jan 20, 2019

Sfusiondj said:
Wait... You have to actually ask your wife for permission to fly?

I know this kind of „permission“ thing, too... but we have 3 little children (twins 2,5 years, daughter 5,5 years)

It's more about the right time management and communication. And then, you’re just even happier, when you take such great photos or be there in the right moment. @Cymruflyer , am I right? ;-)

Dizzy1971 · Jan 20, 2019

Cymruflyer said:
Hmmm, anyone else experiencing this??? They pop open full for me.

Yeah on,y half the first pic

Dizzy1971 · Jan 20, 2019

GregD said:
Well done, I really like the first one.

Wish I could see the entire shot#1 grr

Dizzy1971 · Jan 20, 2019

Carl36 said:
Some of the best image I've seen, thanks for posting, we get plenty of Canada here in UK but not much Snow.

Those geese are taking over the planet

Sfusiondj · Jan 20, 2019

calmar81 said:
I know this kind of „permission“ thing, too... but we have 3 little children (twins 2,5 years, daughter 5,5 years)

It's more about the right time management and communication. And then, you’re just even happier, when you take such great photos or be there in the right moment. @Cymruflyer , am I right? ;-)

My wife is Korean, and God knows she rules our home with an iron fist, but I've not yet had to ask permission to go out and fly

This is subject to change though, first child due in June.

Roc Rat · Jan 20, 2019

Awesome pics...

Mavic Pro Platinum · Jan 20, 2019

Sfusiondj said:
My wife is Korean, and God knows she rules our home with an iron fist, but I've not yet had to ask permission to go out and fly This is subject to change though, first child due in June.

LOL!

Bala · Jan 21, 2019

That 1st photo is magical. Brilliant!

Cymruflyer · Jan 22, 2019

calmar81 said:
I know this kind of „permission“ thing, too... but we have 3 little children (twins 2,5 years, daughter 5,5 years)

It's more about the right time management and communication. And then, you’re just even happier, when you take such great photos or be there in the right moment. @Cymruflyer , am I right? ;-)

Spot on there, only parents with young children will understand that sort of "Permission" request. Leave at the wrong time and it could be pandemonium at home while you are out and the thing that makes it harder for who is left indoors, is the fact that they are both daddy's Girl/Boy, so mum has a harder time with them if I am gone and I am almost never gone anymore. Life ended for me going out anywhere once they were born, but I'm happy with that anyway and would not change a thing. Wish we could find a trust worthy baby sitter though, with things the way they are today, it is hard to trust anyone to watch your young ones. My wife's family are in the next state and mine are overseas, so we are fairly alone for having family to take over for an evening or day.

Cymruflyer · Jan 22, 2019

Sfusiondj said:
My wife is Korean, and God knows she rules our home with an iron fist, but I've not yet had to ask permission to go out and fly This is subject to change though, first child due in June.

Three Words... June - Game Over!

Cymruflyer · Jan 22, 2019

Thank you to everyone for your kind words by the way, I really appreciate it.

HighlandsVideo · Jan 22, 2019

Good story nicely told and superbly photographed. Thanks for sharing.

Cymruflyer · Jan 29, 2019

These Geese are brave little buggers!

(No image)

Edit... Hmmm the MP4 is not being allowed to be attached. Says it does not have the right extension or something.

BingErr · Jan 29, 2019

Cymruflyer said:
We finally had some snow that could be measured in depth, rather than just length, though the depth was minimal. Size does matter with snow fall, but I'm happy just see a white covering, I miss the snow, having lived in the Austrian Alps for a number of years, which by the way, is having an amazing winter snow fall right now.

Anyway, I digress. I asked permission from her indoors, she hates that so I shall say my wife, if I could quickly go out and get a few bits of film and stills at our local park about 5 mins. away, if I brought her tea in bed and gave the children breakfast. She agreed, so an hour after I had hoped to get out there, I was off. It was a bit on the cold side for no gloves, about 26f, though I did not intend to be out too long.

I took a square of wood floor tile along, to use as a launch/landing pad, set it all up in the warmth of the car, got out and took off. The sun came out, which I was hoping to avoid, because from a photographic point of view, what I was hoping to accomplish was to get flat light images of the black lines of the trees against the white snow. As it turned out, the sun helped to give some added interest, with the long shadows.

There was also a large gaggle of Canada Geese, not Canadian, as sooo many people wrongly call them, all in the middle of open ground near by. I thought, it might make an interesting shot right above them, with the long shadows showing them as silhouettes on the ground. I'd keep high enough not to scare them into flight. I was in the air working out which way would be best to fly to get over them, when something scared them into all taking off. Darn it all I thought, now they may not come back and land, but a quick prayer to the geese Gods had them circling back around and on the first pass I missed them, trying to get the camera tilt angle right and the position of the Mavic 2, plus trying to judge my height and theirs, in order to get things correct.

I thought I might try and follow them, but that was not working too well with trees being in the way a bit and I did not want to lose sight of the Mavic. So I flew back above me (for your drone police, and I am sometimes one myself, I did have permission to fly above myself) and waited to see if they might come back around, which they did. Then a miracle happened and they flew right over my head and I got some shots off and hoped for the best. Since it was all happening so fast, I could not look at the screen but just hoped I might get something out of it.

It was getting rather cold with no gloves and I decided to get a few quick shots of the trees and the lake shore, then get back and land before I had a low battery warning. I took a number of photos and have included one here, or maybe two, I have not decided yet. I have included several from the geese though, because when I got home and took a look, I was extremely pleasantly surprised to see that I could not have positioned myself more perfectly and the geese could not have done a better job of formation flying, if an Air Force had choreographed it. My height and their height was perfect, for my liking anyway. It would have been nice if I could have had a clear earth with some trees below but I shall settle for the edge of the car park. That is me down below (middle to lower centre) next to my vehicle.

It was well worth getting up early and braving the cold, even without gloves. I doubt if I shall ever get another set of images like these unless I stuff some geese and stick them on poles. Can't wait for more snow to come. Now I'm going to be told off for staying up so late!