My mobile app won't tell me, so I'm assuming you reside in CONUS.
The easiest way to sum it up can be done with a fantastic quote from the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie referencing adherence to the "Pirates Code":
“The code is more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.” – Hector Barbossa
Everything that the FAA has put out are quidelines...up until they pushed registration, when they became rules...then the courts changed them back to guidelines when they struck down the registration requirement. Obviously adhering to the safe flying guidelines is the safest thing to do in every circumstance, but they are in no way enforceable; until your actions create a problem.
Really it involves applying a bit of common sense:
#1 Don't fly unless you're willing to accept whatever consequences come from it.
#2 Don't fly anywhere you feel uncomfortable - applies to both the environment and your skill level.
#3 Do no harm - to reasonable privacy, persons, or property.
If you satisfy all three and constantly reassess during all activity, you will not only have more fun with your flying camera, but your employed level of safety in flight will also increase, tilting the familiar risk vs reward seesaw in your favor allowing you to safely operate outside of the guidelines.
Regarding my clip in particular, I didn't randomly choose a place to launch and go straight up. The launch site was the large rear lot of a closed down truck stop, with the nearest neighbor pretty far away and upwind to boot. Downwind was a pasture and pond. I know the area, nearby landing strips, and what type of aircraft could be impacted by doing this. The weather also played a factor...with low clouds and intermittent rain, none of the cropdusters in the area would be up. Regarding commercial and military, I was greater than 30mi away, so all those flights would be at 5000ft or greater over my location. There's always a chance for something out of the ordinary coming by, but theres a better chance of being hit by lightning than this flight encountering anything non environmental that is remotely troublesome.
I've been a private pilot for many years. Been in RC for about 8, of which the last 4 has been flying rather large (12kg) home built quads and a hex (7kg).
Best thing to have is seat time. Keep flying, and just don't be stupid. [emoji16]
I've attached a still of some ground fog from this morning in a different part of the state where I wasn't too excited about staying high enough to really play around. Grabbed my photo at 575 and shut down.
