Fire Scene Drone

Three Two Choices

Almost didn’t fly the drone late today when I checked my flight weather app and was warned there were wind gusts that would affect flight performance. Affect it in a way that the drone might crash.

I took a risk only because I knew I wouldn’t be flying high enough that the stronger higher elevation gusts would be much of an effect. I was barely over roof and treetops. And I’d be away from the fire scene.

Didn’t plan on spending a lot of time flying. The scene was static in many ways and the main reason for flying was the light. It was late afternoon, cloudy blue. The fire truck flashing lights were bright against the blue sky and ground and contrasty against the dark road surface.

I also knew the curved road at the right angle could be a good compositional element adding an s-curve possibility.

I’d parked on a nearby street knowing that the angle I wanted would be a short flight at a low level. Avoided a few trees on the way. Positioned the drone away from the scene and selected the 2X telephoto setting for four of the five photos I shot. One photo, the one with the best flashing lights, became My Final Photo.

The photo above, the fifth one I made, was slightly higher using the normal lens on the drone. Good second choice to show the neighborhood and take advantage of the s-curve composition.

This was one of those moments when I knew I had a good photo and to continue to use the drone in this weather was risky. That’s why I stopped after only five photos, confident I had the photo I wanted.

Note: I’ve spoken before with the fire chief about flying the drone at the scene of a fire. He has no general objection but would be concerned about situations where fire fighters might be put in danger by the drone. I’ve almost always asked when there is an active fire. This was a minor fire in an unoccupied house and I stayed away from the scene. Not a problem.