The Paris 2024 Olympics are coming this week. Yes, the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony is happening today in what might be one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history, ever.
That’s because — for the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games — the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium. This Opening Ceremony will occur on the Seine.
From there, many events are set for some iconic French sporting venues. For example, equestrian and modern pentathlon is happening at Château de Versailles, while beach volleyball will be held at the Eiffel Tower Stadium which — exactly as it sounds — is at the base of the Eiffel Tower.
Now most of these places are no drone zones while the 2024 Olympics play out. But what do they look like during non-Olympic times? And in theme with this blog, what do they look like from an aerial view?
To get you in the Olympic spirit, The Drone Girl put together a collection of stunning aerial photos of Paris, all taken by various drone photographers.
@sebastianmzh
Sebastian, a Swiss photographer, shot this incredible drone shot of The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. The Arc is located at the center of a large, busy, 12-lane roundabout called Place Charles de Gaulle.
An Eastern Sierra-based photographer, Phil Sutphin captured two of Paris’s most recognizable structures (Effile Tower and Arc de Triomphe) with his DJI Mavic 2 Pro.
Whether you’re watching in-person or from home, here’s what you need to know about the 2024 Olympics.
Watching the Olympics at home
The Olympics kick off on July 26 on NBC, USA Network, and a Spanish broadcast on Telemundo.
As always, the Olympics will feature a spectacular lineup of events, showcasing the world’s best talents. The program will then run through Sunday, August 11. And even if you don’t have cable, you can stream the Olympics live with Peacock.
But if you want to capture the Olympics via drone, don’t count on it. Flying your own drone in Paris during the Olympics is prohibited. All of Paris is a no-fly zone for drones, and flying one is punishable by imprisonment or a fine.
That said, there is another drone-critical reason to head to Paris this summer beyond the 2024 Olympics. That’s an epic drone show over at Disneyland Paris. Called Disney Electrical Sky Parade, fans are saying it’s the best drone show they’ve seen, period. It airs nightly over Sleeping Beauty Castle.
And guess what? Drone Girl herself will be there! Yes, part of The Drone Girl team is headed to Paris to document Disney Electrical Sky Parade, in-person! Get ready for footage of the whole occasion to come later this summer!
The Fourth of July is synonymous with hot dogs, parades, and fireworks. But it’s on its way to becoming known as the day of drone light shows, too.
Particularly given environmental and noise pollution concerns grow around fireworks (not to mention the fire hazard amidst one of the driest, hottest summers yet), drone light shows are becoming an increasingly popular, safer alternative. Beyond the fact that shows use synchronized drones to create stunning visuals without the pollution and noise, they’re also more detailed than fireworks.
We’re willing to say that pretty soon, drone light shows may become synonymous with The Fourth of July, if it isn’t already. One of the biggest drone light show companies, Sky Elements, says it’s scheduled to fly more than 35 Fourth of July drone shows across 12 states. Its smallest Fourth of July drone show will have just 100 drones, and its largest will have 500.
Sky Elements is famous for being the first drone light show to get FAA approval to attach fireworks to drones. But there are hundreds of drone light show companies out there — many of which claim their own innovations to their name, including record-setting drone shows by size.
In honor of July Fourth, we rounded up some of our personal favorite drone light show videos on Instagram to share with you. It’s not the same as watching a drone show in person, but it’s still pretty neat. And hey, if you want to catch a drone light show in person, check out our guide to the top public drone shows of 2024, including a list of some scheduled for later this year.
But before you do, check out these delightful drone show videos:
@lunalitedroneshow
For International Reggae Day, the LunaLite drone show used over 500 drones to create this hyper-realistic image of Bob Marley.
Drone light shows aren’t just for American celebrations. Sky Magic Drone Show was commissioned by BBC studios for King Charles’ Coronation Concert, flying over Windsor Castle, Cardiff Bay, and the Eden Project.
Firefly, based in Detroit, Michigan, is one of the best American drone companies that puts on drone light shows. This particular drone show was put on at a theme park in Indiana and celebrates different holidays.
Get ready for Shark Week 2024, starting on July 7th on the Discovery Channel. This annual event is always a hit, offering a mix of thrilling shark footage (often shot on a drone) and educational content.
This year, actor and professional wrestler John Cena will host Shark Week 2024. The program will air on the Discovery Channel from Sunday, July 7 to Saturday, July 13. And even if you don’t have cable, you can stream Shark Week live with Hulu + Live TV.
To get you in the Shark Week spirit, The Drone Girl has put together a collection of stunning shark photos captured by drone photographers from around the world. These images show sharks in their natural habitat from breathtaking aerial perspectives.
@hamptonsdroneart
Joanna Steidle, a professional drone pilot based in the Hamptons, Long Island, New York, took this top down photo of a shark paving her way through a school of menhaden fish. Joanna is no stranger to epic shark shots. She hopes the stunning images she captures with her drone will educate others about the importance of underwater ecosystems, particularly the feared and misunderstood sharks.
Photo courtesy of Joanna Steidle
@jayobrien_photography
Jay O’Brien is an Australian wildlife and landscape photographer. O’Brien shot this epic shark photo using his DJI Mavic Air 2.
The Drone Shark app is created to inform users of sharks or other wildlife spotted in the area. The app can be used to keep swimmers safe, but also to help drone users capture the perfect shoot. The @dronesharkapp is full of epic drone shots of sharks, mostly around the Australian coastline. This is sure to be a popular account during Shark Week 2024.
Andrew French is a nature, ocean, and landscape photographer. Head to his Instagram to see an epic use of the pinned feature for main posts. Below is a scalloped hammerhead shark shot on a DJI Mavic 3. Follow Andrew on Instagram to come prepared for Shark Week, as he frequently includes shark facts in his posts.
This shark photo shot by Adrian Serwin is for all the thrill seekers out there. Adrian is a filmmaker and photographer who has spent the last 7 years traveling the world mastering the art of photography.
Scott Fairchild’s drone footage shows great white sharks interacting with surfers and swimmers along the California coastline. Scott captured this photo with his DJI Mavic 3.
Allysha Cartledge is a wildlife and nature photographer who shot this shark 100m off the shore. The blue waters look so inviting, but the presence of the shark makes you think twice about diving in!
This week, skywatchers across the globe have been treated to a dazzling display of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. And as the auroras put on a show this week, some intrepid drone photographers have been there to capture it all.
The aurora borealis, a mesmerizing dance of light across the night sky, is a dream subject for many photographers. Drones can offer an even more unique perspective. And sure, there is no shortage of images of northern lights taken ultra-far north, like in Canada or Norway. Seeing lights in the U.S., even in lower states, is far more rare.
It wasn’t difficult to scour the internet in terms of some amazing aerial photos of the northern lights that were taken in the U.S. sometime over the past week. From YouTube to Instagram, here are some amazing pieces of art to check out:
The Drone Girl has long been a fan of Kara Murphy. In fact, you might have found her guide on making the perfect drone hyperlapse useful! This week, she sent her Mavic 3 drone in the skies to capture a scene of the town showing the lit up skies overhead.
Evan Brodsky is usually photography marine mammals (and has some incredible shots of killer whales and other marine animals taken on his drone). Absolutely check out his account for amazing footage of whales and sharks exhibiting full predator mode. But, the northern lights hit the spot this week.
The views were just as vivid in Seattle, too, as captured on the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
Tips for photographing the northern lights with a drone
If you’re ready to send your drone up in the night sky tonight, here’s what you need to know:
Plan your location using forecasts
Track solar activity and aurora forecasts to predict the strength and location of the lights. Aim for a KP index (a measure of geomagnetic activity) of 5 or higher for better visibility.
In general, escape light pollution. Head to the most remote areas you can get. Bonus points for drone pilots, is that remote areas are less likely to have restricted airspace or to leave you in a situation where you’re flying over people. Though, still confirm that it’s legal to fly in said remote spot. Some spots that might seem ideal to fly a drone in, like national parks, actually ban drones.
Have the right gear
While any camera drone can work to photograph northern lights, prioritize one with a good low-light performance sensor and manual shooting capabilities. Consider factors like battery life for extended flights and wind resistance for high-altitude operations.
In general, any of the drones in my guide to the best camera drones will do. Sure, something like the DJI Mavic 3 Pro with its 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera will be one of your best bets, but even cheaper drones, like the sub-$1,000 DJI Mini 4 Pro will do (as evidenced by the shots above).
Then there’s the post-processing gear, too. Image editing software tends to be your friend here. For example, you’ll likely need to apply noise reduction given the high ISO settings (more on that later).
Dial in your camera settings
This is a situation where you’ll likely need to embrace manual mode.
Set your aperture to its widest setting (lowest f-number) to gather maximum light. ISO will likely need to be cranked up (3200 or higher) to compensate for long exposures, but be mindful of noise. Experiment with shutter speeds ranging from 1-12 seconds, depending on the aurora’s intensity.
If your drone offers it, shoot in RAW to enable more flexibility in post-processing.
And beyond the right camera settings, don’t forget about composition. Include interesting foreground elements like landscapes or landmarks for a sense of perspective. As depicted by some of the images above, timelapse and hyperlapse footage can play well with the northern lights.
This allows you to condense a long period of auroral activity into a captivating video, showcasing the ever-changing nature of the lights.
An aerial photo of the northern lights in Finland. (Photo by Getty Images)
What causes the northern lights?
The phenomenon is a result of a powerful geomagnetic storm triggered by a series of solar flares erupting from the sun. These flares hurled charged particles towards Earth, interacting with our planet’s magnetic field and causing the colorful lights to dance across the high-latitude night sky.
Weather teams expect the storm to continue for several more days, offering a rare opportunity to witness this captivating natural wonder. And for drone photographers, the northern lights offer an opportunity to capture aerial art of the night sky’s palette of colors.
The solar eclipse is coming soon, and budding photographers are waiting to document it. But even better than just a standard camera is if you photograph the solar eclipse with a drone. After all, witnessing the sun momentarily veiled by the moon offers a dramatic celestial display.
On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will grace North America, offering drone photographers in the U.S. a prime opportunity to take their eclip se photography to new heights. Here’s everything you need to know about photographing an eclipse (and more specifically, how to photograph the solar eclipse with a drone), as well as the best places in the U.S. to view the eclipse, and when to watch.
With the right plan, settings and gear, you could create an aerial timelapse, like this epic video from the 2019 solar eclipse.
How to photograph a solar eclipse
Before diving into the aerial realm, let’s establish some foundational eclipse photography practices. Regardless of camera choice, safety is paramount.
Never look directly at the sun
If there’s one takeaway from this article, it’s purchasing eclipse glasses.
Don’t look at the sun unprotected, even during a partial eclipse. This will result in damage to your eyesight, including high potential for permanent damage and even blindness.
To protect your own eyeballs, wear eclipse glasses. These are super cheap — you can typically find a 6-pack of eclipse glasses for less than $10 on big retailer sites like Amazon or B&H Photo. Ensure the pair you buy is ISO-certified to the 12312-2 standard. That means it blocks 100% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) radiation while filtering out greater than 99.99% of intense visible light, making it safe for direct solar viewing.
Get the right gear
Beyond those glasses for you, you’ll need filters for your camera. And while all photographers will need special filters, drone photographers are up to an especial challenge. Here’s what you’ll need:
Invest in a solar filter
Now that you’ve protected your eyes, you’ll need to invest in a proper solar filter specifically designed for your camera lens. These filters dramatically reduce the sun’s intensity and protecting your camera sensor. If you are looking through the rangefinder (though you likely wouldn’t with a drone), this would also be critical in protecting your eyesight. Even still, don’t look through an unfiltered digital camera using its live view, as you’re still focusing concentrated, unfiltered sunlight through your camera’s sensor.
Depending on your camera, solar filters usually cost between $50 and $100, though you can even find cheaper (aka lower quality) models, which might not be terrible if you intend to use it just once anyway.
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro with Freewell ND2000 Filter.
Some solar filters are designed for specific lens sizes. However, other cheaper filters are a bit of a one-size-fits-all situation. With most drones, you’ll likely need to rely on one of those one-size-fits all filters, though there are a few custom filters that DO work for certain drones.
Neutral density (ND) filters are a commonplace tool used on all sorts of cameras, but especially drone cameras, when shooting in bright situations like direct sunlight. They essentially act like sunglasses for your drone, reducing the light that enters the camera. The right ND filter can dramatically improve your photo quality.
A solar filter is effectively a type of ND filter, albeit much, much darker. If you don’t have a solar filter (it doesn’t fit your drone’s camera lens, you can’t get your hands on one in time, or it’s just too expensive), your next best bet is filming with the darkest ND filter you have (which means picking one with a higher stop). An 8-stop is good. A 10-stop is better.
For example, DJI’s standard Mini 4 Pro filter set includes three filters: ND16, ND64 and ND256. With that, an ND16 would reduce light by four stops (or 1/16). Meanwhile, the ND256 filter is a neutral density filter that reduces exposure by 8 stops.
A solar filter is better, but a ND filter might at least be your best alternative. It’s far more ideal to have a real solar filter (so order one if you can). That said, a 16-stop or higher filter might at least be sufficient (but again, use these at your own risk).
Pay attention to your camera settings
A filter alone is not enough to make your photos work. Not only must you pay attention to your camera settings, but you need to get them right in tandem with your filter. When photographing an eclipse, plan to switch your camera to manual mode. And, be prepared to adjust exposure settings based on the phase of the eclipse.
When it comes to exposure, bracketing is your friend. The rapid change in light levels during the eclipse demands a flexible approach.
Take multiple shots at varying exposures to ensure you capture the perfect balance between the darkened sun and the surrounding landscape.
What about a hyperlapse?
For an even more mesmerizing effect, consider creating a hyperlapse of the eclipse. A hyperlapse condenses time, allowing you to compress the entire eclipse into a captivating video sequence, perfect for capturing the sun’s dramatic unveiling. Here’s how to tailor a drone hyperlapse specifically for the eclipse:
Capture the progression: The key to an eclipse hyperlapse is capturing frames throughout the entire event, from the first sliver of the moon covering the sun to the peak of the eclipse and back.
Adjust intervals: During totality, when the sun is completely obscured (within the path of totality), you can extend the capture interval to capture the dramatic change in light on the landscape. Conversely, during the partial phases, shorten the capture interval to capture the moon’s steady progression across the sun’s face. This will create a smooth transition effect in the final video.
Consider your flight path: You have a few flight path options. For example, you could program a course lock hyperlapse that tracks the sun’s movement across the sky. That would result in a hyperlapse showcasing the sun seemingly shrinking as the moon covers it.
You might also ditch shooting the actual sun. Focusing your hyperlapse on the land below could allow you to show the moon’s shadow arriving. Everyone else will have their cameras pointed at the sun anyway, so let your drone get a view that no one else could possibly get. Plus, this angle also enables you to avoid having to shoot your drone straight into the sun!
Plan your flight
Now, let’s address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by drone photography during an eclipse. Here’s what you need to consider:
Get a spotter to maintain line of sight: Unlike a grounded camera, maintaining a visual on your drone while looking up at the eclipse can be tricky. Consider using a spotter to help you keep track of the drone’s position, especially during critical moments like totality. And, make sure your spotter has those eclipse glasses, too.
Have sufficient battery power: Be mindful of battery life, especially during longer eclipses. Factor in pre-flight checks, positioning, and the actual capture time when calculating your flight duration. Remember, you’ll need enough battery power for a safe return landing.
Know where it’s legal to fly: Know it’s legal to fly your drone in your planned destination. For example, you’ll need permits if flying within a National Park or other restricted airspace. Not sure if you can legally fly in a specific area? Check out my guide to where you can fly drones legally.
Map your flight path: Plan your flight path beforehand, taking into account wind direction and potential obstacles. Aim for a position that offers a clear view of the eclipse and the surrounding landscape you wish to capture.
Practice: With a solar eclipse, you get one shot. Before the big day, practice flying your drone in similar conditions, particularly focusing on maintaining control while looking upwards.
Consider multiple drones: If you’re looking for an excuse to buy a new drone, this might be it. If you want to have the drone in the air for the full eclipse, you’d need that solar filter. However, a filter is not needed when the sun is completely obscured by the moon during the totality portion of a total solar eclipse. Given that, it might also make sense to have a drone without the filter in the air, too.
And of course, plan for totality. Depending on where you are, totality might not last for very long (perhaps not even more than a minute or two). Factor this limited window into your overall flight time and — if relevant — your hyperlapse settings.
The best place to fly drones during the April 2024 solar eclipse
This specific eclipse on April 8 will be a partial solar eclipse, visible across most of North America. The path of totality, where the moon completely covers the sun, will stretch diagonally from Texas to Maine. Those positioned within this path will witness the most dramatic light changes.
Expect totality to begin in Texas at 1:27 p.m. local time (CT) and to end in Maine at 3:35 p.m. local time (ET). Outside of the U.S., expect great views on Mexico’s Pacific Coast at about 11:07 a.m. local time (PT). Here are some major cities, and the time of partial eclipse to totality, according to NASA:
Location
Partial Begins
Totality Begins
Maximum
Totality Ends
Partial Ends
Dallas, Texas
12:23 p.m. CDT
1:40 p.m. CDT
1:42 p.m. CDT
1:44 p.m. CDT
3:02 p.m. CDT
Idabel, Oklahoma
12:28 p.m. CDT
1:45 p.m. CDT
1:47 p.m. CDT
1:49 p.m. CDT
3:06 p.m. CDT
Little Rock, Arkansas
12:33 p.m. CDT
1:51 p.m. CDT
1:52 p.m. CDT
1:54 p.m. CDT
3:11 p.m. CDT
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
12:39 p.m. CDT
1:56 p.m. CDT
1:56 p.m. CDT
2:00 p.m. CDT
3:15 p.m. CDT
Paducah, Kentucky
12:42 p.m. CDT
2:00 p.m. CDT
2:01 p.m. CDT
2:02 p.m. CDT
3:18 p.m. CDT
Carbondale, Illinois
12:42 p.m. CDT
1:59 p.m. CDT
2:01 p.m. CDT
2:03 p.m. CDT
3:18 p.m. CDT
Evansville, Indiana
12:45 p.m. CDT
2:02 p.m. CDT
2:04 p.m. CDT
2:05 p.m. CDT
3:20 p.m. CDT
Cleveland, Ohio
1:59 p.m. EDT
3:13 p.m. EDT
3:15 p.m. EDT
3:17 p.m. EDT
4:29 p.m. EDT
Erie, Pennsylvania
2:02 p.m. EDT
3:16 p.m. EDT
3:18 p.m. EDT
3:20 p.m. EDT
4:30 p.m. EDT
Buffalo, New York
2:04 p.m. EDT
3:18 p.m. EDT
3:20 p.m. EDT
3:22 p.m. EDT
4:32 p.m. EDT
Burlington, Vermont
2:14 p.m. EDT
3:26 p.m. EDT
3:27 p.m. EDT
3:29 p.m. EDT
4:37 p.m. EDT
Lancaster, New Hampshire
2:16 p.m. EDT
3:27 p.m. EDT
3:29 p.m. EDT
3:30 p.m. EDT
4:38 p.m. EDT
Caribou, Maine
2:22 p.m. EDT
3:32 p.m. EDT
3:33 p.m. EDT
3:34 p.m. EDT
4:40 p.m. EDT
Just know that if you haven’t planned your travels to those major areas yet, don’t wait. Hotels are filling up. For example, Chase Travel data shows that Dallas is experiencing a 9.8x year-over-year increase in hotel travel during the solar eclipse. Meanwhile, there’s a 7.3x year-over-year increase in hotel bookings to San Antonio during the solar eclipse.
Of course, while Texas is a huge spot to watch the eclipse, consider other destinations, such as upstate New York. The Adirondacks sit in the path of totality of the eclipse, creating the perfect setting to view the eclipse.
The 2012 annular eclipse with west of Lubbock, Texas.
You might also watch it aboard a cruise (check with your cruise operator to ensure drones are okay to bring aboard). Major cruise ship operators including Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are running cruises with routes specifically around the path of totality. For example, on Holland America’s sailing that departs March 30 from San Diego, cruisers will watch it from the sea outside of Mazatlán, Mexico.
According to travel-booking company Navan, the most popular eclipse-watching locations on the path include:
Austin, TX
Dallas TX
Columbus, OH
Montreal, QB
Indianapolis
When are the next big eclipse events?
If you’re not able to film the April 8 eclipse with a drone, there are other big events coming up.
Expect another solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026 in the Arctic, which could be a compelling place to fly (yes, I’ve flown drones in the Arctic, too). Expedition cruises in the Arctic are setting their schedules and routes early to align in the path of totality for that August 2026 solar eclipse. For example, AdventureSmith Explorations is running a 14-day Arctic trip featuring astrophysicist Paul Sutter as a special guest. Meanwhile, you could head from Spitsbergen to Northeast Greenland on another 14-day offering from the same company.
If this collection of best drone photos of 2024 are any indication, drone photography has come a long way since its inception. In 2024, drone photography continued its ascent to new heights, capturing breathtaking landscapes, wildlife encounters and even human endeavors in ways never before possible with a camera on land or a helicopter in the sky.
SkyPixel today announced the winners of its 9th Annual Photo & Video Contest. The winners were selected across more than 130,000 submissions, which is a 100% increase from the previous year.
Out of all 130,000 aerial photos, this was deemed the best drone photo of 2023:
Photo: “Mongolian Yurt” by Daolai
The photo above is titled “Mongolian Yurt,” and it was submitted by the aerial photographer who goes by Daolai.
So what’s so standout about this particular photo against the thousands of other SkyPixel entries?
“Captured this photo depicts herdsmen making preparations for the grassland event,” according to a statement from SkyPixel. “The scene is naturally picturesque, authentically depicting the lives of the herdsmen as they interact with the horses, the camels and the landscape, with their yurt, their homes, as a central focus. Against the stark contrast created by the snow, Daolai found the scene reminiscent of a traditional Chinese ink painting.”
That photo was selected by a judging panel of seasoned experts including:
Wen Huang, a World Press Photo judge and Senior Editor
Anne Farrar, Assistant Photography Chief Editor at National Geographic
Nan Li, the Photo Director of Southern Weekly
Daniel Kordan, a renowned landscape photographer
““I was drawn to the storytelling of this image,” Farrar said. “Such a beautiful wispy landscape has a lovely painterly look, very soft and almost feels like powder. A beautiful aerial landscape that doesn’t rely on graphic quality alone and tells a community story.”
Other great drone photos of 2024
While Daolai took the overall grand prize in the SkyPixel 9th Annual Photo & Video Contest, there were plenty of other deserving images. SkyPixel also released the results of the other ‘Top 10’ winners as well as the five ‘Nominated Photo’ winners. Here they are:
Top 10 Photos of 2024
A Bold, Bare-Chested Ride by Parker
A Symphony in Snow by Guofu
Bird’s eye view on Iceland by Pawel Zygmunt
E IN THE LAKE by Ekrem SAHİN
Balloon floating over trees in winter by Jonas Hoffmann
Hunting together by Pham Huy Trung
Motion and Stillness by Patrick Wong
Silence by Nguyen Khanh Vu Khoa
“Fatigue Sleep” by Muhammad Amdad Hossain
Tree of life by Isabella Tabacchi
Top Nominated Photos of 2024
Abyss by Dylan de Haas
Back home by Jeremiasz Gadek
Mining Farm by Xuhaha
Pioneering New Realms by David
“City Spider-Man” by Qihui Chen
What happens to the winners?
Besides honor and exposure, the photographers behind the best drone photos of 2024 actually get physical prizes.
The Annual Best Work prize entailed more than $14,000 worth of gear. That kit included a Hasselblad X2D 100C medium format mirrorless camera, which alone goes for more than $8,000. Additionally, SkyPixel named Daolai as an official SkyPixel Creator (which includes a prestigious trophy and an award certificate).
Meanwhile, the Top Photo winners each received the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC), a trophy, and award certificate, with a total value of nearly $3,000. The Nominated Prizes each received the Osmo Action 4 Adventure Combo and award certificate (worth about $400) and the People’s Choice Prizes received the Osmo Mobile 6 and award certificate (worth about $150).
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In the world of Instagram drone photography, the landscape has been predominantly male (after all, the majority of certified pilots are male). But this is rapidly changing as more and more female drone pilots emerge, bringing fresh perspectives and captivating content.
Here are three impressive female content creators on Instagram who use drones to capture their audiences.
For FPV racing pilots on Instagram: Mako Reactra @makoreactra
Mako Reactra, @makoreactra, creates content with FPV drones and has over 14,400 followers. Her content is a mix of real-life flying and simulator drone racing. With only 7.9% of all certified remote pilots being female, there are even fewer in the world of FPV racing. Mako hopes her FPV content shows girls and women that drone racing isn’t just for men.
Mako’s racing drones are custom built and her sponsors provide me with gear, and she uses that to build, program, and repair her drones. When flying her FPV drones, live video is streamed to her FPV goggles from her drone camera, so it feels like she’s flying from the cockpit of the drone.
When Mako isn’t flying FPV drones, she is teaching her 4th-grade students, who share the same love for drones. Their enthusiasm for drones led her to pursue and then win a STEM grant to bring drone education to the classroom. Mako is now teaching her students how to fly FPV drones.
“I am usually the only female pilot at my local races,” said Mako in an interview with The Drone Girl, “If you watch drone racing on TV, you will not see females represented.” Mako hopes to inspire girls to pick up the radio and learn to fly.
For those into hiking and nature views: Krystina Romeo @krystinawanders
Krystina creates hiking and travel content with her drone. She enjoys showing off beautiful places and letting people know that if she can get to these places, they can too.
Her first and only drone is her trusty DJI Mini 3 Pro, which was recommended by another social media creator.
Krystina remembers when she first got her drone she had no idea how to get the video content like the ones she saw online. She recalls, “I couldn’t figure out the remote, all my videos did not look like any of the ones I admired and I thought, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.”
But after watching helpful tip videos and a lot of practicing, she now has over 4,000 followers who praise her content.
“I never knew how few female drone pilots there were until I started using one,” remarked Krystina, “I would say, if you want to try it, go for it!”
For those looking for drone tips and tricks: Sofi Khmara @sofi.khm
Sofi Khmara has over 8,000 followers and is a part 107 certified pilot based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Sofi’s posts travel drone footage, tricks and trips for creating engaging content, and more. Recently, she posted a video sharing the best film and export settings for Instagram reels.
Sofi flies with her DJI Mini 4 Pro and edits the majority of her videos with CapCut on her desktop.
On top of being a content creator and drone pilot, Sofi is a professional photographer specializing in equestrian photography. But she also offers professional video services (with drone footage tied in, of course.)
Sofi left NYC during the pandemic for North Carolina and has been exploring her passion and interests ever since.
(@sebastianmzh)
Travel | Hotels | Food | Tips (@chicago.explore)
FROM Air (@dronesharkapp)
FPV Pilot (@makoreactra)
(@krystinawanders)