I still remember when, a few years ago, my partner – who is also a photography enthusiast – suggested that we get a drone so we could capture some aerial shots of Malta. I didn’t think much of it back then, especially because the drones that we could afford looked unstable. There was no way I would mount my camera on a device that was not strong enough to hold it securely in place. Camera shake, resulting in blurry images, was also a concern.

Fast-forward to today and drone photography is becoming increasingly popular all over the world, with dedicated international competitions such as Dronestagram’s Best Drone Photography awards. Drones have also become much more affordable, meaning sturdier drones are easier to find at reasonable prices. They’re still far from cheap, but they’re within reach of an enthusiast’s budget. Just run a quick search for ‘drone photography’ and you’ll find some truly breathtaking shots that bring bird’s eye view photography to a whole new level.

“Drone images can be made where no other image can,” wrote Ken Geiger, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and National Geographic magazine’s deputy director of photography. He also sees this new type of photography as opening to the masses just as digital technology did. And he’s not alone. Eric Dupin, Dronestagram CEO and founder, wrote that, “Drone photography is a new kind of visual language […] It’s a new way of seeing the world.”

Is Malta ready for this kind of photography?

There already exist groups on Facebook called Malta Drones, DroneMalta and other service providers who do this type of photography for events. But before you run to your favourite online shop or local store to buy yourself a drone, you need to know a few things.

First of all, the use of drones is regulated by law. In Malta, for instance, drones must give way to manned flight and cannot be operated outside designated areas, more than 150 metres from point of operation, higher than 400 feet, and within 7.5 kilometres from aerodrome runway or boundary. Moreover, operators must have unaided visual contact with their drones at all times. Also, drones cannot be flown over an open-air assembly of people without written permission.

If you want to use a drone for communication, construction, photography, observation or aerial advertisement, you will need a permit. If you fail to follow these rules, you will be liable to a fine of €5,000 and your drone will be confiscated.

So before you buy yourself a drone, make sure you get your permit and follow the regulations. Also, if you plan to take your drone with you abroad, make sure you check the law in the country you’ll be visiting as these vary from country to country.

Now that you’re covered on the legal side of things, it’s time to choose the right drone for what you want to achieve. Most drone owners suggest starting with a basic model and then upgrading to something better. The reasoning here is that you’ll probably crash your drone on your first flight attempts, and you don’t want that to happen when using an expensive drone. Once you’ve gained more confidence, you can go for a better drone such as the popular DJI Phantom or 3DRobotics series. If you want to wait a little, GoPro confirmed that it is releasing its very own camera drone in 2016.

Before you start your search for a drone, keep in mind your objective. Are you getting a drone with an integrated camera or do you want your aircraft to carry your actual professional camera? If you decide on the latter, your drone needs to be able to carry the weight and you’ll need a special mount that’s compatible with your model camera, so you need to look into those items as well. Another thing to consider is the battery life of the drone for your purposes, as well as whether you want to control it with a remote or using a smartphone.

Whether you go for a GoPro, an inbuilt camera or your professional camera, keep in mind that stability is everything. The slightest vibration will practically ruin your shot. This brings me back to why I didn’t want a drone back in their early days. I cannot accept images that aren’t sharp. If it’s slightly out of focus it’s not good enough for me. That sharpness can make or break your shot. In aerial photography, vibration can be caused by the drone’s engines or even by turbulence. It’s annoying and common in small drones, which tend to bounce a lot. A solution for this is using vibration isolators and gimbals to negate unwanted movement.

There are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to your camera and lenses as well. If possible, use shorter lenses because longer lenses make it easier for the wind to knock your camera off. Also, use a fast lens, like an f/2.8 zoom lens or a fixed-focal length type of lens. Ensure that you set a fast shutter speed around 1/1000 at 200mm, to help ensure sharp images. If haze is a problem, you need to set your camera to high contrast (look at the histogram). Don’t forget to use a UV filter and there might be other filters, such as the ND filter, that might come in handy.

In the end, it will take a lot of testing and experiments to nail the shot you’re after – as with most type of photography – but a look through the drone aerial photographs on National Geographic and on 500px definitely makes it look like it’s worth the effort. I would love to see such stunning images of our beautiful island. Will you be the one who captures them?

• Christina Goggi is a content marketing and SEO professional by day and a photography enthusiast by night. For more of her work visit www.christinagoggiphotography.com.

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