While immersed in my FPV goggles, I remember saying, "it's like flying through Willy Wonka's Garden Factory!" As if the vibrant green leaves were coated with sugar, I immediately recognized this was one of the coolest places to fly a drone. This article will provide a glimpse into how we captured the footage and what is required to transform drone flights into an extraordinary experience.
We began filming The Longwood Garden's fly-thru video to tell the tale of wondering garden trails, exquisite flowers, and inspiring architecture. Rooms filled with over 5,000 different plants connected through flower-covered passages and breezeways offered infinite flight possibilities. With so many options, it's sometimes challenging to discover the best shot. After a quick walkthrough and test flight, we narrowed down our priorities based on lighting conditions, key features, and the finale.
Using specialized first-person view (FPV) drone technology called a "cinewhoop," I can fly in tight spaces and small gaps. The aircraft is small and can easily fit on the palm of my hand. Unlike most drones, the propellers are surrounded by air-ducts, which help generate extra vertical thrust while offering protection against minor collisions. I pilot the drone from the camera's perspective, and using video goggles helps me focus and see the camera more clearly. After flying drones like this for thousands of hours, camera movement becomes second nature and an extension of my creative ambitions.
In my opinion, the best type of "cinewhoop" flights are smooth and take the audience on a ride through unexpected situations. The point of view (POV) style shot combined with a wide-angle lens fills the peripherals with motion blur of objects as they glide past the camera. The drama of a static environment comes from moving the camera in exciting ways. Every time the camera gracefully misses a branch or leaf, I want the audience to feel the wind. I've learned flying the drone in specific ways can help create emotion.
Like many aspects of cinema, producing engaging content is the summation of many small details that should not stand out on their own. Without these subtleties, this video would look unprofessional and distracting. It's the little details that help a video reach its full potential.
I made many enhancements to improve the immersive experience. The raw footage was cropped, stabilized, and smoothed. Each frame was stretched to remove GoPro lens distortion, and effects applied helped eliminate the rolling-shutter effect. When necessary, I removed the drone's shadow to maintain the illusion of a floating camera. Finally, I added sound effects and a delightful song that seemed to reflect the conservatory's calming disposition. The video incorporated over 100 different sound effects, including whooshes, leaves rustling, water and ripple effects, wind, and room tone, and yes, even a buzzing insect. To me, these details are a fun addition to any video and help add a refined touch to most productions.
