Overshoot Photo's January 2014 Newsletter

Welcome to Overshoot Photo's January 2014 Newsletter

In this issue:-

• CES - Drones making a stir
• US announces six drone test sites
• BBC iPlayer behind the scenes of Earthflight
• Some Business advice for start-ups

CES - Drones making a stir

The BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones reports from this year's Technology Show - CES in Las Vegas

"Drones - or UAVs as we must learn to call them - are also much in evidence this year. Just a few weeks ago Amazon's plan to deliver parcels via drone was met with a wave of scepticism. But companies like China's DJI are showing more immediately practical uses for drones, from aerial filming to monitoring crops"

Click here to see full article

US announces six Drone Test sites

The US aviation regulator has announced the six states that will host sites for testing commercial use of drones. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) picked Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia. The sites are part of a programme to develop safety and operational rules for drones by the end of 2015.

That's next year, so if you are in the US and are seriously wanting to build up a commercial Aerial Photography Business, you need to get established and ready to go - a Drone, obviously, but also SEO optimised AP website and stay in the loop as to the progress and how you can obtain Approval.

Read full article here.

BBC iPlayer - behind the scenes of Earthflight

A Special programme looking at the techniques used in the production of Earthflight, including using microlights and gliders to become part of the flock. (R)

Yet more evidence of the extent that the BBC is using Aerial Photography more and more.

Click here (May not be available in some countries)

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Some Business advice for start-ups

Now,I appreciate that some of you are coming from an established Business already and want to add Aerial Photography to your existing Portfolio, but if you are starting from scratch, then you might like to know of a few money saving suggestions that I have used over time. With something like one in three Businesses failing in the first three years, it makes sense to optimise your chances and keep costs to a minimum. I'll post a couple of suggestions each month.

Staples is an online and offline stationery supplier. Make sure that you get its (free) Rewards Card so that you can pick up points each time you shop - and also receive money-off vouchers through the post. For a shop, its prices are pretty competitive.

ClickDocs. Why reinvent the wheel? If you need legal documents such as Terms & Conditions, Employment Contracts, don't pay a Solicitor an arm and a leg when you can have a ready-made one drawn up by a Legal team for a fraction of the cost. ClickDocs covers Business Documents, Partnerships, Commercial documents and Hire Agreements. Click to have a look at the full range.

That's it for this Newsletter. If you want to know more about the Second Hand Draganflys for sale, check out the website and get in touch for further information and to buy. If you are new to the concept, don't forget to download the Whitepaper linked to on the Home Page.

Happy Flying and may 2014 bring you what you want

Andy

Welcome to Overshoot Photo's December 2013 Newsletter



In this issue:-

• Draganfly X4 added to 'for sale' list
• Amazon tests out Drone Delivery
• BBC report on the above plus Civilian use
• BBC Drone - Thailand Rally

Draganfly X4 added to 'For Sale'

Overshoot is now selling a Draganfly X4 plus all the usual accessories (stills camera, video camera, Basestation etc.). The X4 is the next model down from the X6. It is lacking the GPS functionality, so the user is unable to use this to record position, nor lock the drone into position - so the pilot has to free-fly it. Apart from that, it is very similar and represents a lower price point into this Business. At this price, it should pay for itself with a few shoots in no time

Click here to see full specs and prices: 

http://www.overshoot-photos.co.uk/aerial-photography/second-hand-draganflyer-for-sale.php

Amazon tests out Drone Delivery

Amazon has released a video demonstrating 'PrimeAir', it's new delivery concept using Drones

Amazon PrimeAir

It's an interesting concept, but that's all it is, a concept. I personally can never see this becoming reality as a commercial option for Amazon. Safety implications both from mechanical failure and collision with other drones, cables, buildings etc. etc. Theft of the Drone, battery life limitations and so on really make it a non-flier (ho ho - it is Christmas). Still, you never know where these ideas take you - perhaps they could be used in Amazon's warehouses in a controlled environment. The picking staff are already called 'drones'...

BBC report on the above plus Civilian use

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25185369

Not much to add, really. Interesting report.

BBC Drone - Thailand Rally Report

BBC reporting Live from the Thailand Rally with Drone footage. Comments?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25303252

My main question is one of safety. That drone is directly over the crowd and descends to just in front of the crowd as the Reporter finishes his piece to camera. In Europe under CAA or EuroUSC rules, this would be a clear violation of clearance rules. I don't care what reassurances would be given by the BBC team, accidents still happen. Here's National Geographic getting into trouble:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJrT7cnTCSM

I guess the rules in Thailand are slacker. Doesn't mitigate the risk of injuring (or worse) to the public.

Finally, a hark back to the Amazon story. Merry Christmas

cartoon (C) Scott Johnson, c/o 

http://www.myextralife.com/comic/competition/

That's it for this Newsletter. If you want to know more about the Second Hand Draganflys for sale, check out the website and get in touch for further information. If you are new to the concept, don't forget to download the Whitepaper linked to on the Home Page

Happy Flying

Andy

Droneworld - Part II

Following on from the Newsnight article, I was interviewed by Phil Gayle on BBC Radio Oxford the following morning. It was only a short interview but the whole of the Breakfast Show was dedicated to this issue of Drones.

Phil Galye, the Presenter was attempting to stir the listeners up into an anti-drone movement, citing 'privacy issues' and 'Not in my back yard' (NIMBY) concerns. 'What if I were sunbathing in my garden at the same time as you were photographing my neighbour's house?' was one question for example. Are these drones going to peer into bedroom windows?

I only had 2-3 minutes for the whole interview, which wasn't adequate to put the points that I needed across, so here's my ideal interview transcript.

Phil Gayle: Good morning. We are talking about the new rules regarding Drones and that we may be seeing hundreds of them criss-crossing the UK. Are you concerned about your privacy? Do you think this is a good thing or bad? I have in the studio Andy Crowhurst, owner of Overshoot Photos to discuss this with me. Good Morning, Andy.

Me: Good Morning Phil.

PG: So, this drone you fly. What is it used for?

Me: I photograph all sorts of things, anything where an elevated view would enhance the subject. I've photographed private properties as Anniversary presents and also for Estate Agents to help sell it. I photograph photogenic Hotels and Penthouse views from properties that are yet to be built. I've even shot a scrapyard.

PG: So, if I was sunbathing and you were filming next door, would I be in the photo or would you crop me out. It seems a bit of an invasion of privacy.

Me: The chances are that you would be in the photo if I was to shoot the back garden, but usually I'm only shooting the front. In my experience, if I was shooting the back garden you would not fail to notice me and my Client, your neighbour would also alert you. More often than not you'd be round to see the craft. Most people I meet are fascinated by it and I have yet to meet someone concerned about it.

PG: What if I were in my bedroom doing my usual naked exercises - or worse and failed to spot you?

Me: Have you ever tried to look in a neighbours window? - you don't need to answer that - The distance, angles and reflections make it pretty unlikely that anything could see inside and, even then, assuming that the curtains were open, the chances of catching you seem pretty slim. The cameras that I use are pretty limited due to weight constraints and I am there for professional purposes. If someone wanted to snoop, they would be better off up a distant tree with a camera with a decent zoom than hovering a pretty obvious drone outside your window.

I test my drone and cameras out in my garden and the pictures I take of the house do not show inside. Too many reflections.

PG: What does the law say about all this snooping?

Me: With a couple of exceptions, anyone with a camera is allowed to photograph anyone else in a public place. Or a private place from a public place. Or from a private place with the owner's permission. Just because the camera is attached to the Drone doesn't make the law any different, in fact we have more restrictions because of where we are and are not allowed to fly. There are many times more cameras and CCTV equipment snooping on us that the handful of drones that are in existence. You can get disguised cameras the size of cigarette packets transmitting images back to base. That is scarier.

We are professionals doing a professional job and, like all professions, there may be a darker side but the cost of the equipment and the licencing means that you need to be pretty determined to use it for nefarious purposes.

PG: That seems reassuring. Andy Crowhurst, owner of Overshoot Photos, thank you.