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DIRTH OF MY DRONE
We had been working at Numbulwar community in the East Arnhemland area for a few months. During our last week I had decided to finish off any filming I had in mind, shooting some B-roll ( if you aren't familiar with this term see here) and taking advantage of the good light early in the morning.
The last shot I wanted to get was of my hand catching the drone mid-air and so had set up my Sony a5000 on the tripod angled upwards to capture the action. I had done one take but wasn't quite happy with it so sent my drone up again for take 2. The battery level was down to low but I thought "what could go wrong" it's only a few metres away and I'll have it done in 30 seconds or so. Well it took a little longer than I expected to position the drone where I wanted it. As I left behind the camera to walk around and delicately "pluck" my hovering bird from mid-flight that chilling warning that strikes fear in all drone pilots. "Critical battery level, landing now" could be heard from the remote behind the tripod! Ok, it'll be fine, just walk over to the drone and grab it any way you can idiot! As I got within a metre or so of the drone suddenly it decided to go with the wind and quickly drifted over the top of the tripod and slowly started to descend. Which would've been fine if not for deciding to land in the only puddle of seawater within 100 meters of me. I ran towards the drone but knew by the rate it was descending I wouldn't get there in time. All I could do was watch it slowly sink into the water until one blade caught the surface and it flipped completely on it's back! A strange calm overcame me as I walked slowly over to my beloved piece of flying equipment and as I gently raised it from the salty brine a small saltiness also escaped my left eye. You $%#*&^#@! idiot I chastised myself endlessly for being so careless, no-one to blame but myself unfortunately. So here I sit, drone-less until having the opportunity and funds to replace her. But replace her I will and with a smaller and better drone..........a Mavic Air but that Phantom 3 will always hold a special place as my very first. |
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