Say What? Drones Used as a Light Source Help Create “Mountai…

Chicago-based photographer Reuben Wu has been utilizing drones to create what he calls mountain halo photographs, and they’re unbelievable.

Here are a few of our favorites:


Photo credit score: Reuben Wu

drone mountain halo light
Photo credit score: Reuben Wu

mountain halo drone
Photo credit score: Reuben Wu

It’s essential to notice that drones have been utilized in an uncommon method for this undertaking—as the sunshine supply, and to not seize the pictures themselves.

Using lengthy exposures and programming his DJI Phantom to orbit round a mountain as a focal point, Reuben was in a position to create the visible illustration of a steady halo of sunshine round a mountain—or a vibrant level, or a squiggle, as the case is perhaps.

Reuben has mentioned that regardless that he spends a lot of time planning and executing these images the undertaking remains to be experimental in nature, and he’s actually simply curious to see what will be performed utilizing drones as a mild supply coupled with lengthy exposures.

Before embarking on this mountain halo undertaking, Reuben had already made a title for himself together with his Lux Noctis work, during which he makes use of drone-mounted lights to present landscapes an erie, out-of-this-world type of look, which has been referred to as “painting” nocturnal panorama with mild via a number of exposures.

Reuben sharing his course of

All of Reuben’s work is shot in distant landscapes, mountains and deserts, the place he can go lengthy durations of time getting a number of exposures for his photographs.

According to Wu, a lot of analysis goes into his work.

He spends time maps, seasonality of sunshine, vacationer circulation, and moon cycles. When he’s picked an space the place he needs to shoot, he’ll spend the day planning the placement and composition. Once he’s prepared, he’ll wait till the solar goes down in order that he can begin taking pictures.

It’s essential to him to maintain his work equipment transportable in order that he can transfer round to distant areas, so he will be in solitude whereas creating these photographs.

The mountain halo photographs weren’t one thing he deliberately got down to seize at first, however have been extra of an natural outgrowth from his work outdoor and his curiosity in utilizing drones as mild sources.

While taking pictures at evening, he began taking part in with lengthy exposures to seize the sunshine paths of his drone towards mountains and different panorama options, and located that the paths of sunshine added a magical factor to his evening pictures.

Out of this primary realization grew the “mountain halo” photos showcased right here on this article.

My childhood dream was to have a flying digital camera—with the ability to see landscapes from inconceivable views. So it was an essential step in my pictures to start out utilizing a distant transferring digital camera.

– Reuben Wu

In addition to those initiatives, Reuben Wu is a musician and performs within the band Ladytron.

Here are some extra photographs taken by Reuben, the place drones have been used as mild sources.

mountain halo drone light
Photo credit score: Reuben Wu

mountain halo drone
Photo credit score: Reuben Wu

drone light mountain halo

Photo credit score: Reuben Wu

Zacc Dukowitz

Director of Marketing

Zacc Dukowitz is the Director of Marketing for UAV Coach. A author with skilled expertise in schooling know-how and digital advertising and marketing, Zacc is captivated with reporting on the drone trade at a time when UAVs may help us dwell higher lives. Zacc additionally holds the rank of nidan in Aikido, a Japanese martial artwork, and is a extensively printed fiction author. Zacc has an MFA from the University of Florida and a BA from St. John’s College. Follow @zaccdukowitz or take a look at zaccdukowitz.com to learn his work.



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