A flying lens: Three Things Challenge

I enjoy using cameras small enough to fit in a pocket. I recently got a new flying lens as a gift.

A pocket-sized flying lens

Here it is. What, can’t you see that it’s a camera?

How about if I unfold it? Yeah, it’s a drone. I still have the lens protector on the front in this photo.

Here’s the controller. I like my new flying lens because it stops itself from crashing into things in 360 degrees of direction. It will also land from where it took off with the touch of a button.

I’ve only flown it a few times so I’m not going to win any awards with these first photos. I may actually have to read instructions or watch videos instead of just winging it.

First photos with my flying lens

My first photos were of Powder House at the Prineville Reservoir, not far from my home in Bend, Oregon. Once I got my bearings, I pushed the drone forward. It takes some time to get used to using the controller screen to follow the drone’s flight instead of watching it constantly.

Here’s a link to a post that shows this unique building from the ground.

Art from the air

In May, I took my drone with me when I visited Playa at Summer Lake. This isolated facility is for artists, writers, and scientists to work on their projects. I included more aerial photos I took at Summer Lake on my recent High Desert Playa post.

A couple of the artists working there in the past created sculptures of black rocks on the playa. You can see a diamond-shaped one in the foreground and, in the distance, a circling one behind it. You also get great views of all the dust devils spinning along the far shore.

The diamond-shaped one looks good from the ground, but even better from the air!

Distant photos

Here in Bend, there’s a big fireworks show on Independence Day. The fireworks are shot off of Pilot Butte, an extinct volcano. Though it’s closed off a couple days before to prep for the show, it’s usually a great place to go for a hike.

I took these photos from my backyard. We live six miles, as the crow flies, from the butte. The short streaks of light in the sky are airplanes, flying by to view the fireworks. You can also see puffs of smoke from the fireworks drifting in the wind.

As I get more familiar with using the drone, I’ll post more pictures and video on my blog. Now I just need to come up with a good name for my flying lens. Droney McDroneface? Uh… no, probably not. 😉

Three Things Challenge – Award, Forward, Behind

Bend Branches always appreciates your comments and likes. Comments may not appear right away since they’re screened for spam prior to posting. Thanks!